BALTIMORE MD (August 14, 2013) - Public Works Director Alfred H. Foxx today praised the approval, by the City’s Board of Estimates, of a $263.5 million contract for the first phase of construction of an Enhanced Nutrient Removal Facility (ENR) at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. This contract was awarded to Archer Western Contractors, LLC, a leading firm in water, wastewater and transportation construction.

“This project is an integral part of the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Program mandated by the Maryland Department of the Environment,” said Mr. Foxx. “When completed, it will dramatically reduce the nutrients that contribute to algae blooms which reduce the oxygen content in the water and cause fish kills.”

The specific goal of this program is to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient load to the Bay. These two elements are found in wastewater influent at all treatment plants. At Back River, approximately 35,000 lbs. of nitrogen and 6,000 lbs. of phosphorus enter every day in the influent wastewater.

The City of Baltimore owns and operates two of the largest wastewater treatment facilities in the State of Maryland. These are Back River at 8201 Eastern Boulevard, and Patapsco at 3501 Asiatic Avenue in Wagner’s Point. These plants, along with 65 others in the state, began nutrient reduction in the late 1990’s, targeting about 70% reduction of the incoming nitrogen using Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) technology.

Under these new improvements, nitrogen will be cut by an additional 60% to achieve more than 90% total reduction. Chemical treatment of phosphorus at Back River has already resulted in removing 90% of it from the treated water.

This project, and a subsequent phase, will be a massive undertaking. It is estimated that 250 on-site construction jobs will be created under this contract alone. Many additional jobs will be provided to local off-site suppliers and support staff. It will have a considerable positive impact on the regional economy.

What is being constructed? :

All work will be completed on this and subsequent Back River ENR projects by December 2016. The vast majority of the funding for this work, 93.5%, comes from the State’s Bay Restoration Fee (Flush Tax). The other 6.5% of the cost is shared equally by Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

At the present time there are three projects under Construction for ENR work at the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant. Two are nearing completion and the third will be finished by April 2015.

Director Foxx noted: “Growing Baltimore depends upon a healthy Chesapeake Bay. This work is not only an example of the City’s environmental and fiscal leadership, it is also an investment in our future.”