Ruppersberger Secures $3.4 Million For Wastewater Treatment Upgrades at Troubled Baltimore Plant

(Washington, DC) - Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger has secured $3.4 million to upgrade the iconic egg-shaped wastewater treatment digesters in Baltimore County's Essex - helping to address recent failures at the city-run Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant contributing to harmful bacteria spilling into local Chesapeake tributaries. The funding was included in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2023, which was passed by the House Appropriations Committee today and now goes before the full House of Representatives for consideration.

An Appropriator, Congressman Ruppersberger requested the funding on behalf of Baltimore City, which operates the troubled Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The State of Maryland took over the plant in March after issuing a report detailing significant infrastructure failures and violations causing sewage to build up and contaminate local waterways. Funds will pay to rehabilitate both the interior and exterior of the digesters, which were built in 1992 and help break down solid contaminants in wastewater.

"This federal funding will pay for improvements that will bring the Back River Wastewater treatment plant back into compliance, more effectively treat our wastewater and, ultimately, protect our region's natural resources and the livelihoods that depend on them," Congressman Ruppersberger said. "Quick and permanent fixes to this plant are absolutely necessary not just for the health of our local ecosystem, but our economy. I am proud to have secured this funding for my district and the entire region."

"It is essential that we bring our wastewater treatment plants into compliance," said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "I want to sincerely thank Representative Dutch Ruppersberger for always supporting Baltimore and being a champion of the Chesapeake Bay. The partnership and support from our federal partners is vital as we continue to work with MDE and MES to improve our facilities and return them to compliance."

The project is one of 15 Community Project Funding Requests submitted by Congressman Ruppersberger in the 12 various appropriations bills for 2023. It is among more than 4,700 projects submitted by members of the House of Representatives collectively, only some of which are approved after careful vetting. All requests are subject to strict transparency and accountability rules, which can be found here.

The $44.8 billion Interior-Environment appropriations bill funds programs within the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency and other related agencies.