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MDE Issues a Notice of Final Determination for Centreville's request for additional groundwater (spray) discharge.
MDE Water System Inspection Report from December 2006 - "Similar to last year's inspection, the free chlorine residual in the Town's distribution system (<0.1mg/l in several locations) was barely detectible and lower than is recommended (minimum 0.2mg/l). Please ensure that the chlorinators are maintained or increase the chlorine feed to better protect the system from bacteriological contamination." Wastewater (sewer) and Water (wells) Treatment Plant Operation Records - Daily wastewater flows for April 2004 - December 2006 and water flows reports for April 2004 - March 2007. Here is an Excel spreadsheet containing the daily flow records, the chart shown below and more. Comments submitted to MDE by Dan Worth concerning the expansion of spray discharge capacity to 542,000 gpd. Information from the 3/26 MDE public hearing concerning the expansion of spray discharge capacity to 542,000 gpd.
Spray Field Monitor Well report from April 2006 MDE Field Inspection reports from May 2006 to September 2006 MDE Spill Reports from Summer 2006 MDE Field Inspection reports from August 2005 to March 2006 Here is a copy of the current Ground Water Discharge Permit Here is a copy of the MDE's Wastewater Capacity Management Plan Guidance Document and MDE's Water Supply Capacity Management Plan Guidance Document From the Town's website - August 4, 2006 Centreville, MD: Electical outages and hot weather yesterday were the likely contributors to an electrical and pump malfunction at the Centreville North Pump Station that resulted in a wastewater discharge this morning. Maryland Environmental Service (MES), which operates the wastewater system on behalf of the Town of Centreville, were monitoring the system yesterday during approximately four hours of intermittent power outages, using backup generators and replacing a blown fuse. By evening the power was restored and the plant functioning normally. However, overnight a pump failed and, according to an electrical subcontractor called in this morning, an electrical relay between the pump and the alarm system failed to engage due to the heat. When staff reported for work this morning the pump and electrical alarm failures had resulted in an overflow from the pump station into an adjoining drainage ditch, thence into the Gravel Run tributary in the Corsica Watershed. MES staff responded immediately to contain the spill, estimated at 7,700 gallons, and engaged a temporary pump system. While repairs are ongoing, an additional temporary pump is being brought in and staff will monitor the situation at frequent intervals overnight and through the weekend. Here is a copy of the Town's Water and Sewer Allocation Policy Treatment plant draws criticism -- Mismanagement, not criminality, noted at Centreville sewage facility by grand jury article in the 4/27/2006 Baltimore Sun - "In its report, the jury criticized the Maryland Department of the Environment for relying too heavily on self-reporting by town employees of sewage discharges. The panel outlined a half-dozen recommendations for increasing scrutiny on small municipal plants, including hiring more inspectors and stepping up random and unannounced inspections." Here is a copy of the Grand Jury report regarding environmental crimes in Centreville. Here is a copy of the Settlement Agreement between the Town and MDE concerning last year's spills behind the ACME and at the North Pumping station. Here is a copy of the current stream discharge permit MDE Spray Field Inspection Report from April 25, 2005. See "Request more Discharge" button on the left. Video of the Town's Appearance at the 3/28/2006 County Commissioners Meeting where they are now requesting a 567,000 gpd discharge. See "Request more Discharge" button on the left. Video of the Town's Appearance at the 3/14/2006 County Commissioners Meeting where they request a 542,000 gpd discharge. See "Request more Discharge" button on the left. The County's 2006 Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan is now available. Kurt Babe's Comments at County Water & Sewer Hearing - "Allow me to point out a number of areas that the Town of Centreville is noncompliant and further make the case for a rejection of their request to modify the buffer zone." See "Request more Discharge" button on the left. The Soil Conservation Plan for the Spray Irrigation Field - Persistence pays:
The Current Water Permit - "ALLOCATION - THE WATER WITHDRAWAL GRANTED BY THIS PERMIT IS LIMITED TO: A DAILY AVERAGE OF 645,000 GALLONS ON A YEARLY BASIS AND ..." Excerpts from the County's 2005 Water and Sewer plan - "The Centreville water system is authorized to use an average of 355,000 gpd and a maximum use of 400,000 gpd."
How to make a public information request to MDE - see MDE's guide for Requestors for the types of information available. The easiest method is to send an e-mail to Wendy Donaldson wdonaldson@mde.state.md.us. There usually isn't a charge unless it is a huge document. County introduces amendment to Title 18 to regulate spray irrigation Sveinn Storm's concerns over unreported sewer backup at High School - at County Commissioners 5/3/2005 Results of Infiltration and Inflow Study - Report, Appendix "Report shows major issues within town’s sewer system Town’s sewer capacity affected by inflow" article in 5/8/2005 Star-Democrat - "While there is old terra cotta piping in the town, some of the infrastructure is iron piping. The most severe damage lies along Liberty Street. The pipes have terrible structural damage and there are holes in the pipes, said Katzmire." Letter from MDE 9/15/2005 denying some of the documents requested under the Public Information Act. Letter from MDE to the Town 6/20/2005 - "The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is concerned about the recent overflows from the Centreville sewer system. Internal MDE e-mail 4/25/2005 defining the permitted flow rate: "... the yearly average flow is the yearly accumulated flow divided by the total number of days in a year." Letter from URS to MDE 12/30/2004 outlining the plans the Town has to increase spray capacity on the existing field. "Based on data from the operational influent flowmeter, the peaking factor is lower than the original design considered. Therefore, the Town will approach MDE to get a separate rerate for the treatment facility ..." WBAL to receive Peabody Award for last year's report about Centreville - "This ongoing WBAL investigative report probes the impact of rapid development and resulting pollution in a small Eastern Maryland town. In part as a result of these efforts, the State of Maryland has overhauled the way it deals with development as it relates to the environment." EPA Compliance Data for Centreville WWTP - links to the results of a query of the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History (ECHO) database. WBAL-TV Stories: |
