When are the commissioners going to address the issue with the continued decline of Charles County’s water supply? As a Fire Protection contractor in the area it’s becoming a major safety concern for the sprinkler systems that have been installed and are being installed (currently and in the future).

A recent project I’ve been working on in the town of LaPlata has such a poor water supply that we’ve been having problems getting the Fire Pump tests passed with the State of Maryland Fire Marshal because the water supply wouldn’t allow us to run the Fire pump above 100% of the system demand (which is required for system testing). It would barely (and I mean minimally at a fraction of a number) allow the system to function correctly at 100%. If there is continued residential and commercial growth and nothing is done about the underground water supply then the county is only going to make the problems worse by sucking more water out of the supply and causing more problems.

I think people forget that the underground water pipes aren’t just for drinking water, flushing toilets, bathing water, and watering your lawns, but it also supplies the Automatic Fire Sprinkler systems in all the buildings that have them (most commercial and newer residential homes). The design of those systems are designed primarily off of the water supply provided at each point of connection to the buildings they are in. As more businesses and residents are connected to the water supply and the amount of water goes down it could possibly put all of the sprinkler systems in the area in jeopardy.

It is being addressed in the 2012 Comprehensive Plan and the accompanying real WRE that will be completed at the same time. You are correct that our water supply issues must be addressed now and they are in some very creative and state of the art applications.

Mr. Chew, I see you are concerned about the Town of LaPlata’s water supply.  I’m sure you are aware that Rosewick Road is slated for dense development,  i.e. 3,000 - 5,.000 new homes.  I wonder if the Town has received approval from MDE to increase it’s Water Appropriation and Use Permit?  You may want to inquire about that, because until this approval is obtained the Town cannot continue on with its plans.

If not for the current Board of County Commissioners,  and in particular Commissioner Robinson, the water supply issue would be stuck on the “back burner”.

However, I understand that the County Commissioners are unable to control what the Town of LaPlata does regarding development, ditto for Indian Head, as these are incorporated Towns are are self-governing.  But they are still required to adhere to State Law and regulations, including obtaining a Water Appropriations and Use Permit from MDE for all water withdrawals exceeding 10,000 gallons per day or requesting an increase to their current Permit.

I wonder if the Town has received approval from MDE to increase it’s Water Appropriation and Use Permit?  You may want to inquire about that, because until this approval is obtained the Town cannot continue on with its plans.

Yeah, but don’t hold yer breath.  Have you ever known MDE to step in and say no more building due to not enough water?  I can only think of one and that was Frederick when the taps were full open with nothing coming out during a drought about 8 or so years ago.  Maybe the lack of water pressure to adequately run a fire prevention sprinkler will get their attention, but, somehow, I doubt it.

Sadly, I have to agree seahorse.  MDE is somewhat better about this than it used to be, but it is still sorely lacking.  Unfortunately, I think that until there’s a “crisis” situation, nothing will change significantly.

I remember the Frederick building moratorium well, but when it was lifted, development resumed at an even faster pace.  I guess the developers and their ilk were just sitting there like a bunch of spiders awaiting their prey!!

I have read the notes (reports) about the WRE meetings, apparently the last meeting for the group til summoned up again.

The one concern I have, and something I have to round up my smarter friends with the expertise to figure out and comment on : is using the aquifers to ‘store’ treated water’. Umm- thats our purist water being injected with ‘used’ though ‘clean enough’ water. What could be the unexpected consequences? I think caution should be used until we are very sure. I mean they say ‘fracking is safe.. and we know there are 2 points of view there.

However in the WIP meetings i was encouraged to hear- alternatives are being explored as I asked- to the waste water developers plan (Edelen property and the ERZ zone). Seems there might after all be money for up to date new septic systems for all at almost no cost to the Riviera citizens. A big diffe3rence from 6 months ago when I was told there were no approved systems, I was mistaken and also no grant money for such.For me: A quick call and search to the State of Maryland had assured me there were many alternatives and money available. So thanks for asking the State what the alternatives could be.

If that doesn’t work out I still have a couple more alternatives to a developer: that fixes the problem and is affordable to the County with bonds- no developer needed for funds- hence no developer drives the decisions in the County- but the County actually taking charge. AMAZINg thought, eh?

The following was sent to Commissioner Davis on December 10, 2010 and I’m still waiting for a reply!!!

Dear Commissioner Davis,

I am writing to you as a resident of District 2 who has lived in Charles County for over 56 years and whose family has resided here since 1934.

Over the past 20 years I have been very concerned about development and its’ adverse impact on our depleting groundwater supplies.
Charles County is 100 percent dependent on groundwater supplies for its residents from various aquifers, primarily the Upper and Lower Patapsco.

According to various reports from the Maryland Geological Survey and U.S. Geological Survey, Charles County will have difficulties meeting its growing demand for water. That “could lead to a water crisis of significant proportions,” according to the governor’s advisory committee on the management and protection of the state’s water resources executive summary of May 28, 2004. The report says “water levels in some aquifers in several areas of Southern Maryland are approaching the minimum sustainable management level.”

“Charles County . . . cannot supply the required water in 2030 . . . without drawdowns exceeding the 80 percent management levels at some locations,” the Maryland Geological Survey reported in 2005. In 2004, the agency said, “the greatest amount of drawdown has occurred in the Lower Patapsco aquifer with water levels as deep as 170 feet below sea level.”

The U.S. Geological Survey states: “Continued water-level declines at current rates could affect the long term sustainability of groundwater resources in Maryland’s heavily populated coastal plain. . . . The declines are especially large in Southern Maryland . . . where groundwater pumpage is projected to increase by more than 20 percent between 2000 and 2030.”

David Bolton, chief of hydrogeology with the Maryland Geological Survey, said in a 2005 Washington Post article: “The water is being withdrawn at a greater rate than it’s being recharged. When you have that going on, you wind up losing your water.”

In 2006, the Charles County commissioners established a Water Resources Advisory Committee to address this issue. The committee made several recommendations, including connections with the WSSC for the heaviest users in Waldorf, LaPlata and Bryans Road. That would allow the aquifers to “recharge,” which can take decades, and would ensure that an adequate supply remains available for residents with private wells.

As Charles County officials continue to approve more and more development, it goes without saying that the county could experience water shortages in the future. This would affect every resident in the county, including those residents using “municipal water” which is also groundwater from the aquifers.

I encourage you to review the Charles County Water Resource Advisory Committee Report of November 2006, which is very informative on this subject.

If we want Charles County to remain a vibrant, viable place to live, our water supply should always remain in the forefront and should never be taken for granted.

Cheryl:
That’s almost a year ago.  And not even an acknowledgment?  Maybe we need to start keeping tabs on the reply time from our elected leaders again.

I’m definitely keeping track of what I send and when or if I receive a response! 

However, I understand that the County Commissioners are unable to control what the Town of LaPlata does regarding development, ditto for Indian Head, as these are incorporated Towns are are self-governing.  But they are still required to adhere to State Law and regulations, including obtaining a Water Appropriations and Use Permit from MDE for all water withdrawals exceeding 10,000 gallons per day or requesting an increase to their current Permit.

There needs to be something done about this.  Everyone sucks out of the same aquifers—water knows no boundaries.  If La Plata allows 5,000 houses, it lowers the water table for all, and I’m not seeing MDE stepping up and telling La Plata to take a hike.

You’re right seahorse, something does need to be done - but herein lies the problem:  For all withdrawals greater than 10,000 gpd, the towns of Indian Head and LaPlata file separately with MDE for a Water Appropriation and Use Permit and those permits are issued to those particular towns, not to the county.  In other words, it’s up to MDE to determine how these withdrawals will affect other users in the county.  The county pretty much has its hands tied on this.

I think the State of Maryland, i.e. MDE must be held accountable, but that’s easier said than done.  I think it would be up to the Commissioners to take this up with MDE.  This is one of the problems with LaPlata continuing to annex property such as much of the area along Rosewick Road, where over the years there could be as many as 5,000 new homes and golf courses (which alone use thousands of gallons of water per day). 

As you say, we ALL use the same aquifers,and it doesn’t matter if it’s for “municipal” use or private use, eventually the possibility of water shortages will affect us all!

I am very surprised to hear that the Town’s Water system is having trouble; I was under the impression that the Town has added a new tank at Rosewick Road and has a fully interconnected system. Are test results availble to the public?

Sincerely,

James

You should be able to obtain all the information regarding the Town’s wells at Town Hall.  This is public information.

Thank you, I will check it out!!!!