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SB 930

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2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Baker and 13 co-sponsors

Maryland creates a time-limited MAR pilot with one permit to inject treated wastewater to augment groundwater, requiring strict testing, monitoring, and public notice.

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Bill Summary · SB 930

Summary — SB 930: Environment — Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Pilot Program

Status: Approved by the Governor (Chapter 475 — 2025). Introduced Jan 27, 2025.

Purpose

Establishes a time‑limited Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Pilot Program in the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to authorize, regulate, and evaluate the controlled use of treated reclaimed wastewater injected underground to augment groundwater supplies. The program is intended to test feasibility, safety, and regulatory needs for potential broader use of groundwater augmentation.

Key provisions

  • Creates a new statutory section (Art. — Environment § 9‑303.4) defining MAR terms and establishing the pilot program.
  • Prohibits groundwater augmentation except as allowed under the pilot program.
  • MDE may accept MAR permit applications from January 2, 2026 through January 3, 2028 — but may issue no more than one MAR permit under the pilot.
  • MAR permits are effective for five years and may be administratively renewed for an additional five years. MDE may refuse, revoke, or condition permits for cause.
  • Permit applicants must demonstrate technical, administrative, and financial capacity; complete planning and engineering; and provide detailed testing/monitoring, mitigation, and operation & maintenance plans.
  • Applicants must: identify wells within a two‑year travel time from the proposed injection site and assess potential impacts; identify industrial users contributing to source sewerage and characterize pollutants; and perform a hydrogeological investigation.
  • A tracer study must be initiated within three months of the start of injections to verify aquifer retention time; results must be submitted to MDE.
  • Treatment and water quality standards: reclaimed water must meet or exceed applicable EPA primary/secondary contaminant limits and state standards; treatment must include at least three separate processes (including oxidation) and meet specified pathogen log reductions (12‑log enteric virus; 10‑log Giardia; 10‑log Cryptosporidium). PFAS concentrations must comply with EPA final SDWA rules and any MDE limits.
  • Public participation rules (Title 1, Subtitle 6) apply; applicants must notify owners of wells identified as within two‑year travel time.
  • Reporting: permittees must submit annual scientific reports and recommendations to MDE by Sept. 1 each year. MDE must report to the Governor and General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2028 and annually thereafter on pilot status, scientific findings, and recommendations (including whether to modify, extend, or make the program permanent).
  • MDE may adopt implementing regulations. The pilot program statute terminates Sept. 30, 2036.

Who is affected

  • MDE (program administration, permitting, enforcement).
  • Maryland Department of Health (laboratory testing coordination; potential reimbursable costs).
  • Any utility, local government or entity that applies for the single MAR permit (demonstration facility/operator).
  • Owners of nearby wells and industrial dischargers to the sewerage system feeding the demonstration facility.
  • Local governments (voluntary participants) and certain small businesses (e.g., water/wastewater technology providers, consulting firms).

Fiscal/regulatory impact

  • MDE can implement the pilot with existing resources; minimal general fund expenditures possible to reimburse MDH Laboratories for testing. No permit fee is specified.
  • Local expenditures likely increase for participating jurisdictions. Overall small business impacts are minimal but could be meaningful for firms involved in permitting, treatment technologies, monitoring, or construction.

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Application window: 1/2/2026 – 1/3/2028.
  • Only one MAR permit may be issued under the pilot.
  • Permit duration: 5 years (renewable once administratively).
  • MDE reporting to Governor/General Assembly begins Dec. 31, 2028 and continues annually.
  • Pilot statutory sunset: 9/30/2036.

For more detail, see enacted Chapter 475 (SB 930) and the added statutory language in Article — Environment § 9‑303.4.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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