The Maryland Board of Public Works has authorized $1.2 million for wastewater treatment plant upgrades for the towns of Salisbury and Fruitland.
The funding is part of the 2000 Chesapeake Bay Agreement signed by five states including Maryland to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries such as the Wicomico River.
Salisbury got $1 million for designing improvements to fix an earlier upgrade that did not meet pollution control standards.
The city is now under a consent agreement with the Maryland Department of the Environment to finish the project in the next five years.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that officials hope to cut nitrogen discharge by 83 percent and phosphorus by 85 percent.
Meanwhile, in Fruitland $200-thosuand will go to an engineering study aimed at improving nutrient removal facilities at its wastewater treatment plant.
Ultimately, it’s hoped that nitrogen discharge will be cut by 62 percent and phosphorus by 85 percent.
