Van Hollen, Trone, Cardin Announce $150,000 for Water System Improvements in Allegany County

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and U.S. Representative David Trone (all D-MD) announced $150,000 in federal funding for improvements to a water distribution system that supplies nearly 100 homes in Allegany County. The funding came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants program.

Currently, the line of pipes that connects the county water district to its water supplier in Frostburg suffers from severe leaks and breakage. For several years now, the water district has only been receiving an estimated 75 percent of its purchased water, with the other quarter lost due to the faulty infrastructure. The damage is a result of the soil’s high acidity levels that ravage the iron in the system’s pipes and fittings. 

The $150,000 federal grant will provide much needed repairs and replacements for the water line. Once completed, the improvements will reduce breaks, leaks, and ultimately the amount of lost water in the system. In addition to serving 100 homes, this water service also provides an emergency connection to Lonaconing’s water distribution system in Midland, Maryland.

“Access to safe drinking water should never be in question,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee. “As we work to invest in infrastructure like our roads, bridges, and transit we must also modernize the infrastructure that provides safe, clean water to our communities. This funding will help repair Allegany County’s water distribution system, improve water quality for residents, and ensure a safe and consistent water supply for the County. We will keep pushing for federal funds to ensure our local governments have the resources to provide access to clean drinking water in every community across our state.”

“One of the top priorities I’m working on in Congress is reinvesting in our nation’s infrastructure, and that includes ensuring we have access to good, clean water,” said Rep. David Trone. “It’s unacceptable that one hundred homes in the region get their water from pipes that are deteriorating, leaking, and losing water. This money will go towards upgrading the system to ensure our residents receive 100% of the water they purchased and that is rightfully theirs.”

“Public health and safety are at risk when our critical infrastructure, such as our water distribution systems, is not in working order,” said Senator Cardin, Chair, Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. “This new federal funding for Allegany County will ensure residents’ water is safe and drinkable. Team Maryland will continue to champion funding for programs and initiatives that improve and modernize our nation’s critical water infrastructure.”