Speaking Legalese: Developing Cecil County's Private Property I/I Program

In 2007, URS was hired by Cecil County, Maryland to perform a Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study (SSES) in the Towns of Charlestown and North East. As a result of the 30,000 gpd of continuous dry weather infiltration and significant wet weather inflow, the County approved URS to develop a program to trace and eliminate I/I originating from private property. After review of county and state codes and ordinances, research into successful and failed precedents, investigation of EPA regulations and models, and coordination with the Cecil County DPW and MDE, URS proposed a comprehensive program that would consist of four steps: implementation of a departmental policy and revisions to the code, public outreach, basement inspections, and a reimbursement program effective for one year. The evolution of this program is founded upon a legal framework that will allow the County to enforce its provisions and adapt the program to address future needs.