Project will use treated effluent on OP Golf Course
By Greg Ellison
(Sept. 23, 2021) The Worcester County Commissioners got what they wanted from the Ocean Pines Board of Directors last Wednesday — unanimous support for a county plan to convert the Ocean Pines Golf Course irrigation system to one that sprays treated wastewater instead.
The commissioners are prepared to spend more $3 million to make the switch from a system that draws and disperses groundwater to keep the greens green to one that is fed by harmless treated effluent from the county wastewater treatment operation in Ocean Pines.
The board’s decision last Wednesday to write a letter of support follows a town hall meeting held jointly by both entities on Sept. 9.
Worcester County Public Works Director Dallas Baker and Deputy Director John Ross teamed with General Manager John Viola and Golf Superintendent Justin Hartshorne to host the town hall meeting last week.
Director Frank Daly, who opened the discussion during the board meeting on Sept. 15, said county officials thoroughly vetted the subject the week prior.
“They also have asked us … to issue …a letter of support for the proposal, so it can move forward,” he said.
In January 2020, the Ocean Pines Service Area Water & Wastewater Advisory Board was authorized by the county to explore using highly treated effluent to irrigate greens and fairways.
“Highly treated effluent” is defined as water meeting current Maryland Department of the Environment Bay Restoration standards.
Daly said Viola compiled a list of questions following the recent town hall meeting, which was included in meeting minutes that evening.
“A lot of those questions came from the public,” he said.
Daly said other inquiries were received about the present system’s state of repair and costs for annual maintenance.
Viola said underground piping feeding the current system dates back half a century.
“Obviously, it functions and waters every day,” he said.
While still operational, maintenance costs for the irrigation system have become exorbitant.
“We have done repairs there, but it’s ready to be replaced,” he said.
Ballpark estimates for annual upkeep run between $15,000 and $20,000 for parts, with labor further boosting costs.
Hartshorne said the sprinkler system has been run at reduced rates this year due to capacity limits.
“We’ve been making a lot of adjustments [and] trying to use less water as much as possible, “ he said.
Hartshorne attributed the proactive measures to the advanced age of infrastructure.
“We’re trying not to force the issue and make it fail,” he said.
Viola said the current irrigation system would likely be insufficient for use with treated effluent.
“If we took the effluent water … we don’t believe the pipes we have right now would be capable of handling the pressure,” he said. “It was recommended to replace the entire system.”
In terms of project costs, during the town hall meeting Ross said building the irrigation infrastructure is estimated at roughly $2.8 million, with another $400,000 needed for piping to transport treated effluent to the golf course.
Additionally, Worcester has budgeted $3.5 million to replace a belt filter press at the Ocean Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“We’re looking at a total of $6.8-$7 million,” he said.
In terms of impacts on water bills, Ross said the $6.8 million expenditure would add $16 per quarter for Ocean Pines ratepayers, which would be largely offset by upcoming savings.
“In 2002, we constructed a plant addition down there,” he said. “In 2022, that plant debt service will be paid off … saving approximately $12 a quarter.”
The tradeoff would mean quarterly bills increase about $5 to pay back the nearly $7 million project costs.
Viola said installation work would take about five months to be completed, with tentative time frames between November and March.
“That’s the time of the year where there is not a lot of play,” he said. “We’re talking about one or two holes for [perhaps] a day … it doesn’t concern me if it’s done between November and March.”