NEWS RELEASE

Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 27, 2003

CITY OF FREDERICK RECEIVES MDE APPROVAL ON REVISED OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

CHANGES RESULT IN 260,000gpd ALLOCABLE WATER

Frederick, Md. --- The City of Frederick received Maryland Department of the Environment approval late yesterday to replace the City’s existing Safe Yield of 8.89mgd with a new Safe Adequate Capacity of 9.7mgd. This operational management change in the City’s water system will result in 260,000gpd of allocable water, effective upon the adoption of Administrative Guidelines for the Water Allocation Ordinance. Paul Lee, Interim Departmental Manager of the City’s Engineering Department, Alice Miller, P.E., Assistant City Engineer – Hydraulics and Hydrology, Dan Christy, P.E., Assistant City Engineer – Water and Sewer, Fred Eisenhart, Director of Public Works and Marc Stachowski, Water and Sewer Division Chief, have been working with MDE since late summer to reassess the City’s existing water system management and have developed an operational plan to maximize the use of our existing water system.

This process was part of the adopted Strategic Water Management Plan that required the City pursue additional water sources. “We never stopped looking for additional water sources,” stated Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty. “This is a direct result of team work by many City employees, specifically from our Engineering and Public Works departments. Incredible dedication and creativity are attributed to this project.” The team, many relatively new to the City, took a fresh approach in evaluating the City’s water system management. Each team member brought a bounty of prior knowledge and experience specially related to water that combined with an ongoing collaborative effort with MDE made this a successful exploration for the City. Changes to the operation of the City’s Fishing Creek Reservoir will allow that water source to be reserved for peak demand. “The concept, which is the City’s best management practice, uses our Fishing Creek Reservoir to respond to peak needs while relying on the Monocacy River and Linganore Creek during extreme droughts,” stated Fred Eisenhart, director of the City’s Department of Public Works. He added that water gained from this approach will first be used to meet the demand of the City’s current water users.

The City will continue to look at additional sources of water, including: well development, La Farge Quarry, the Potomac River and system management. Last summer the City initiated a Leak Detection Program based on information from a report conducted in 2000 that stated 30% of the City’s water supply was lost to leaks.

MDE has required the peaking factor will remain at 1.3 and the Average Day Demand to remain at 7.2. This is “most responsible until further review of demand is done when we are not under drought conditions or water restrictions,” stated Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty. The 1.3 peaking factor, which is included in the Water Allocation Ordinance, was determined using the best engineering advice given at the time the Water Allocation Ordinance was adopted.

“This reassessment is the first step towards reestablishing development within the City,” stated Paul Lee, Interim Departmental Manager of Engineering. “The City thanks MDE for their continued efforts in ascertaining solutions to our water problems. Open communications partnered with quick responses have allowed the City to begin development once again.”

The City’s Water Service Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, April 2, 2003, 10 a.m., City Hall Board Room, to adopt the Water Service Administrative Guidelines. If passed, the committee will be prepared to issue Water Service Contracts according to the system established in the Water Allocation Ordinance. It is the City’s expectation that after over 14 months of static building, building permits will be issued late next week.

The City will learn if MDE has approved a Permanent Appropriation Permit for Well #4 on May 9, 2003. If approved, it is estimated that the City will have an additional 365,000gpd of allocable water supply. This water will be allocated immediately, however water from Well #4 will only be used for peak day demand.

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