Trappe to request MDE approval to accept Lakeside treated effluent into town lagoon

The Trappe Town Council voted unanimously Aug. 7 to ask the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to approve Lakeside Wastewater Treatment Plant's request to send treated effluent to Trappe’s lagoon.

Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan and Superintendent Steve Callahan told the council Lakeside is in a start-up phase and currently unable to spray discharge. Lakeside has been trucking treated effluent to Hurlock for further processing; the developer asked whether Trappe would accept the effluent instead. Staff said the planned volume is below Lakeside's permitted allowance to send up to 30,000 gallons per day to Trappe but that MDE must approve the acceptance method whether direct acceptance into the lagoon or routed through Lakeside’s pumping station and then into Trappe's plant.

Commissioner Michael Sullivan moved that the town send a letter to MDE requesting approval for Lakeside to send treated effluent to Trappe’s lagoon so the town could maintain control over flow; Commissioner Walter Chase seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Town staff said accepting Lakeside effluent into Trappe’s lagoon would allow the town to regulate the incoming flow and avoid potential operational issues from an unexpected influx. The council asked staff to coordinate with engineering consultant GMB and to confirm regulatory and operational conditions before any operational change.

Next steps: Town staff will prepare and send the MDE request and report back with any conditions MDE places on acceptance of Lakeside effluent.