WATER AND SEWERAGE PLAN Washington County, Maryland 2009 Update Prepared by the Washington County Planning Department PREFACE Washington County Water & Sewerage Plan 2009 Update The attached document is the 2009 Update to the Washington County Water and Sewerage Plan. The Plan was last comprehensively updated in 1994. The drafting of this Update began in 2004 with the notification to all of the municipalities and service providers affected by the Plan. The vast majority of the information contained in the Plan is based on information provided by the municipalities and other service providers. The information presented in the plan is updated as of January 1, 2009 unless otherwise noted. All requests involving information compiled after January 1, 2009 will be addressed as necessary in subsequent individual amendments or as part of the next comprehensive update. The following is a synopsis of the content of the 2009 Plan Update: • Includes all individual map and text amendments since the adoption of the previous Update in 1994. • The Plan contains updated information provided by the municipalities and service providers. In those cases where service providers did not provide updated information, information from the 1994 Plan and subsequent amendments is carried over. • Contains updated land use, population, and physical features information based on the 2002 Washington County Comprehensive Plan for the County. • Provides information and links in regard to the status of water quality in Washington County, the Federal Clean Water Act, development of TMDLs, Source Water Assessments and water quality plans. • Filters information regarding locations of major facilities to address home land security concerns. • Incorporates the text of the Plan into an electronic format as well as providing updated service area and priority designation mapping based on GIS technologies. The new text provides internet links to up to date information by regulatory authorities. • Lays groundwork for future updates by providing references to plans and strategies for Enhanced Nutrient Removal, bubble permitting, nutrient trading, maximum loading, as well as other options in order to address Chesapeake Bay initiatives and to maximize service to meet the needs to serve the Urban and Town Growth Areas. • Includes reference to Washington County’s sewer capacity management plan. It is anticipated that another update to the Water & Sewerage Plan will occur in the near future to address Water Resources Element requirements once studies are completed by the County and municipalities and upon additional Comprehensive Plan updates. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I - GOALS AND ORGANIZATION........................................................... I-1 A. PURPOSE ............................................................................................................... I-1 B. GOALS.................................................................................................................... I-2 C. OBJECTIVES.......................................................................................................... I-3 D. ORGANIZATION................................................................................................. I-4 E. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCEDURES....................................................... I-7 1. Washington County (Unincorporated Areas) ......................................................... I-7 2. Town of Boonsboro ................................................................................................ I-9 3. Town of Clear Spring .............................................................................................. I-9 4. Town of Funkstown.............................................................................................. I-10 5. City of Hagerstown ............................................................................................... I-10 6. Town of Hancock.................................................................................................. I-10 7. Town of Keedysville.............................................................................................. I-11 8. Town of Smithsburg.............................................................................................. I-12 9. Town of Williamsport ........................................................................................... I-12 CHAPTER II - BACKGROUND INFORMATION....................................................... II-1 A. PHYSICAL FEATURES ....................................................................................... II-1 1. Topography ............................................................................................................ II-1 2. Sensitive Areas ........................................................................................................ II-1 3. Soil Characteristics.................................................................................................. II-2 4. Suitability for on-lot sub-surface disposal systems .................................................. II-5 5. Surface Water Characteristics ............................................................................... II-10 6. Drainage Sheds...................................................................................................... II-11 7. Water Quality....................................................................................................... II-13 8. Potomac River Mainstem ..................................................................................... II-14 9. Antietam Creek .................................................................................................... II-15 10. Conococheague Creek ...................................................................................... II-15 11. Little Conococheague ....................................................................................... II-16 12. Licking Creek ................................................................................................... II-16 13. Tonoloway Creek............................................................................................. II-16 14. Little Tonoloway.............................................................................................. II-17 15. Sideling Hill Creek............................................................................................ II-17 16. Dargan Area Drainage ...................................................................................... II-17 17. Downsville Area Drainage................................................................................ II-17 18. Pinesburg Station Area Drainage ...................................................................... II-17 19. Greenspring Area Drainage .............................................................................. II-17 20. Timber Ridge Drainage Area............................................................................ II-18 21. Tonoloway Ridge Drainage Area ..................................................................... II-18 22. Groundwater Characteristics and Aquifers....................................................... II-20 23. Groundwater Quality ....................................................................................... II-23 24. Well Construction ............................................................................................ II-27 25. Groundwater Quality Planning, Design and Management............................... II-27 26. Source Water Assessments ................................................................................ II-30 27. Water Quality Plans.......................................................................................... II-30 28. TMDL............................................................................................................... II-31 B. POPULATION ANALYSIS & PROJECTIONS............................................... II-32 C. LAND USE & GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.............................. II-36 CHAPTER III - EXISTING AND PLANNED WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS............III-1 A. WASHINGTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER QUALITY..........III-1 1. EXISTING WATER SERVICE AREAS: .............................................................III-1 2. DEPARTMENT OF WATER QUALITY PLANS AND POLICIES TO IMPROVE WATER SERVICE AND ADDRESS STATE POLICY, STRATEGIES AND PROCEDURES..................................................................................................III-3 B. CITY OF HAGERSTOWN.................................................................................III-4 1. HAGERSTOWN WATER PRODUCTION AND............................................III-4 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ..........................................................................................III-4 2. PLANNED WATER SERVICE AREA IMPROVEMENTS ..............................III-5 C. FUNKSTOWN.....................................................................................................III-6 D. WILLIAMSPORT.................................................................................................III-7 E. SMITHSBURG......................................................................................................III-7 F. FORT RITCHIE...................................................................................................III-7 G. BOONSBORO-KEEDYSVILLE ..........................................................................III-8 H. WEAVERTON.....................................................................................................III-9