Board of Public Works approves $19.5 million to remove PFAS chemicals from Hampstead water
Hampstead officials have been monitoring unsafe levels of PFAS in the town's well water for several years now, but soon hope to begin construction on a long-sought solution.
The Board of Public Work on Wednesday approved a $19.5 million appropriation for Hampstead, which is embarked on a $31 million project to build granular activated carbon filters around town that will remove the contaminant from the drinking water. The project also includes pipelines to deliver the water for treatment and the possibility of upgrading one filtering site to nitrate treatment in the future.
Hampstead Mayor Christopher Nevins, who atteended Wednesday's board meeting to support the appropriation, said engineering for the project is done and it's time to start construction.
'It's been in engineering now for well over a year, and the plan has always been to work with MDE,' he said, referring to the Maryland Department of the Environment, which presented the request.
Otherwise known as 'forever chemicals,' per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in a Hampstead drinking well in 2021. The human-made chemical compounds are used in consumer products as well as other uses, according to a statement from the Maryland Department of the Environment.
MDE began monitoring for PFAS in 202o, and in 2022 it recorded levels of two different types of forever chemicals, according to the town's 2022 Annual Water Report, which said it found PFOA at concentrations of 1.41 to 8.08 parts per trillion, and PFOS at levels under 1 ppt up to 5 pp.
In 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency announced maximum concentration levels of 4.0 ppt for both PFOA and PFOS.
The project is nearly done with the engineering phase, Nevin said. The next step is constructing the water lines and revised new pump houses with granular activated carbon, which is used for water purification, he said.
The board on Wednesday also approved millions of dollars in funding with little debate for an online data platform, nine public library projects, arts and culture in Columbia and green development throughout the state, among other projects. Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) was not able to attend Wednesday's meeting but the board's other two members, Gov. Wes Moore (D) and state Treasurer Dereck Davis (D), were present.
The board approved $124.31 million in funding to transfer an online data platform from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Information Technology.
The Maryland Total Human-services Integrated Network, or MD THINK, lets state agencies share technical services and data online to provide a one-stop shop for child welfare and support information, according to its website. Currently operated by the DHS, the MD THINK Committee voted in September to make the DoIT the platform operator instead of the DHS.
The DoIT did not respond to requests Wednesday for comment on the shift.
Grants totaling $7.2 million will go to the Maryland State Library Agency to improve nine library projects throughout the state.
'Our public libraries play an incredibly important role in our communities, because they really are more than just homes for books,' Moore said. 'They serve as community centers. They serve as places where people get internet access. They really do represent all the different places and spaces that people in Maryland really enjoy.'
The allotments include a contribution of $249,000 toward construction of a Park Heights library in Baltimore, which has already received $5 million from the state, according to the meeting agenda. Other funding includes $1.55 million for a Cecil County library in Elkton and $1.1 million toward the Friendsville Library in Garrett County.
The board also approved $4 million for improvements of Merriweather Post Pavilion in downtown Columbia, part of a total $57.5 million project. In the past decade, the Columbia Arts and Culture Commission has worked to revitalize the venue, Moore said.
'It's becoming true economic gain for Howard County,' Moore said. ' We're so proud to keep on supporting success. I know that I have personally enjoyed going out there.'
The Department of Natural Resources will receive $4 million for its Greenspace Equity Program, which implements development of open space projects in underserved communities. According to its website, the program aims to preserve public greenspace to increase livability in these areas.
'Since 2023, Department of Natural Resources has protected over 20,000 acres — just an absolutely outstanding number,' Moore said. 'It is truly legacy work.'
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