Announcement

Ocean Pines Water & Wastewater Facility Infrastructure

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Ocean Pines Water & Wastewater Facility Infrastructure

The following is a release from Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino:

During the past year, there has been considerable attention given to Ocean Pines water rates and the water/wastewater facility. I’d like to share with you the infrastructure projects and improvements planned and completed for the Ocean Pines system. As you will see, the county takes a proactive approach to ensuring the facility infrastructure is well-maintained to better serve customers.

FY 27 Planned Capital Improvement Projects
Water System:

Ongoing replacement of old “blue tubing” pipe - $30,000 each year (typically 10 projects)
Replace old fiberglass chemical mixing tanks in well houses with new stainless steel tanks - $20,000 each (currently on 3rd of 5)
Well 2 electrical & mechanical modernization upgrades - $300,000 (this will address the 1st of 5 wells, future years will address the remaining 4)

Wastewater Treatment Plant:

Replace 2nd of 5 original blowers to plant - $60,000
Replace two (2) circulations pumps - $60,000
Replace flow equalization tank pump - $30,000
Clean and repair treatment tank no. 2 (2nd of 5, future years will address the remaining 3) - $250,000
Construct new belt filter press building - $4.2 Million

Sewage Collection System:

Ongoing pump replacements - $30,000 annually
Household fiberglass vacuum tanks (the ones that look like brown mushrooms in people’s front yard) - $120,000 annually
Design force main leading from pump station “N” to station “L” - $300,000 (this line has had 46 breaks over the course of it’s life; it runs down the middle of the Parkway)
Pump station “T” pump replacement - $100,000 (3rd of 3)

FY 26 Capital Improvement Projects & Significant Maintenance Projects
Water System:

Completed upgrade of all water meters to radio read - $1.4 Million
Ongoing replacement of old “blue tubing” pipe - $30,000 each year (typically 10 projects)
Replace old fiberglass chemical mixing tanks in well houses with new stainless steel tanks - $20,000 each (currently on 2 of 5)
Replace Well 5 pump & motor, replace well 10 motor - $50,000

Wastewater Treatment Plant:

Clean and repair treatment tank no. 4 (cleaned 1st of 5 tanks, which hadn’t been cleaned in 20 years) - $125,000
Replace aluminum chloride tank - $26,000
Replace 1st of 5 original blowers to plant (circa late 1970’s) - $55,000
Clean, prime, & paint all overhead piping at plant - $50,000
Replace overhead lighting throughout plant (half were out of service) - $14,000
Increasing emergency overflow lagoon capacity - $500,000
Replace drive motor in treatment unit no. 4 - $38,000
Replaced and updated UV disinfection system - $265,000 (FY 24)
Designing replacement of belt filter press (current is original to plant circa late 1970’s) - $427,000 (bonded project, estimated construction cost is $4.2 Million)
Replace mixer for treatment unit no. 2 - $112,000 (FY 25)

Sewage Collection System:

Ongoing pump replacements - $30,000 annually
Household fiberglass vacuum tanks (the ones that look like brown mushrooms in people’s front yard) - $120,000 annually (approx. 40-50 tanks replaced)
Pump station “T” pump replacement - $70,000 (currently replacing 2nd of 3 pumps)
Pump station “T” wet well relining - $65,000 (helps protect and preserve concrete structure that comes in contact with sewage)

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For more information, contact Ocean Pines Association at 410-641-7717 or [email protected].

Announcement

Ocean Pines Water & Wastewater Facility Infrastructure

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