RISING SUN — Town officials have said publicly for the first time what has been troubling them for awhile: the resistance they get from Cecil County to allow those outside of town limits to connect to its water supply.
“Don’t be fooled by what the county is doing,” Commissioner Augie Pierson said in a two-page statement he read aloud at the Tuesday night town meeting. “They are trying to dictate the size of water lines to prevent the town of Rising Sun from being a partner in the economic benefits of county investments in the area.”
Pierson pointed out that town residents pay the county $2.5 million in property taxes and get little in return.
“The truth is the county has invested millions in the MD 5 Star and Calvert Regional Park and I believe the towns should have a seat at the table,” he said. Pierson also said that Rising Sun could easily run its water lines to those projects and others in the vicinity, if the county would allow.
Ordinance 2024-08 — which was approved at the meeting — adds to the town’s existing Code of Ordinances “to incorporate recognized engineering standards for the construction of water and sewer lines within the town...” the legislation reads.
Pierson — a retired Baltimore City firefighter — said in his statement that the county is ignoring those engineering standards that guide the size of water and sewer lines and are putting the public and firefighters at risk.
“We refuse to support any measures that would handicap their ability to protect our community by imposing undersized water lines with inadequate fire flow or insufficient hydrants,” he said. He said the county’s Master Water and Sewer Plan runs counter to those standards that require a larger main to aid in fire suppression — both sprinkler and hydrant — and protect life and property values.
Town officials claim their comprehensive plan follows standards for the size of pipes dependent on such things as flow and force of the water. Pierson says the county is ignoring that standard.
“We are introducing this ordinance that establishes strict standards to ensure adequate water flow for fire protection, fire hydrants and properly sized water lines,” he said. “We want to be clear: the town will not compromise on public safety. We will not permit undersized water lines that fall short of recognized engineering standards, nor will we allow connections to systems that use our water that fail to meet these essential standards.”
Rising Sun has a daily capacity of one million gallons from Chester Water Authority. However, only about 275,000 gallons are used by the current customers. Officials say selling the excess capacity will save money for all customers of the system, especially town residents.
“The town of Rising Sun stands firm in our sovereignty as an incorporated municipality under the Maryland Constitution,” Pierson said. “We will not be dictated to or bullied by Cecil County officials who continually attempt to undermine our autonomy.”
Pierson added that county claims to preserve the rural character of the county — focused on Northern and Southern Agriculture Region zoning — are misleading.
“This narrative conveniently ignores the reality of their zoning code, which permits the very construction and development they claim to oppose,” he said, adding, “The truth is the county is delaying the expansion of town water systems not to preserve the rural character, but to give Artesian Water time to fill in those areas they have targeted for development of the the profit and benefit of Artesian Water. Cecil County sold its rights to Artesian years ago and they are doing everything they can to take over the water rights of all the towns and for the benefit of Artesian.”
Joseph DiNunzio, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary for Artesian, said the company has no expansion plans for these county projects and was unaware of the claims made by Rising Sun.
”Artesian has not been involved in any way in the matter,” DiNunzio said Thursday.
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