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Garrett County opens public hearing on Water & Sewer Master Plan amendments; comment period announced
Summary
The Board opened a public hearing on proposed amendments to Garrett County’s 2014 Water & Sewer Master Plan under COMAR 26.03.01. The draft amendment includes map and text updates for sewer expansions and improvements in Friendsville and Gorman; comments are being accepted through March 16, 2026.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners opened a public hearing March 2 on proposed amendments to the county’s 2014 Water & Sewer Master Plan, a planning document used to prioritize water supply and wastewater projects for the next decade.
Senior Planner Siera Wigfield presented the draft amendment and summary materials. The Board said the amendment is being processed under COMAR 26.03.01 and that the draft and a summary were posted to the county website. Written comments will be accepted through March 16, 2026 (some presentation slides also referenced a noon March 8 comment date); the hearing notice lists Siera Wigfield as the contact and provides an email address and phone number for submitting comments.
The presentation packet lists multiple local projects and updates, including map and text updates for sewer-service expansion in Chestnut Ridge and the Deep Creek Lake area, and water-service expansions for Loch Lynn, Deer Park and Thayerville. The packet singled out Friendsville and Gorman for planned improvements: Friendsville Water System serves about 235 equivalent residential units and operates near permitted withdrawal capacity, with aging intake and treatment infrastructure; the presentation recommends studying groundwater or alternate sources and measures to provide a redundant supply. The Friendsville wastewater treatment plant, built in the early 1970s and serving about 230 equivalent residential units, was described as nearing the end of its useful life and a candidate for rehabilitation or replacement, with no proposed expansion of the sewer service area.
The presentation also listed prior MDE (Maryland Department of the Environment) approval dates for earlier amendments and said any adopted amendment will be sent to MDE for approval. The Board closed the hearing and reopened the public meeting later the same afternoon.
Written comments on the draft amendment were directed to Siera Wigfield, Senior Planner, at swigfield@garrettcountymd.gov (phone: 301-334-7477).
