MDE GRANTS CITY PERMANENT USE OF WELL #4

Frederick, Md. --- The City of Frederick received word from the Maryland Department of the Environment on Friday, May 2, that a permanent water appropriation and use permit for Well #4 had been granted. This is the second time in seven weeks that the City has received good news regarding additional allocable water supply for city residents and businesses. Pursuant to the MDE permit, the City will be able to draw 365,000 gpd of water from the well. The City will only use water from Well #4 for peak day demands. The 12-year permit (FR2002G022(03)) will expire in May 2015.

The Well #4 project has been actively worked on since last August when the City was facing a less than 30 days supply of drinking water. Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty praises the cooperative work effort between the City Departments of Engineering and Public Works and MDE, “Dedicated staff and cooperative efforts with MDE, made this project a success. Since my first day in office we have been talking about water! Today I am pleased and proud of the progress we have made.”

Mayor Dougherty added, “Last month we were able to issue Water Service Contracts and building permits, ending the nearly 15-month dry spell of development. In the coming weeks the Water Service Committee will once again announce whom additional Water Service Contracts will be issued to as a result of Well #4’s water. The water moratorium that the City of Frederick faced for over a year has officially been replaced by a water management system that we are finally seeing come to fruition!”

Pursuant to the conditions of the permit, the City will be responsible for several aspects in relation to sinkholes:

Periodic Sinkhole Surveying – Once a week while Well #4 is in use, the City will visually inspect the site; and once a month when the well is not in service. The City will be responsible for keeping a record of any depressions, ponded water, disappearing drainage, soil piping, circular or semi-circular features, washouts, cracked or falling away ground, dips, sags or slumps, or any other feature that may be associated with a sinkhole.

Public Notice – The City will place a sign in the Monocacy Village Park, near Well #4, with a phone number, contact point and address where citizens can make a report of a possible sinkholes.

Report of Sinkhole Occurrences – The City shall inform MDE of any occurrences or reports of occurrences within 24 hours. Repairs shall not be made to a sinkhole until directed by MDE. The City also must make a record of the time and date of occurrence, and dimensions, as well as photo documentation.

Annual Report of Sinkhole Activity - The City will prepare and submit an annual report of assessment of sinkhole activity to MDE.

The next step for the City is to complete the process of hiring a firm to assist with Water Resource Development & Optimization Plan. The Water Resource Development & Optimization Plan will address the issues of overall well field operation and water softening techniques. The water from Well #4, which will only be used for peak day demands, is relatively hard in comparison to water from the City’s other sources. This firm will also assist the City as it continues to look for additional sources of water, including: well development, La Farge Quarry, the Potomac River and the optimization of existing sources of supply.

City of Frederick Interim Departmental Manager of Engineering, Paul Lee, stated, “With the completion of the Water Resource and Optimization Study, we hope to have a plan in place by the fall of 2003 that will lay out for the City an economical and feasible water supply/development plan (“blueprint”) that will provide the City with allocable water for managed growth annually until the Potomac transmission line comes into service in 2005.”

The City’s Water Service Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 21, 2003, 10 a.m., City Hall Board Room. It is estimated that additional Water Service Contracts will be issued resulting in approximately 600 dwelling units.

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