The Division of Utilities is responsible for the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems and facilities in several specific areas of Carroll County.
Service
Description:
Water: The Division operates and maintains the Freedom District water service system that provides drinking water to more than 20,000 customers in the greater Eldersburg / Sykesville area. The main component of this service system is the Freedom District Water Treatment Plant. This facility draws raw water from the Liberty Reservoir and is capable of producing as much as 4.0 MGD (million gallons per day) of drinking water using a membrane filtration method. The Freedom District water service system also includes three active water storage tanks with a total capacity of 2.5 million gallons and approximately 120 miles of distribution mains. In addition to this, the collection of Freedom groundwater sources, including the Raincliffe, Fairhaven wells, and Springfield Wells, will provide a supplemental source of drinking water to the system once appropriation issues are approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment and wellhouse treatment upgrades have been implemented.
The Division is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Bark Hill water service system, which became operational in May of 1993, the Pleasant Valley water service system, in operation since March of 1991, and the Kabik Court water supply, which became a standalone service system in 2022.
In addition, the Division conducts meter readings and replacements, fire hydrant maintenance, system flushing, and other maintenance requirements. Water quality reports for the three service systems are provided on an annual basis via the links in the area above.
Wastewater: The Division operates and maintains a 0.9 MGD wastewater treatment plant in Hampstead, along with 35 miles of collection lines, including seven sewer pumping stations. In the Freedom District, the Division is accountable for the entire collection system (98 miles), which includes eleven major sewer pumping stations that feed the Maryland Environmental Services Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Pleasant Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant became operational in March 1997, serving approximately 51 residences/businesses. The Division is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of several Board of Education facilities: South Carroll Wastewater Treatment Plant, Winfield Sewer Pumping Station, and Runnymede Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Services:
-Appointments with residents to check for water leaks or to replace water meters are conducted.
-Annual Consumer Confidence Reports are sent to each residential or commercial property on the water system to inform them and assure them the water quality provided to them is of the highest quality available.
-Fire hydrants are flushed semi-annually to keep distribution lines free from stagnant water and to provide the highest level of quality potable water to residents.
-Fire flow tests are conducted for contractors as requested for new residential or commercial buildings.
-Water Treatment Plant Operators work diligently around the clock 24/7 operating the plant to treat and deliver through the distribution system the highest quality water.
-Sewer backups into homes, yards or sewer manhole overflows require operators to check sewer cleanouts and manholes for standing water in the sewer lines to the main for obstructions such as roots, grease or other debris discharged into the system.
Fees
Provides water conservation devices to the public upon request at a minimal cost; some items are free.
Area served
Serves homeowners and businesses connected to county public water and sewer systems in the Freedom District and Pleasant Valley areas. Serves homeowners connected to public sewer in the Hampstead area and public water only in the Bark Hill area.
