Environment department seeks permanent program for reservoir augmentation using treated wastewater
Summary
Senate Bill 265 would establish a permanent permitting program for indirect potable reuse by reservoir augmentation, building on a 2023 pilot for the city of Westminster; MDE officials described the technology as established elsewhere and said the bill would expand Maryland's water‑supply toolkit amid localized shortages.
Representatives of the Maryland Department of the Environment asked the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee to approve Senate Bill 265, which would establish a permit framework for reservoir augmentation—an indirect potable reuse process that treats wastewater to drinking‑water standards, stores it in a reservoir, and treats it again for distribution.
Alex Butler of MDE said the bill builds on a 2023 pilot program in Westminster and would allow communities to use treated reclaimed water when water supplies tighten due to drought or growing demand. MDE water‑supply program manager Greg Busch described reuse as a long‑standing technology used in other states and said reservoir augmentation can reduce pressure on streams and rivers during droughts while supporting local economic growth.
Deputy Director Matt Rowe said the program will provide consistency for future projects and public‑health protections, and that technical amendments included in the committee packet were clarifying. MDE requested a favorable report on SB 265.
The hearing concluded with no committee vote recorded in the transcript; MDE staff stayed for subsequent panels.
