Harford County’s water and sewer division briefed the council on FY26 operating needs and capital projects that aim to maintain treatment capacity, address aging pipe infrastructure and expand equipment for laboratory and monitoring needs.

Key figures presented by Deputy Director Bill Bettine and engineering staff:
- Customers and system: about 47,000 customer accounts serving roughly 30,000 residents; roughly 12.6 million gallons per day of drinking water production capacity from three treatment plants; about 700 miles of water pipe and about 750 miles of sewer pipe in the system.
- Staffed operations: the utility has roughly 167 water and sewer employees who operate treatment plants, pumping stations and distribution/collection systems.

Major FY26 capital and operating items raised in the presentation:
- Abingdon Water Treatment Plant: design and upgrades include a pH adjustment system project with a FY26 request of about $2,000,000 and a larger electrical/standby generation upgrade with a $5,500,000 FY26 request to replace an aging standby generator and update switchgear to improve resilience.
- Water main renewals and pipe replacements: ongoing renewal projects such as the Bridal Estates water main replacement and a systemwide resurfacing/resiliency program; the water resurfacing request was roughly $5.0 million for FY26.
- SCADA and control systems: modernization of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to support remote monitoring of treatment plants, booster stations and about 55 sewer pump stations.
- Bush Creek sewer pump station: ongoing replacement work and upgrades; staff requested an additional $2,000,000 in FY26 to advance pump station replacement and electrical upgrades.

Operational pressures cited
- Electricity, chemical and laboratory costs rose in the budget narrative. Several budget lines were increased to reflect higher projected consortium electricity rates, increased chemical usage and new laboratory requirements (including expanded PFAS testing). DPW staff said PFAS monitoring and lab equipment increases are included in the FY26 request.
- Staffing and turnover: the budget narrative showed salary and COLA increases and noted some turnover and the impact of a recent retirement incentive; the division described ongoing recruitment and training to replace experienced staff.

Rates and billing
- Council and staff discussed options to address customer concerns (including monthly billing to give customers earlier notice of unexpected increases). County leaders also confirmed that the council did not approve a proposed water/sewer rate increase in this budget cycle; staff said the utility will continue work to control operating costs while meeting regulatory obligations.

What’s next: engineering staff asked the council to approve capital appropriations so the county can advance design and construction contracts for the Abingdon plant and pump stations, and to continue SCADA and system renewal programs scheduled in the multi‑year water and sewer capital plan.

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