SMITH ISLAND — U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser joined key community and funding partners recently to celebrate the completion of the island’s wastewater treatment facility. The project spans 14 years from planning to completion and is a major investment in infrastructure for the historic island located 11 miles from Crisfield.
“When people on Smith Island turn on the faucet, they expect clean, safe water, and they trust their wastewater is treated responsibly,” said Elmshaeuser. “They may not see the miles of pipe beneath their feet or be aware of the $22.9 million investment by the USDA and partners, but they can count on their infrastructure to work. This upgrade strengthens essential services while protecting the Chesapeake Bay and the natural resources that sustain crabbing, oystering, and the watermen who keep this historic way of life alive.”
“Smith Island is a true Maryland treasure, and protecting its future has long been a priority for the Maryland Department of the Environment,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Division Chief Sunita Boyle, “By modernizing the wastewater treatment syst...