The Cecil County Department of Public Works recently put into service a new public sewer line serving a section of Rte. 40 and Marley Rd. in North East, MD. Property owners fronting on the sewer line were notified of connection requirements consistent with
Cecil County Sanitary District Policy Memorandum #2. In addition, approximately 130 existing developed properties identified as being in a sewer service area, but not currently connected, were notified of the requirements and the potential availability of financial assistance.
The Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) may provide financial assistance to property owners who connect a property currently served by an onsite sewage system to a wastewater treatment plant. This program has been available since 2010, but a waiting list for Best Available Technology (BAT) units had limited the available funds. The waiting list has been cleared this fiscal year and the Division of Environmental Health Services is reaching out to property owners about potential public sewer connections. To be eligible, all of the following conditions must be met:
- The proposed sewer connection must be to a wastewater plant that treats to BNR (Biological Nutrient Removal) or ENR (Enhanced Nutrient Removal) standards. Currently Town of Elkton, Town of Perryville, and the County’s Northeast River and Meadowview plants treat to these standards. Connections to other wastewater plants are not grant eligible.
- The property must be mapped as S1 or S2 in the Cecil County Master Water & Sewer Plan. The website http://www.ccgov.org/home/showdocument?id=1498 can be used to determine whether the property is in a S1 or S2 designated area, or you may contact the Cecil County Health Department and we will check for you.
- The property must be in a Priority Funding Area (PFA). The website http://mdpgis.mdp.state.md.us/pfa/ can be used to verify whether the property is in a PFA. Properties identified as in a “PFA Comment Area” must apply to receive a “Smart Growth Exception”.
- The development and septic system on the property must have existed prior to October 1, 2008. Grants cannot be used to pay for new development.
If a property meets these conditions
and BRF funds are available, a property owner may apply for a BRF grant for financial assistance. Grants may be applied to connection fees and to construction of the service connection. Three bids must be obtained by the property owner to determine the eligible cost of the construction. A copy of the grant application can be obtained at
http://cecilcountyhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Bay-Restitution-Fund-Application-FY-2019.pdf. Completed applications should be submitted to the Cecil County Health Department, 401 Bow St, Elkton, MD 21921. For more information, contact the Division of Environmental Health Services at 410-996-5160.
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The Cecil County Health Department, in partnership with the community, strives to improve the health of Cecil County and its residents by providing leadership to find solutions to our health problems through assessment, policy development and assurance of quality health services and education.
The Cecil County Department of Public Works recently put into service a new public sewer line serving a section of Rte. 40 and Marley Rd. in North East, MD. Property owners fronting on the sewer line were notified of connection requirements consistent with Cecil County Sanitary District Policy Memorandum #2. In addition, approximately 130 existing developed properties identified as being in a sewer service area, but not currently connected, were notified of the requirements and the potential availability of financial assistance.
