DPWT says progress on sewer overflows; Green Towson Alliance urges larger deficient area for Lake Roland corridor

Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation staff presented the county's 2026 basic services maps for water, sewer and transportation at a public hearing on Feb. 5 and described both progress and remaining concerns in the sewer network.

"For the 2026 basic services map for water, there remains no deficient areas," Andrew Brown, engineer and project manager in the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, told the Planning Board. On sewer, Brown said the map shows one deficient area: the Richland Manor Wastewater Treatment Plant in Perry Hall, where heavy-rain incoming flow regularly exceeds 80% of the plant's capacity and therefore fails MDE’s 20% reserve requirement.

Brown credited years of rehabilitation and relief-sewer projects for removing three prior areas of concern (near Herring Run in Parkville, near Marnett Road, and the Powder Mill area) and said a relief-sewer in Brooklynville and a relief project tied to Baltimore City work remain in design. "Once it's completed, it will increase the capacity of the sewer system to convey flows and reduce the likelihood of surcharging," Brown said of relief sewers.

Matt Leone, chief of design for Baltimore County DPWT, emphasized that the map flags conveyance problems—temporary surcharging during heavy rain—rather than treatment-plant incapacity in most cases. "The only reason for areas of concern landing on the map is not treatment plant capacity... We do consider conveyance," Leone said, adding that the Lake Roland sewer under the lake is a "very complex project" that is on DPWT's radar and under design.

Beth Miller, testifying for the Green Towson Alliance, urged the board to amend the maps to label the corridor from Lake Roland to the city line as a deficient area. Miller cited Administrative Law Judge rulings blocking two developments for lack of sewer capacity (2019 and 2023), an RJN performance assessment showing worsening conditions since 2012, and a proposed $10 million relining project for the 42-inch pipe under Lake Roland. "We ask the planning board to amend the maps to indicate the area from Lake Roland to the city line as a deficient area," Miller said.

DPWT staff acknowledged the community’s concerns, said modeling and design work is ongoing, and offered to provide additional briefings or presentations to community groups. The board took public comment but did not vote on the map; Chair Scott Halopka said the Planning Board is scheduled to vote on the matter at its next meeting, which will be virtual on Feb. 19.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the Jan. 15 minutes earlier in the meeting and carried a motion to adjourn the regular session; no formal action was taken on the basic services map at the Feb. 5 hearing.