Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middletown staff: BRF funds won’t cover proposed pump station; town remains at Code Blue drought status
Summary
Town staff told the Burgess and Commissioners that state BRF funding is limited to process components for nutrient removal and does not cover a proposed pump station; staff also reported water-usage and WWTP flow figures and recommended staying at Code Blue amid severe drought conditions.
Town staff told the Burgess and Commissioners on Jan. 8 that Bridge to Clean Water (BRF) funds would pay only for specific process components to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus at the wastewater treatment plant and would not cover the construction of a proposed pump station to move waste from the west side of town to the east plant.
Director of Public Works Bruce Carbaugh said staff raised the funding question with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) while reviewing a draft Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) tied to a solar field study and other plant upgrades; DPW will provide a technical brief to MDE and request a formal response on whether BRF monies can be applied to the pump-station work.
Why it matters: If BRF grants cannot fund the pump station, the town may need to identify other financing (loans or local funds) to complete the full project scope required for enhanced nutrient removal (ENR).
Operational figures reported in the minutes: spring flow was noted as 26 gallons per minute (about 37,440 gallons per day); December water use was reported at 295,730 gallons; a separate spring-flow figure in the minutes was given as 40,822 gallons (time period not specified). The East WWTP treated about 165,000 gallons and the West WWTP about 146,000 gallons in the referenced reporting period. The town received 1.9 inches of rain in December.
Drought status: The current drought monitor shows Middletown in a severe drought. Staff recommended remaining at Code Blue; they noted the town meets the conditions to move to Code Yellow but recommended continued Code Blue practices for the near term. Staff said that if the weather pattern persists they would likely recommend changes in March.
Next steps: DPW will submit a technical brief to MDE seeking clarification on BRF funding eligibility for the pump station and will return to the board with funding options and updated recommendations as the PER and related studies proceed.
