Harford County Maryland - Department of Public works

Harford County, Maryland

Department of Public Works

212 South Bond Street, Bel Air, MD 21014

410.638.3285 / 410.879.2000

News From Harford County Water and Sewer

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

BILLING QUESTIONS	410-638-3311
ADMINISTRATION/NEW SERVICE	410-638-3300
METER & WATER PRESSURE PROBLEMS; SEWER BACK-UPS	410-612-1612
WATER QUALITY	410-638-3939
TREATMENT-WASTEWATER	410-273-5617

EMERGENCY 24-HOUR NUMBER: 410-612-1612

BNR, the Bay and You

Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) is a scientific term for an important measure of saving the Bay. The BNR process at a wastewater treatment plant helps remove over forty percent of the nutrients that used to be discharged to the Chesapeake Bay.

These nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, in the right quantities can act as algae fertilizer, spreading unwanted colonies of oxygen-consuming algae all over the Bay.

Recently, the Joppatowne Wastewater Plant, off of Shore Drive, became the County's first fully operational BNR facility.

The county's largest plant, Sod Run, is currently undergoing a $36 million BNR and flow upgrade to further protect the Bay.

The Maryland Department of the Environment has contributed funds towards the Sod run project and soon Harford County citizens will see a Bay protection fee as part of their sewer bill. More details on the BNR fee will be available in our next mailer, along with contact personnel for additional information.

Learn more about BNR and the Bay at our information booth at the Harford County Expo or call Wayne Ludwig at 410-273-5617 for a group tour or lecture information.

MORE AWARDS FOR QUALITY

The Operations Section of Water and Sewer continues to impress local, regional and national officials.

Our Water Plant Top Operators team of Talad Said, Allen Webb and Roger Wagoner came away with a bronze medal at the National top Op challenge held in June.

Supervisor James Hynes was honored as the Chesapeake Wastewater Operator Association Trainer of the Year.

The Stanley Kappe Award goes to the individual who exemplifies training accomplishments. Mr. Hynes initiated many system safety programs.

Chief of Operations, Wayne Ludwig recently co-authored a textbook published by the Water Environment Federation. The "Septage Handling manual of Practice" highlights the County management program for septic tank pumpouts and the regulations permitted their discharge and treatment at Sod Run. Staff member Christine Warfield assisted in preparation of the manuscript.

WATER USE Routine activities may use more water than you realize. To reduce your usage and your water bill, study the figures below to find areas where savings may be possible.
SOURCE OF WATER	AVERAGE GALLONS USED-EACH USE	APPROX PERCENT OF TOTAL BILL

BATHS & SHOWERS	30-60	30
TOILETS	5-7	28
CLOTHES WASHER	30-60	22
FAUCETS	2	12
OUTDOOR WATERING	10 PER MIN	5
DISHWATER	10-15	3

Please Note: An unrepaired leak or a running toilet can cause a quarterly usage bill to be 5 or 6 times the normal amount. To avoid this happening at your home, turn off a leaky appliance at the shut-off valve when you see or hear a leak and have it repaired promptly.

DRINKING WATER QUALITY

Source water protection is one of our water quality goals. The County produces and treats water from the Perryman wellfield, the Susquehanna River and Loch Raven reservoir.

Based on a 1980 City-County Agreement, we also must purchase about one million gallons a day from the City of Havre de Grace's Susquehanna plant.

This time of year we are treating and producing about forty (40) TONS of water per MINUTE for your use.

Although the average household only consumes ONE HALF OF ONE PERCENT of the water we produce for drinking we must treat every drop as if it is going to be consumed.

Our 1997 lead and copper follow-up monitoring has been completed with excellent, as expected, results. Mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, this follow-up monitoring is required to assure our initial program and the resulting corrosion control system is working efficiently.