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Sharpsburg council seeks county assurances after well bid, warns MDE could require filtration plant
Summary
After receiving a single well-drilling bid, Sharpsburg officials asked the county to clarify who would fund or operate a treatment plant if state testing requires filtration; council directed staff to seek revisions before drilling.
Sharpsburg officials on Oct. 7 reviewed a single well-drilling bid and asked the county to clarify responsibilities if state water tests require additional treatment.
The town received one bid from Negley’s Well Drilling with a base bid of $136,936.50 and $208,336.50 including contingent items. Mayor Russell Weaver said a Maryland Department of the Environment representative who visited the site indicated groundwater could be found “under the influence” of source-water contamination and that the system might require a filtration plant similar to Boonsboro’s if testing confirms contamination. Town Administrator Debra Smith told council that the current agreement with the county does not specify who would pay for or operate a filtration facility should MDE require one after drilling and testing.
Council members asked staff to seek a revised county agreement before drilling that would allow the town options — including using 50% of its well-drilling cost share as a water rebate to residents — if the county does not plan to meet MDE requirements. The council gave consensus to submit a revised agreement to the county and asked staff to publish an update in the Town Crier to keep residents informed.
The item remained at the discussion and negotiation stage; no authorization to begin drilling was recorded in the minutes. The council also received confirmation that an MDE permit window and other permitting issues will affect timing for related projects such as Big Spring wall restoration.
