SMITH ISLAND, Md. – The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved more than $27 million to support clean water infrastructure and a chunk of that will go to support a project in Somerset County.

The Somerset County Sanitary District will receive nearly $900,000 in grant funding.

That will be used for the next phase of a project to decommission an aging wastewater treatment plant on Smith Island and upgrade another existing facility.

The island’s wastewater collection system will be improved and a new nutrient treatment facility will be installed.

“This was a project that definitely need our help,” said Adam Ortiz, Deputy Secretary for Maryland Department of the Environment. “Folks in Smith Island deserve the best quality services and infrastructure possible regardless of the zip code or the income, so we’re happy to help and to help accelerate the planning and construction that local folks have been planning and are looking for help to put into place.”

Once construction is complete, the plant will reduce nitrogen pollution in the Frances Gut and Chesapeake Bay by 83% and phosphorus pollution by 90%.

“We wanted to contribute in a healthy way to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, so by upgrading the plant it helps make the economy better and the environment better because as we know the economy of watermen and aquatic life is central to the success of Maryland and the economy and the jobs that people have there,” said Ortiz.

The funding includes a $600,000 comprehensive flood management grant as well.

This effort is a part of an overall $400 million that Governor Wes Moore has invested in environmental and clean water projects.