1. Is it safe to participate in boating and other recreational activities on Mill Creek? Will there be continued testing of water quality in the coming months? How can I access this information? Are water testing kits available to homeowners?

The Department of Health reopened Mill Creek on January 20, 2006. The creek was reopened once test results from samples collected from Mill Creek showed that the water met standards acceptable for swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing and other direct or indirect water contact activities. Water quality conditions at three locations on Mill Creek will continue to be monitored by the Department of Health on a monthly basis through the spring and on a weekly basis during the swim season (from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2006.)

>> More information about water quality and Mill Creek
>> Aadvisories on crabbing or fishing, Maryland Department of the Environment

Bacterial testing will also be done by Public Works’ environmental consultant, Bayland Consultants, and the Magothy River Association (MRA) in the tidal waters and at three (3) locations in Mill Creek from early March through October.

Bayland will also sample non-tidal portions of Mill Creek and Dividing Creek from early March until December 17, 2006. Other pollutants to be tested include nutrients and physical parameters.

Bottom sediments will be sampled by Bayland from both Mill Creek and Dividing Creek in March/April for bacteria, organic content, nutrients, heavy metals and sediment particle size. The data from these studies will be shared with the MRA and will become part of the final report and assessment conducted by Bayland.

There are no home test kits that accurately measure bacteriological water quality. Water samples must be collected and analyzed by a certified laboratory. A certified laboratory participates in proficiency testing and on-site certification inspections to ensure strict guidelines, standard methods and laboratory protocols are being followed during sample analysis. The water samples from Mill Creek are being analyzed by the Maryland State Laboratory, which is certified to perform the test for enterococci bacteria. The use of a certified laboratory assures that quality control standards are being met and increases the level of confidence in the water quality test results. For a list of certified laboratories, call the Department of Health’s Recreational Water Quality Program at (410) 222-7241.

>> Department of Health’s Mill Creek FAQs

2. Are there any effects on the assessment of our property value resulting from this incident?

Please refer to the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation to determine how to find out if you are qualified for a tax assessment adjustment.

If you prefer to call, the number is (410) 974-5709.

3. What is the history of spills associated with the Mill Creek Pump Station?

4.  What are the monitoring and maintenance schedules for pump stations before and after a spill?

Pumping stations are continuously monitored utilizing a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system which is a remote monitoring system that monitors equipment at all times. This is augmented by routine Technician visits who deal with 70% of all issues arising from station operation, including frequency based preventive maintenance. Items not handled by service area Technicians are tracked by the Team creating work orders for major mechanical, electrical and instrumentation by experienced specialists. When a spill occurs, resources are directed to identify the root cause of the problem and work to prevent any recurrence. This may result in a specific repair or the recommendation of a major project to retrofit existing infrastructure. This effort continues until all parties involved are confident that the immediate problem and other possible ramifications are resolved. Significant redundancy has been built into all of our pump stations to provide the ability to minimize the impact of malfunction and get the station back on line promptly. Unusual circumstances rendered Mill Creek from being put back in service for 26-hours. This is highly unusual. After any pump station spill and some period of time to ensure everything has been corrected and is working as intended, we return to normal visits.

Preventive Maintenance is based on specific types of equipment and performed specific to each facility on a monthly, quarterly semi?annual or annual basis. Vibration inspection of major equipment and infrared testing of electrical components is also a tool we use.

>> More information on the SCADA System 

Regarding other parts of the system, currently, we have completed internal photographic inspection of the interceptor along Benfield Road. We have also completed similar inspection of the Broadneck interceptor from Shore Acres Road to the Broadneck WRF. Results of these inspections have indicated need for limited further closed caption television (CCTV) to define areas in need of rehabilitation. Currently, this is the highest priority area and we will systematically inspect other similar sections of concrete pipe throughout the County over the next year. There are significant sections of concrete gravity pipe in our Patuxent and Baltimore City Sewer Service Areas, however, they are not connected to long force mains and pumping stations which increase the generation of hydrogen sulfide. 

5. Is it feasible to turn off the public water in an area affected by a sewer system failure to avoid a large spill into a waterway?

It is technically possible to shut down the water supply to the entire area that is otherwise generating the flows to the Mill Creek pumping station. However, this would not be acceptable to the public and commercial customer base.  Citizens rely on the water supply for items such as medical equipment (i.e. dialysis) and fire flow capability and therefore public safety would be compromised. There would also be significant economic impact to the business community. It is not a viable or feasible solution for controlling wastewater overflows.

6. Can we ever expect to be rid of the smell emanating from the pump station?

As you may be aware, the county recently finished a capital project to install an improved odor control device at Mill Creek late last year. We were in the process of  balancing the airflow through the device to minimize odors at the site when the current pipe failure occurred. During the last two (2) months, the station interruption has caused the odor control device to be short circuited. Until the end of April, this disruption will continue as we by pass flows from the upstream sewer line to the pump wet well, requiring hatches to be left open. During this timeframe manholes will also periodically be open in order to rehabilitate the sewer lines.

7.  Who do we call if we notice an increase in odor or other problem at the pump station?

Please call our Dispatch office at (410) 222-8400 to report sewer odors. Our emergency dispatchers are on duty 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Employees are on standby to respond should there be a problem at any of our facilities.  Please call when you notice a problem so that employees can respond, observe, evaluate and initiate means to resolve the issue. Dispatch will contact the standby Technician. During normal plant hours (7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) , you can call Broadneck Water Reclamation Facility at (410) 222-1510. Team Manager Marty Johnson and his staff will investigate the source of the odors.

8. Has the County considered ways to improve community notification after sewer spills?

The Department of Public Works and the Health Department worked jointly throughout 2005 to rewrite the Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notification Policy to ensure the best notification possible using available resources. This policy was summarized in the Customer Update Autumn 2005 and sent to all public water and sewer customers in their utility bills.

>> Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) Response and Public Notification 

Much of this policy is dictated by state regulation through MDE. The Department of Public Works and the Health Department are committed to continuing to work together to improve our notification practices.

>> Department of Health’s Website

9. How did you calculate the volume of sewage and sediment that entered Mill Creek as a result of the December 17, 2005 spill?

The volume of the sediment and soil from the sinkhole was estimated using field observations and from photographs of the initial sinkhole. Bayland estimated the volume of the sinkhole to be 1,700 cubic yards. The estimated volume of sewage that was deposited into Mill Creek is summarized and described below.

10. How did you estimate the amount of material (sand, sewage, silt, etc.) that was deposited in Mill Creek, how far it traveled, and where it was deposited in the Creek?

Bayland performed a sediment mass balance calculation, which estimated the amount of material that was washed from the sinkhole and predicted where this material may have been deposited. The amount of material that was washed into the pump station wet well was estimated based on the size of the wet well. The amount of material that was deposited in the floodplain area in front of the bypass outfall was estimated from actual field measurements. Estimates on the amounts deposited in the other areas were based on visual observations of the stream and adjoining floodplain and use of best engineering judgment. It was assumed that the gravel and sand fractions of the sinkhole material were deposited in the floodplain and upper tidal area. It was also assumed that a limited quantity of sand was deposited in the non-tidal stream channel (i.e. 100 cubic yards) but that most of it was transported to the tidal delta.  The silt, loam, and other soil particles, which settle out at slower rates, were transported further out in the tidal area.  The deposition areas are summarized as follows:

The amount of solids contained in 3 MG of sewage was estimated to be 8 Cubic Yards. The majority of this material would be slow to settle and therefore was transported out into tidal Mill Creek and the Magothy River. The total amount of solids associated with the sewage is minimal as compared to the sand and silt from the sinkhole.

11. Please explain who obtained the emergency cleanup permits and how was it decided what area the permits would include? How will subsequent sewage cleanup permits be handled?

At the request of DPW, Bayland came to the site on Monday, December 19, 2005 to evaluate the conditions and discuss clean up procedures. They proceeded to contact the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to obtain approval to remove the deposited sediments. A contractor who was experienced in this type of cleanup work was called into service. On December 21, DPW and Bayland met a representative from MDE on site to discuss the proposed sediment removal from the floodplain and stream channel. The MDE representative asked that MDE Non-tidal wetlands be contacted to obtain approval to begin the work. On December 21, Bayland received authorization from MDE to perform the cleanup. 

Bayland submitted a non-tidal wetland permit application to MDE on January 9, 2006. The permit was issued by MDE on January 25, 2006, authorizing removal of deposited sediments within the prescribed limits (see attached) and final restoration of disturbed areas.

The sediments that were deposited in the floodplain were identified as originating from the sewage bypass soon after the event. Since they could be seen and measured, County officials in consultation with Bayland made a decision to move as quickly as possible to contain the material using straw bales and to initiate removal of the material and restore the site. The Maryland Department of the Environment was advised of the situation, visited the site, prepared a report and gave authorization to initiate the work to remove the material. The area consisted of floodplain, non-tidal wetlands, and stream channel. Further removal of materials will be determined based on information obtained from the bathymetric survey and on the sediment sampling and analysis. Citizen input was received and considered during the floodplain cleanup. Citizen and scientific input from the Magothy River Association (MRA) has been incorporated into the sediment sampling and analysis plan that will be performed over the next several months.

12.  Please explain the overflow at Mill Creek Pump Station. What is its function? Can it be eliminated or replaced with an alternative?

There are two other facilities with designed overflows: Cinder Cove and Riviera Beach. The purpose of these overflows is to minimize private property damage or more extensive damage to public property and infrastructure. In this case, without the overflow, the wastewater would have still flowed into Mill Creek, but it would have likely damaged exposed electrical switchgear equipment, overtopped Campus Green Drive and Old Jones Station Road, and potentially impacted private property. Unfortunately, any significant overflow will impact Mill Creek, but the overflow pipe limits damage to public and private property. 

The concept of providing adequate storage on-site to allow abandonment of the overflow has been discussed over the years. It is not considered feasible given the disproportionate expense versus the benefit gained. Furthermore, any amount of storage might prove insufficient if the outage were to occur for an extended period of time. Even a storage facility capable of holding 3 million gallons cannot physically fit on the given site and its costs would be prohibitive.  Again, while any overflow is unfortunate and the risk needs to be managed, the natural decomposition of wastewater will take place in the receiving body of water in a relative short period of time. Nevertheless, while abandonment of the overflow does not appear possible, we will review options to increase storage on-site and thereby lower the risk of overflow during limited periods of failure.

13. Please discuss the collection of sediment samples and consideration being given to the need for dredging.

Sediment samples will be collected in March/April following completion of the bathymetric survey. The samples will concentrate on the headwaters sediments since that is where the deposition is greatest. Visual observations of bottom sediments will be made in other representative areas of the creek. As noted above, given the nature of organic solids in sewage, they would have been transported downstream into tidal Mill Creek and then the Magothy River.

The bathymetric survey will be extended downstream to match the bathymetry collected after the dredging in 2001.  Additional cross sections will be surveyed to determine water depths outside the main channel.

Bottom sediments will be probed and observed during the bathymetric survey.

Bayland prepared the Mill Creek Sediment Pan in coordination with DPW, MDE and an experienced stream restoration contractor. 

>> The Sediment Plan 

14. Did the sewage spill result in any fines for the County and if so how are they paid?

The Utility Bureau is funded from user fees collected by customers and is a self supporting Enterprise Fund receiving no funding from property taxes. All users of the water and sewer system will ultimately pay for repairs, inspection, rehabilitation and cleanup.

The Maryland Department of the Environment has been kept informed on matters regarding the spill, cleanup and other plans. They will ultimately make a determination if fines will be levied for the sewage spill. We currently have an agreement with MDE in response to which we developed a Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance (CMOM) program countywide aimed at reducing sanitary sewer overflows. Anne Arundel County was one of the first in the state to develop this program. The State will verify that we responded to this incident consistent with the CMOM program.

15. In the geographic area that feeds into Mill Creek Pump Station there are still large areas that have private septic systems. When and how will these properties become part of the public sewer system and will this additional flow be sent to Mill Creek Pump Station?

The County’s Water and Sewer Master Plan delineates service area categories that define availability and extent of public sewer service. The goal of the master plan is to ensure planned and orderly extension of public infrastructure to accommodate planned growth and development. Many of the areas within the Broadneck Service Area are existing homes on private septic systems with limited potential for further development. These areas are categorized as “future service” meaning they are not currently planned to be served with public sewer, but may be in the future. Typically, these areas receive public sewer by petitioning the County to extend service to replace failing or compromised on-site septic systems. At this time, it is not possible to determine whether these flows would be conveyed through the Mill Creek Pumping Station to the Broadneck Water Reclamation Facility. Whatever option is pursued would require comprehensive assessment to ensure system capacity is available.