Grant Will Fund Water Plant Upgrade

SAVAGE, Md. (AP) -- Howard County has received a $35.5 million state grant to help pay for a $100 million upgrade for the county's Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant in Savage. County officials announced the grant Thursday. The goal of the project is to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the Patuxent River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.

County public works director James Irvin says the Department of the Environment grant is twice the amount they expected. He says it means the county can put more local funding toward other water and sewer projects.

The water and sewer system is self-supported through residents' utility taxes, but the state money comes from the so-called "flush tax," a fee paid by all residents.