Engineering & Planning

  1. Project Management
  2. Design Review
  3. Forms & Reference
  4. Outreach Meetings

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project Management

The Division of Water and Sewer Utilities (DWSU) has an approved Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project list for the next 6 years which includes water and sewer projects and solid waste projects. These projects involve:

  • Water and wastewater treatment plants
  • Rehabilitation of aging infrastructure
  • Sewer interceptors
  • Water transmission mains
  • Water storage tanks
  • Pumping stations
  • Certain solid waste management projects

The CIP projects are typically designed via contracts with private engineering consultants. In many instances, these engineering contracts are coordinated for various local, state and federal approvals.

Project management focuses primarily on the quality, cost and schedule of each CIP project. Certain projects require significant public involvement and are coordinated by each respective project manager in the department. 

Engineering and PlanningDepartment Functions

  • Planning, design, and construction of all County-owned water and sanitary sewer infrastructure.  
  • Water treatment facilities, water booster pumping stations, transmission mains, water storage tanks and distribution mains. 
  • Larger wastewater infrastructure components include wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater pumping stations, interceptors, collection systems and treated effluent outfall sewers.

Water & Sewer Infrastructures

Large Infrastructures

  • Planned and executed via the County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
  • Smaller infrastructure, i.e., sewage collection and water distribution mains, is customarily provided by developers in areas planned to be served by public water and sewer. 
  • Planning, design and construction of the smaller infrastructure is managed through various standards administered by the DWSU.

Municipal Infrastructures

  • Water and sewer infrastructure for municipalities such as Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Middletown, Myersville, Woodsboro, the City of Brunswick and Mt. Airy is not affiliated with the DWSU since those municipalities own and operate their own respective water and sewer systems. 
  • The DWSU does provide sewer service to the Town of Walkersville and a northern portion of Frederick City and water to the Village of Rosemont.

Private Utilities

  • The DWSU is not affiliated with or related to any private utilities, e.g., cable television, electric, natural gas, telephone, storm water drainage, storm water management facilities, etc. 
  • Questions relating to these types of utilities should be directed to the appropriate company, county agency or municipality.