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Maryland's Nonpoint Source Program

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Vision: The vision for Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is to implement dynamic and effective nonpoint source pollution control programs. These programs are designed to achieve and maintain beneficial uses of water; improve and protect habitat for living resources; and protect public health through a mixture of water quality and/or technology based programs; regulatory and/or non-regulatory programs; and financial, technical, and educational assistance programs.

In December 1999, Maryland’s Nonpoint Source Management Program was approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency in Region 3. This management program is a comprehensive guide to the State’s nonpoint source pollution problems, its pollution control programs, and future steps aimed to control and prevent nonpoint source pollution. The long-term goals included the following:

  1. Meet 100% of designated uses in all waters in the State
  2. Ensure Adequate Protection and Restoration of Maryland’s Wetland Resources
  3. Protect and Maintain Maryland’s Natural Resource Land Base and Encourage Smart Growth
  4. Prevent Degradation of Tidal Aquatic Systems and Restore Impaired Systems
  5. Prevent Non-Tidal Aquatic System Degradation, Fragmentation, or Isolation and Restore Impaired Systems
  6. Promote Pollution Prevention
  7. Assure the Efficient and Effective Operation of the State’s Environmental Programs

Maryland has done a great deal in developing programs that deal effectively with nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Some of these innovative programs include:

In addition to programs that control nonpoint source pollution, Maryland has a variety of watershed initiatives that aim to improve the water quality of streams, rivers and lakes. Major watershed initiatives include the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Anacostia River Initiative, the Coastal Bays Program, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program. The State also has numerous projects that target specific watersheds. These projects address the same nonpoint source issues that the NPS programs address. Examples of watershed specific projects include the Anacostia River (Northwest Branch and Town Park Stream), Roland Run & Redhouse Run, Deep Creek Lake and Rock & Carroll Creek.

Additional Information:

Agriculture

Maryland agriculture is as diverse as its people. As the state has grown in population, production of traditional commodities such as dairy, grain, and livestock has diversified to take advantage of market proximity. Poultry, tree nurseries, turf production, fresh fruits and vegetables, and racing and pleasure horse industries are now important to Maryland’s agricultural economy. In 1996, approximately 37 percent of Maryland’s land was used for agricultural purposes. The agriculture industry contributes more than $11 billion in revenue annually, making it the state’s largest commercial industry. With the size of this industry comes the responsibility to farm not only economically but environmentally as well. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Phase IV Watershed Model and Maryland’s Integrated Watershed Analysis and Management System (IWAMS), nonpoint source pollution from agriculture is responsible for 38 percent of the total nitrogen and 55 percent of the total phosphorus entering the bay.

Pursuant to CZARA Section 6217, the agricultural community is currently working to implement the seven agricultural management measures that were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These management measures are defined as economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives. Specific information describing how Maryland is addressing these management measures can be found in the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan. To address nonpoint source pollution, Maryland has numerous agricultural water quality programs and recently passed the most comprehensive farm nutrient control legislation in the country--the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998.

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Forestry

Forests are widely recognized as one of the land uses that provides the greatest protection for water quality and aquatic and wildlife habitat. As such, efforts to restore and conserve forests are an important part of nonpoint source pollution control. Today, forests cover about 2.7 million acres of Maryland representing 40 percent of the state’s total land area. Of this total, 2.4 million acres (90 percent) are classified as timberland. Timberland is defined as land growing at least 20 cubic feet (or the equivalent of twenty-four 2"x4"x8' framing studs) of wood on every acre each year with the potential of harvesting it. Examples of areas not classified as timberland include federal and state park land, Christmas tree farms, and forest set aside for scientific study. Maryland’s forests make a very direct and visible contribution to their economy. Every year, Maryland households spend over $454,000,000 on the many products produced from trees. Furniture alone accounts $170,000,000. Wages and salaries of individuals involved in the manufacture of goods and services in the wood industry amount to $327,840,000 annually. Indirect business taxes add up to $21,314,000 each year. The pulp and paper products industry alone employs 9300 people across the state.

As Maryland’s population continues to grow and creates the need for additional development, Maryland will continue losing forest. Projections by the Maryland Office of Planning estimate that between 1990 and 2015, the area dominated by urban development will increase to 1.5 million acres. However, large-scale conversion of forests to developed land is not the only threat to Maryland’s forests. Fragmentation, insects, disease, and exotic invasive plants, along with remote factors such as air pollution and acid deposition, have impacted the health of Maryland’s forests. Although most of the deforested (i.e.-developed) lands will never return to their pristine forested condition, the preservation, conservation, and wise management of Maryland’s remaining forests is vital for watershed health and renewable resources.

Forest health is inextricably linked to healthy streams and a robust Chesapeake Bay. Forests function as filters removing sediments, nutrients and other pollutants from water before they enter the groundwater system and receiving streams. Nutrients, for example, in normal quantities help maintain a healthy bay. The influx of excessive nutrients to the bay caused in part by changes in land use, however, has disrupted the Bay’s ecosystem. Forests also regulate the amount, velocity, and rate of runoff maintaining a water body’s natural hydrology. Forested riparian buffers along streams and rivers stabilize banks, reducing erosion and sedimentation. These riparian buffers also enhance aquatic habitat by shading streams, providing woody debris for in-stream structure, and regulating stream temperature. Protecting Maryland’s forest resources will greatly contribute to nonpoint source pollution reductions. Pursuant to CZARA Section 6217, Maryland state agencies and local governments are working to implement the ten management measures that were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These management measures are defined as economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives. Specific information describing how Maryland is addressing these management measures can be found in the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan.

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Developed Lands

Nonpoint source pollution is runoff caused by rainfall, snowmelt, and irrigation water that moves over the ground and through the groundwater, picking up pollutants such as nutrients, sediments, toxics, and bacteria and eventually depositing them in streams, lakes, rivers, and bays. One major source of nonpoint source pollution in Maryland is developed lands. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s (CBP) Phase IV Model and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Integrated Watershed Analysis and Management System (IWAMS), 13 percent of the nitrogen and 12 percent of the phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay comes from developed lands. Because of the inevitable increase in urban areas around the state, it is critical to control nonpoint source pollution from this source. Maryland has several urban nonpoint source control programs that focus on new development, redevelopment, and new and relocated highways, bridges, and roads. Urban development has an profound influence on the quality of Maryland’s water. To start, development dramatically alters the local hydrologic cycle. The hydrology of a site changes during the initial clearing and grading that occur during construction. Trees, meadow grasses, and agricultural crops that had intercepted and absorbed rainfall are removed and natural depressions that had temporarily ponded water are graded to a uniform slope. Cleared and graded sites erode, are often severely compacted, and can no longer prevent rainfall from being rapidly converted into stormwater runoff. The situation worsens after construction. Roof tops, roads, parking lots, driveways and other impervious surfaces no longer allow rainfall to soak into the ground. Consequently, most rainfall is converted directly to stormwater runoff. The volume of stormwater runoff increases sharply as a function of site imperviousness. For example, a one acre parking lot can produce 16 times more stormwater runoff than a one acre meadow each year. The increase in stormwater runoff can be too much for the existing natural drainage system to handle. As a result, the natural drainage system is often "improved" to rapidly collect runoff and quickly convey it away (using curb and gutter, enclosed storm sewers, and lined channels). The stormwater runoff is subsequently discharged to downstream waters such as streams, reservoirs, lakes or estuaries. Pursuant to CZARA Section 6217, the Maryland Department of the Environment and DNR are currently working to implement the thirteen management measures that were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These management measures are defined as economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives. Specific information describing how Maryland is addressing these management measures can be found in the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan.

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Marinas and Recreational Boating

With more than 17,000 miles of streams and rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay and 33 lakes with boating access, Maryland has abundant opportunities for fresh or saltwater recreation. Since boating is such a popular past time in Maryland, the state has a wide variety of programs to handle marina and recreational boating issues. Pursuant to CZARA Section 6217, the Department of Natural Resources is currently working to implement the fifteen management measures that were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These management measures are defined as economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives. Specific information describing how Maryland is addressing these management measures can be found in the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan.

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Hydromodification

Within Maryland, there is a network of over 14,000 miles of streams and rivers flowing to the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mississippi River. However, Maryland’s waterways are much more than just channels that convey water. Water resources play a major role in the everyday life of people. Commercial fisheries, electricity from hydroelectric dams, fresh water for drinking, fishing, and boating are just a few of the benefits provided by water. Despite the direct link between the ecological health of the water and its economic benefits, traditional water resource management has generally failed to treat waterways and water bodies as natural systems. They have been managed with the supposition that they are unchanging and static. Yet they do change and the balance of these systems hinges on that natural variability. Human activities, such as channelization, building of levees, dams, and diversions, and floodplain development, disrupt the natural hydrologic regime of the system and result in a widespread deterioration of environmental quality. The protection of Maryland’s streams through proper management is critical to the maintenance of Maryland’s natural resources and quality of life. Presently, Maryland manages streams at the watershed level and focuses on the source or causes of stream stability problems, such as excessive stormwater runoff, rather than the symptoms of the problem, such as streambank erosion. Current management approaches at the watershed level, focus on the modification of watershed hydrology to replicate (to the degree possible) the hydrology in undisturbed forested watersheds where stream channels have a greater potential to be stable because the magnitude and frequencies of peak storm discharges are reduced. Historical approaches to stormwater management in Maryland have focused on the control of the 2-year and 10-year dischargers using large ponds to temporarily store surface runoff, so the water can be discharged over an extended duration. There are many different types of impacts related to hydromodification activities for a more comprehensive discussion on hydromodification impacts please refer to Chapter IV - Developed Lands. Pursuant to CZARA Section 6217, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of the Environment (MDE), and the Department of Agriculture (MDA), are currently working to implement the six management measures that were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These management measures are defined as economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives. Specific information describing how Maryland is addressing these management measures can be found in the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan.

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Wetlands

Wetlands are an integral part of what makes the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem unique and of special significance to the citizens of Maryland. Wetlands are generally recognized as lands that are wet for significant periods during the year that typically create anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions favoring the growth of hydrophytic plants and the formation of hydric soils. These areas are commonly called marshes, swamps, and bogs, although other terms are locally applied (e.g., Delmarva Bays). Wetlands may be permanently flooded by shallow water, permanently saturated by groundwater, or periodically inundated or saturated for varying periods during the growing season in most years. Many wetlands are the periodically flooded lands that occur between uplands and salt or fresh water bodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, streams, and estuaries). Other wetlands, however, may be isolated from such water bodies. These wetlands are located in areas with seasonally high water tables that are surrounded by upland. Wetlands are important natural resources providing numerous values to society, including fish and wildlife habitat, flood protection, erosion control, and water quality maintenance. A variety of wetlands exist in Maryland, however two basic types of wetlands are commonly recognized: nontidal wetlands and tidal wetlands. Nontidal wetlands found in Maryland are most commonly inland freshwater areas not subject to tidal influence. Tidal wetlands are associated with daily fluctuations of water levels driven by the ocean tides. In Maryland, tidal wetlands are typically found along the ocean coast, in the Chesapeake Bay estuary, and along the tidal reaches of streams and rivers flowing into the ocean and bay. Prior to colonization of Maryland it is believed that there may have existed as much as 1.2 million acres of wetlands in Maryland. Extensive conversion of wetlands to other uses has occurred since Maryland’s settlement in the 1600s. Wetlands have been drained and leveled for crop production, and filled for residential housing, commercial and industrial development, and highways. While Maryland may have lost 45-65 percent of its original wetlands, wetlands remain quite abundant. About 10 percent of the state is wetland, with wetlands more widespread on the coastal plain (e.g., Eastern shore) where 16 percent of the land area is occupied by wetlands. Many of the lost wetlands are on farmland that may be suitable for restoration. There are approximately 275,000 acres of vegetated nontidal wetlands in Maryland. Nontidal wetlands help protect the Chesapeake Bay and streams by filtering phosphorous, nitrogen, and other pollutants from upland runoff. They form natural flood conveyance areas able to store floodwaters and slowly release them downstream to replenish groundwater supplies. Wetland vegetation has complex and extensive root systems which stabilize streambanks, reduce the velocity of sediment laden water, and trap sediment. Many rare and unique plants some of which are endangered species are limited to wetlands. Over 200,000 acres of vegetated tidal wetlands are found in Maryland's Coastal Zone. They range from the saline emergent marshes found in the seaside Bays adjacent to Ocean City and Assateague Island to the tidal fresh scrub-shrub and forested wetlands found near the heads of tide of the tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. They play a key role in Maryland's estuarine environment, providing valuable habitats for many birds, plants, and animals. Wetlands provide vital food and habitat for finfish, shellfish, crustaceans, waterfowl, and mammals such as foxes, raccoons, deer, muskrats, nutria, and otter. Tidal wetlands also help protect water quality by absorbing nonpoint source pollutants and by reducing sediment loads to receiving waters. They also inhibit flooding and provide shore erosion control by dissipating the energy of flood waters and wave action and by stabilizing near shore bottoms. Given the current status of Maryland’s wetlands relative to their historical acreage and the wealth of values they provide, it would seem imperative that the remaining wetlands should be conserved. Yet most of these wetlands are not on public property, and therefore, may be subjected to alternative uses. Techniques and procedures for protecting the remaining wetlands are numerous and include land-use regulation, direct acquisition, and the efforts of private individuals and corporations. Pursuant to CZARA Section 6217, MDE and DNR are currently working to implement the three management measures that were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These management measures are defined as economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives. Specific information describing how Maryland is addressing these management measures can be found in the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan.

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Septic Systems

The cumulative impact of septic systems, or on-site sewage disposal systems (OSDS), on water quality is becoming a major concern in Maryland. Compared with Maryland’s nationally recognized efforts to address discharges from wastewater treatment plants and agricultural lands, septic system discharges have received little attention. Management practices and policies are needed to reduce OSDS nutrient impacts and to ensure that public health, the health of the environment, and the overall quality of life in Maryland is protected. It is acknowledged that, despite some uncertainties associated with their impacts, OSDS are discharging nitrogen to groundwater that will ultimately reach tidal waters, and which poses immediate potential threats to drinking water in some areas. Property owner involvement in maintaining OSDS is critical. Focusing homeowners’ interest and providing timely and continued education in proper maintenance of OSDS is crucial. It is in the interest of all people in Maryland that OSDS nutrient loading to the environment be minimized to the greatest extent possible. It is the State’s obligation to ensure that public health, the health of the environment, and overall quality of life is protected. Statewide, there are over 400,000 OSDS, serving one in five Maryland households. Most of these are conventional OSDS, which are designed to remove solids and pathogens from wastewater in order to protect public health. Some systems, however, are not functioning properly due to age, neglect in operation and maintenance, or improper siting and installation. With an estimated failure rate of 1 to 5 percent each year, and thousands of new conventional systems being installed each year, the human health and water quality threat from OSDS becomes significant. The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that OSDS effluent is frequently cited as a source of drinking water contamination nationwide. Septic system effluent is also high in nitrogen, a significant threat to the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays, other tidal waters, and reservoirs. By today’s standards, past siting and installation practices provide inadequate treatment. New technologies are now available, and standards are needed to improve the quality of effluent being discharged. The Chesapeake Bay Program, using census data and standardized estimates of nutrient loading, estimates that 7.7 million pounds of nitrogen enter the Chesapeake Bay from OSDS each year. This represented about 6 percent of Maryland’s nitrogen load in 1996. According to these estimates, OSDS loadings in Maryland’s tributary basins range from 3 percent in the Choptank and Lower Eastern Shore to 19 percent in the Lower Western Shore. Failing OSDS pose an additional set of threats to water quality. The average life of a septic system is 12 to 20 years, and many older systems are no longer functioning properly. Lack of maintenance and improper installation often contribute to early septic system failure. When OSDS become clogged, they block the flow of discharge to the drain fields. Raw sewage backs up onto the surface of a yard or into a home, posing a direct threat to public health, as well as to surface and groundwater. Maryland conducts a biennial needs survey of local governments to identify areas with failing OSDS. Where extensive areas of OSDS failure are identified, projects are funded to provide connections to central sewer systems. Through the Water Quality Financing Administration Linked Deposit Program, financing is available for projects that repair or replace failing or failed OSDS. Under this program, private property owners may borrow funds from private lending institutions located in their neighborhoods to finance projects to control nonpoint source pollution. These loans may be used for design and construction of a wide variety of water quality improvements to protect groundwater and surface water from nonpoint source pollution, including leaking underground storage tanks and failed septic systems. Pursuant to CZARA Section 6217, the Department of the Environment is currently working to implement the two management measures that were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These management measures are defined as economically achievable measures for the control of the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution, which reflect the greatest degree of pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control practices, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives.

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Mining

Coal mining in Western Maryland began in the early 1800's with small deep mines which operated to accommodate local fuel needs. By 1820, mining became commercially important with several mines operating in Eckhart, Frostburg, and Vale Summit (Allegany County). During peak production years between 1900 and 1918, deep mines in a two-county region produced between four and five million tons annually. Most of these mines were developed in a manner which utilized gravity drainage, to avoid excessive water accumulation in the mines. As a result, water polluted by acid, iron, sulfur and aluminum drained away from the mines and into streams. This type of pollution, acid mine drainage, is Western Maryland’s most serious water pollution problem. It is not only an ecological concern to the state but an economic concern as well. Ecological damage due to acid mine drainage easily translates into economic loss for the state and local governments. A region impacted by acid mine drainage often has a decline in valued recreational fish species such as trout as well as a general decline in outdoor recreation and tourism along with contamination of groundwater drinking supplies. After World War II, deep mining activity declined and surface coal mining increased in Western Maryland. Surface mines operated without any reclamation laws until 1955, when minimal standards were enacted. In 1967 and 1969 there were major changes to Maryland’s Strip Mining Law. In 1972, Section 319 of the Clean Water Act identified acid mine drainage as a nonpoint source pollution problem. In 1977, the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was passed, mandating minimum requirements for surface mining operations in all coal-producing states. The Federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program was created under this law to repair the environmental damages of mines inadequately restored or abandoned before the passage of the act. The law was intended give each state the principle role in implementing its own program primacy. Maryland gained primacy in 1982. Amendments to SMCRA and the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative (1995) have elevated the significance of abandoned mines as a water quality problem as well as a human welfare and safety problem. Federal government funds through the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative have started providing the support needed to address the acid mine drainage problem. As of May 1998, the Maryland Bureau of Mines had completed 98 abandoned mine reclamation projects in Allegany and Garrett counties, reclaiming approximately 1,430 acres of land at a cost of $26 million. In the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan is a complete description of Maryland’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program. Also described are the permitting programs for coal and non-coal surface mining, best management measures for coal mining operations and the practices Maryland has used to control and treat acid mine drainage. The Maryland Department of Environment’s (MDE) Bureau of Mines regulates active coal mining. As a result, active mines contribute relatively little to the acid mine drainage problem. Roughly 4.1 million tons of coal are presently mined in Garret and Allegany counties. Maryland has roughly 660 million tons of underground coal reserves and 86 million tons of surface coal reserves.

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Atmospheric Deposition

Atmospheric deposition is an important environmental concern in both Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Power Plant Research Program conducts ongoing research on the sources of atmospheric deposition and the impact of deposition on Maryland’s natural resources. Long recognized by scientists, atmospheric deposition is the process in which precipitation (rain, snow, fog), particles, aerosols, and gases move from the atmosphere to the earth's surface. Pollutants reaching the earth through precipitation or as dry deposition originate from several air pollution sources and can be harmful to the environment and public health. Acid deposition is the most widely recognized form of atmospheric deposition with well-known effects on lakes, streams, and forests. More recently, the atmospheric contribution of nutrients has received increasing attention, particularly as a source of excess nitrogen entering the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, atmospheric deposition may constitute a significant source of environmental contaminants such as trace metals and toxic organic compounds.

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Groundwater

Ground water remains an abundant natural resource that serves as a significant source of drinking water in Maryland. Ground water is also important as a source of baseflow water in the State’s rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay. Other major uses include agriculture and industry. About 31 percent of the State’s population use ground water as a drinking water supply. On the Eastern Shore the population using ground water can exceed 95 percent. About half of those using ground water obtain water from a well that they own, while the other half obtain their drinking water from public water supplies that use ground water. In addition to community ground water systems, there are about 3,238 Maryland facilities relying on ground water, which are defined by the Safe Drinking Water Act as non-community public water systems. These small facilities include schools, day care centers, places of work, restaurants, churches, community centers and campgrounds that have their own source of water. Geologic conditions vary widely across the State, and produce significant variations in the quantity and quality of ground water. Aquifers in Maryland fall into two major types – unconsolidated Coastal Plain aquifers found east of the Fall Line, and hard rock (consolidated sedimentary and crystalline) aquifers found in the western part of the State. The Coastal Plain aquifers, composed primarily of sand and gravel with layers of silt and clay, are productive, and generally of good quality. The availability of ground water in the western part of the State is low to moderate. Local conditions affect both the availability and the quality of ground water. Some areas have difficulty producing adequate supplies of water; others produce abundant supplies. While natural ground water quality is generally good, some areas may have hard water, and locally high iron levels may be present. In some instances, ground water may be directly influenced by surface water, presenting the risk of pathogen contamination. Maryland’s ground waters are generally of good quality and meet drinking water standards. Incidents of serious contamination are usually localized around specific sources, but in some areas of the State vulnerable geologic conditions and local land uses can combine to produce ground water quality reflecting anthropogenic influence. The most vulnerable areas of the State are the carbonate rock areas of Allegany, Washington, Fredrick, Carroll, and Baltimore counties, the unconfined coastal plain aquifers, the outcrop areas of major aquifers along the Baltimore-Washington corridor, and the hard rock aquifers of central and western Maryland. Potential contaminant sources include point sources such as landfills, underground storage tanks, surface impoundments and injection wells, spills, and improper storage of salt or other materials on bare ground. Nonpoint sources such as animal waste, onsite sewage disposal, application of nutrients and pesticides, urban runoff, land application of wastewater, and abandoned mines are a concern. Nonpoint sources often do not cause excessive contamination at specific well locations but often do represent the largest loadings of pollutants to ground water over large areas. Because ground water contributes a significant percentage of surface water flow, delivery and reduction of nutrients via ground water has become a significant issue for Maryland. A significant amount of sampling occurs at public water systems to determine if the water being supplied is in compliance with State and Federal drinking water standards. Sampling requirements depend on system type, system size, source type, system vulnerability and contaminant. Community ground water systems are subject to monitoring requirements for over 80 contaminants that have health-based standards or maximum contaminant levels. Forty-two other unregulated contaminants are also tested at these systems. Water supply systems often use ground water with little additional treatment. The most common treatment objectives to improve ground water quality, in descending order, are: pH adjustment, iron removal, corrosion control, inorganics removal, softening, particulate removal, organics removal, manganese removal, and radionuclide removal.

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