Accomplishments
MAMWA is actively involved with policy makers on every major water quality issue in Maryland critical to effective management of municipal wastewater treatment plants and collection systems, including:
- State Legislation and Appropriations
- State Bay Restoration Fund Grants & Low Interest Loans
- Water Quality Standards Development
- Water Quality Standards Implementation Policies
- Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Policies
- Chesapeake Bay TMDL
- Nutrient Removal Technology Requirements
- NPDES Permitting Policies
- Nutrient Credit Trading Policy
- Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids
- Beneficial Reuse of Reclaimed Water
- Industrial Pretreatment Programs
- Laboratory Certification Regulations
- Wastewater Collection System Policies
- Environmental Enforcement Policies
- Utility Rates and Charges
- Other Wastewater Utility-Related Issues
MAMWA has made many positive contributions on the above policy issues over MAMWA’s approximately 20 year history. Here is more detail regarding just a few of these examples:
NPDES Discharge Permits – MAMWA has worked diligently over the years to help ensure that Maryland’s surface water discharge permit (NPDES) program is one of the most technically sound programs in the United States.
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Program – MAMWA’s advocacy led to the first-ever Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) and related Water Quality Standards refinement for the nation’s largest estuary and related permitting, which saved the state and clean water utilities hundreds of millions of dollars.
Water Quality Grants – Going back to the 1990s, MAMWA has been a lead supporter of the Water Quality Improvement Fund and its successor, the Bay Restoration Fund, and has supported nearly $100 billion in state grant funds for nutrient removal technology installation at wastewater treatment plants.
Nutrient Trading – MAMWA’s advocacy for nutrient credit trading is producing in the form of increasing number of NPDES permits including nutrient credit for MAMWA members consolidating discharges or connecting septic systems.
Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids – MAMWA has opposed unduly restrictive state regulations, while working across state lines to maintain help maintain a viable regional options for biosolids recycling with our agricultural partners.