Out-of-Sequence Amendment - WS-21-28 Quantum Maryland, LLC

Spring 2022 Cycle Requests

Fall 2021 Cycle Requests

Summer 2021 Cycle Requests

Previous Cycle Requests

Amendment Review Cycles

Applications for Water and Sewerage Plan map and/or text amendments are processed 3 times per year with the filing deadline on the last business day of the month for the particular cycle, listed below: 

Spring Cycle: Applications accepted in March

Summer Cycle: Applications accepted in July

Fall Cycle: Applications accepted in November

Application Submission and Instructions

Application Policy Memo - March 3, 2015

Applicant Disclosure Form

Amendment Process

When an application for a plan amendment is filed, county staff conducts an initial review to determine if all checklist items are met. If all items are met the application will be scheduled for a public hearing with the Planning Commission for a finding of consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. If the application is found to be consistent it will be forwarded to the County Council for a public hearing and final decision. If the application is approved at this stage it is referred to the Maryland Department of the Environment for final approval.

Frederick County Water and Sewerage Plan

The Water and Sewerage Plan overall focus is to guide the provision of public water and sewerage service that is consistent with State goals and regulations and with the County's Comprehensive Plan. The plan document identifies goals and policies regarding water and sewer service including systems maintained by the municipalities and the county. Background information is provided about the Comprehensive Plan and descriptions are provided for all individual water and sewerage systems including their capacities and future demands. The Water and Sewerage Plan is required by the Maryland Department of the Environment to be reviewed every 3 years and updated if necessary. The current Plan was approved on April 22, 2021.

Cover Page / Title Page / Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Policies and Procedures

Chapter 2 - Background

Chapter 3 - Water Systems

Chapter 4 - Sewerage Systems

Frederick County Capital Budget (CIP) FY 2021-2025

Water and Sewer Plan Maps

Water Resource Element Plan, 2010

Conceptual Plans for Public Sewer Service in Lewistown, 2016

2022 Update: Division of Water & Sewer Utilities details for connection to the Lewistown Public Sewer System, April 2022

The historic community of Lewistown has experienced numerous sewage disposal issues, such as:

Small lot sizes (resulting in insufficient land available for septic system repair or replacement)

Poorly drained soils 

Age of septic systems

Use of sewage holding tanks

The County identified conceptual plans for a public sewer system in Lewistown to address immediate and long-term public health needs. A PowerPoint presentation was given to Lewistown residents on February 24, 2016 during a community meeting.

The Plan for Lewistown includes expansion of the existing wastewater treatment plant, establishment of a Sewer Service Area, and sewer category changes of properties within the new Service Area. The Water and Sewerage Plan amendment (WS 15-13) that established the sewer service area and reclassified properties was approved by the Frederick County Council on April 5, 2016. The Maryland Department of the Environment approved Plan amendment WS 15-13 on October 11, 2016. 

PowerPoint Presentation - February 24, 2016

Staff Report - Establishment of Lewistown Public Sewer Service Area

Council Resolution No. 16-09 - Lewistown Public Sewer Service Area Approval

Maryland Department of the Environment Approval of Case WS 15-13

The purpose of wellhead protection is to protect groundwater resources of community public water supplies to reduce the potential for ground and surface water contamination. Between 2000 - 2005 the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) published a series of Source Water Assessments for each of the county's community water systems that rely on groundwater. These assessments addressed the following: 

Delineation of an area that contributes water to the source

Identification of potential sources of contamination

Determination of the susceptibility of the water supply to contamination

Potential Sources of Contaminants

Potential sources of contaminants include agricultural activities and gas stations

Industrial uses that store and use various liquids such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene

The improper use, storage, or disposal, or release of these or other a wide variety of substances from agricultural, industrial, or residential activities can harm groundwater quality

The contaminants may include volatile organic compounds, radionuclitides, synthetic organic compounds, microbial contaminants, and nitrates

Wellhead Protection Ordinance

In 2007, Frederick County adopted a Wellhead Protection Ordinance, which only applies to the county's jurisdiction. The ordinance established wellhead protection areas for all community groundwater supply systems, amended a section of the county code to include new regulations for hazardous substance storage tanks, and prohibited certain land uses and activities within designated wellhead protection areas. Several municipalities have adopted their own wellhead protection ordinances including Middletown, Mt. Airy, Walkersville, Myersville, and Frederick. 

Wellhead Protection Areas: List of community water systems

Wellhead Protection Areas: Map of designated wellhead protection areas

Wellhead Protection Background and Issues: Staff memo for Zoning Text Amendment ZT-07-06 for a wellhead protection ordinance.

Wellhead Protection Ordinance: County Ordinance #07-16-456 adopted on May 26, 2007

General Information

Designation of Wellhead Protection Districts
The designation of Wellhead Protection Districts, and careful regulation of activities within these districts, can reduce the potential for ground and surface water contamination. Public drinking water systems in Frederick County draw on both ground water (i.e., wells) and surface water (i.e. lakes and rivers) sources.

State Policies
The State of Maryland has completed source water assessments of each public drinking water system and has delineated a Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA), which contributes water recharge to that source. Potential sources of contamination within that WHPA were also identified. It will be up to local governments to determine whether or not they wish to regulate activity within the WHPAs to reduce the potential for ground and surface water contamination.

Workshop on Local Regulations
On Friday, June 9, 2006, the Board of County Commissioners held a workshop to hear from several speakers about the state and local regulations on chemical and petroleum storage tanks with regard to protecting public water supply groundwater resources. This workshop is available on DVD.

Changes to the Zoning Ordinance
On May 26, 2007 the Board of County Commissioner approved a series of changes to the Zoning Ordinance, which brought the definition of Wellhead Protection Area and Hazardous Material up to date with accepted usage. The sections dealing with tanks and hazardous materials storage were amended to further protect public drinking water supplies.