Treatment Plants DPW operates eight (8) wastewater treatment plants. The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) has recognized all six of the major plants operated by DPW, Bureau of Utility Operations for their anti-pollution efforts. In 1999 all six plants were honored with Gold Award which recognizes plants that have achieved 100 percent compliance with their national pollutant discharge permit for their entire calendar year. Treatment plants receiving the honor include: Cox Creek, Patuxent, Maryland City, Broadwater, Broadneck and Annapolis. In 2000 five of the six plants won gold - only Broadneck missed the gold but won a silver. The only other plant operated by the county was the Mayo plant which was too small to be considered for recognition. Common Causes of System Problems Despite proactive efforts to maintain the system, operational complications may sometimes occur. Some of the common causes of system problems include: - Using the drain to dispose of items such as grease, paper, garbage or household hazardous waste
- Vandalizing the system by putting foreign or incompatible materials in the system or down manholes
- Blocking of the system by tree or shrub roots seeking water and entering the system
In order to maintain our wastewater system and to keep it functioning properly, our Wastewater Division utilizes the following preventative maintenance procedures: Visual Inspection Maintenance crews periodically check manholes, frames and covers to look out for cracks, breaks or missing parts, which may prevent them from maintaining airtight integrity. Replacement and maintenance is scheduled as necessary. TV of Lines Sewer lines are inspected internally with a special closed circuit TV camera that is lowered into a manhole and pulled through the line. Testing and repair equipment used in conjunction with the camera will determine if there are areas of weakness in the joints and pipes and look for leakage. If the line is in poor condition and cannot be repaired it will then be scheduled for replacement. Smoke Testing By blowing smoke into a sewer line, crews can determine areas of breaks, improper connections and other system problems which than can be scheduled for repair or replacement. This procedure sometimes identifies problems on the property owner’s side of the system. In these cases, the property owners are notified and advised to make the appropriate repairs. Chemical Root Treatment In some areas, workers may find it helpful to use a foaming chemical root treatment. This foam is pumped into selected sewer mains to kill existing roots and to inhibit their regrowth. Jet Washing and Root Cutting Sewer lines are often rodded to remove roots or other material then cleaned with high-pressure water by using a combination jet vacuum system. Sewer Main Relining Program Some sewer lines can be rehabilitated by installing PVC plastic liners. The lining extends structural life of the pipes, inhibits root growth and reduces ground water leakage into the sewer pipes. Sewer Service Replacement Sewer “services”, which are the lines that run between the property line and the main line are periodically checked for structural and operational soundness. If it is found to be in poor condition, the pipes are replaced. Although our Wastewater Division utilizes a number of methods to evaluate and maintain our sewer system, there may be a time when you could experience a stoppage. If this occurs, be sure to call our 24-hour Emergency Services staff at (410) 222-8400 or (410) 451-4118 (South County). If the sewer cleanout is accessible, an emergency crew will be dispatched to assess the situation. If the blockage is in the county line, the crew will break the blockage to end the back-up. If there is no cleanout, or if the cleanout cannot be located, you will need to call a plumber.
>> Information on locating your cleanout. Address: 7409 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie MD 21062 | 
