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Jul. 17, 2008
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has approved a $750,000 grant for the Garrett County commissioners to rehabilitate the Friendsville sewer system.
"This $750,000 grant is excellent news for Friendsville residents and businesses," said Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, who announced the grant award last Friday. "Clean water is vital to health and safety. This grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help ensure the health and safety of the residents of Friendsville."
ARC funding will be used to install three miles of sewer line, and clean and replace 238 lateral joints. The project will enable the town to extend public sewer service to 19 households that currently rely on failing on-site systems, and improve service to 185 existing customers, according to Bartlett.
The Friendsville sewer system currently experiences severe inflow and infiltration (I/I), particularly during times of high groundwater and storm events. The I/I rates have exceeded the permitted capacity of the county's wastewater treatment plant, which has limited the system's available sewer capacity and hindered commercial and residential expansion within the town, Bartlett noted