By Elizabeth Bonin, Staff Writer

(Jan. 14, 2021) The Ocean Pines Association moved closer to adding a wastewater irrigation system to its golf course last Tuesday, when the Worcester County Commissioners chose Hydro Design Inc. as the consultant for evaluating the upgrade cost.

The agreement is to pay the Frederick-based company $8,800 for consultation services.

The Ocean Pines Association has been considering the upgrade since last year, as irrigation systems have been shown to improve the quality of golf courses and decrease harmful nutrients in nearby waters.

John Ross, the county’s public works deputy director, said one reason he recommended Hydro Design was because it’s in driving distance and has done work on the Eastern Shore. He added that the price for the consultation was reasonable, given that upgrading the system could cost $2-3 million in total.

When County Commissioner Chip Bertino asked whether the county or the Ocean Pines Association would be paying for the multi-year project, Ross said that responsibility falls on the OPA.

“In discussions with the association, Ocean Pines is going to pay for this,” he said. “They’re either going to pay it via their water sewer bill or they’re going to pay for it via their annual dues or via their rates on the golf course.”

He also said it would be advisable to view the project as an environmental undertaking for purposes of obtaining grant funding. According to Ross, the project would reduce nutrient discharge into the St. Martin’s River and would improve one of the assets, the golf course, of the association.

“We’re going to reduce the amount of nutrients going into the water,” Ross said. “There are a lot of situations here where we could put a project together that would be very, very beneficial to all involved, and ultimately, it does become the people of Ocean Pines paying for it, even if it’s in their rates.”