Mayo Sewage Upgrades Begin Phase One Construction
May 25, 2012 
2 Comments
The Mayo Treatment Plant is getting upgrades.
An alert Source reader, Patricia Boarman, recently found that Howard Robinson, Inc. had applied to increase the existing allocation of groundwater to facilitate construction at the Mayo Reclamation Facility, located at 551 Pure Water Way in Edgewater.
What this means in plain English is that someone wants to increase the amount of water they are taking up from aquifers in Mayo for a construction project. The application asked to draw approximately an extra 10,000 gallons of water per day.
Boarman’s concern was that if the water allocation for one location was doubled, then what would happen to the rest of the residential wells/home water supplies in Mayo? Would wells in the area dry up? Would Mayo residents suddenly find themselves with no running water?
We reached out to Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works spokesman Matt Diehl, who told us that indeed Howard Robinson, Inc. had put in a request to double the existing groundwater allocation to upgrade the Mayo Sewage Treatment Facility.
Diehl said that the Phase I work on the treatment facility involves excavation, and that requires the contractor to manage groundwater they expect to encounter.
“It is typical for contractors to do this by installing well-points in the immediate area to temporarily lower the groundwater in the immediate vicinity of the excavation,” Diehl said.
Diehl said the work should not impact residential wells.
Diehl also included a work list for Phase I:
- Accelerate replacement of limited operational components given delays to Expansion/ENR Project.
- No Expansion Related Upgrades – Moratorium remains in place
- Phase 1 Upgrade – needed for systems near the end of useful life
- Main Pump Station – pump replacements
- Two covered flow equalization tanks
- Ultra-Violet Disinfection System replacement
- Upgrade Electrical Distribution System
- Emergency Back-up Power
- Upgrade System Controls (SCADA)
I disagree with no wells will be impacted, when the water table is lowered, it can and most likely will dry up some wells in the area. Before I was told no permit needed by the contractor, today, the State Of Md. requires a permit whereby residents can complain until May 31, 2012 by calling 410-537-3590. If the residents in the area are compelled to have Public Water vs. wells this is going to bring sprawling growth to the area lifting any moritoriums as another criteria has been met for adequate facilities. If the water table drops too low, an extension in the ground to pull water up usually doesn’t work, so the cost goes to the homeowners and businesses to drill a new well. Speak out now, do not let this happen, this is only the beginning, others will follow suit and get a permit to build construction where they want with no concern of those who live in the area. Thanks Mitchelle for alerting the residents and businesses in the area of this great concern, this could eventually affect other nearby communities if this is allowed to continually happen and it will if this isn’t stopped now.
Thank you for the helpful reply Patricia!