Glen Hills Area Study

Glen Hills Area Sanitary Study and Reports

DEP conducted the study in two phases. DEP presented the overall plan for the study at an introductory public meeting held on February 21, 2012.

Phase 1 Study and Report

The intent of Phase 1 of this study was to determine the present status of septic systems in Glen Hills and to evaluate the potential sustainability of the existing septic systems in the study area. DEP presented the results of Phase 1 of the study to the public on June 12, 2012. Phase 1 involved:

• The collection of information about wells and septic systems in the study area;

• The identification of sensitive environmental features in the study area;

• A review of local conditions affecting well and septic system suitability such as soils, topography, and drainage patterns; and

• An evaluation of these conditions to understand where on-site systems are likely to have reasonable longevity and where those systems are likely to encounter problems in the long term. 

Phase 1 Report (PDF, 17.14 MB) 

Phase 2 Study and Report 

Phase 2 of the study looked at those parts of the study area where Phase 1 found conditions that could limit the long-term use of the existing septic systems and limit the replacement of these systems in the future. Phase 2 evaluated options for using conventional or innovative septic system technologies or public sewer service to ensure the sustainability of the neighborhood’s wastewater disposal needs. Use this link to see a more detailed scope of work for phase 2 of the study. DEP presented the results of Phase 2 of the study to the public on April 18, 2013.

Together, the results of the two phases of this study were used to provide the County Council with an evaluation of the suitability of septic systems in the Glen Hills Area and options that may need to be available to promote the sustainability of this community.

Phase 2 Report (PDF, 6.3.MB) 

Study Partners

DEP conducted outreach to residents and property owners in the study area, including:

DEP conducted the study in conjunction with the following contractor and agencies:

• A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. - Consulting Engineer hired by DEP

• Department of Permitting Services

• Maryland – National Capital Park and Planning Commission

• Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Phase II only)

Public Participation

DEP sent a survey to all property owners in the study area requesting their feedback on the history and condition of on-site wells and septic systems. DEP received surveys back from approximately one-third of the area’s residents.

DEP also requested participation from residents and civic association representatives in a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). Twelve residents were selected as members for the CAC from over 30 volunteers;   please click to see a list of the CAC members (PDF, 23KB).

The CAC met regularly throughout the study process with DEP staff to review and comment on the ongoing progress and results of the study.  CAC meetings were open to the public, not just to the CAC members.

DEP held three public meetings throughout the study process. 

• The first, in February 2012, provided background about onsite systems and their use in the community, introduced the study’s purpose and scope, and previewed the steps for the Phase 1 part of the study. 
• The second public meeting, held in June 2012, provided information from the draft Phase 1 report and previewed the Phase 2 part of the study. 
• The third public meeting, held in April 2013, provided information from the draft Phase 2 report and presented the next steps towards the County Council’s consideration of sewer service policies for the study area.

Sewer Service Policy Process

County Executive’s Recommendations

As recommended by the 2002 Potomac Subregion Master Plan , the goal of the Glen Hills Study was to provide information on which the County Council could base appropriate policies for wastewater disposal service within the study area.  With the completion of the study reports, the County Executive has provided these reports to the County Council along with recommendations for service policies.  Links for the two study reports are provided below; click here to view the  Executive’s transmittal memo .

As requested by the County Council, the Executive has also provided a recommended Water and Sewer Plan text amendment for sewer service policies for the Glen Hills study area.   The Executive’s Recommended Sewer Service Policies and Water and Sewer Plan Text Amendment was transmitted to the Council in June 2015.

In brief, the County Executive recommended the following service policies:

• That the use of on-site septic systems continues to be the primary wastewater disposal method within the study area, consistent with master plan recommendations and Water and Sewer Plan service policies.
  That the provision of public sewer service continues to be used to relieve cases involving documented septic system failures, as needed.

• That the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Dept. of Permitting Services (DPS) coordinate to evaluate and recommend—only as needed—the establishment of special sewer service areas within Glen Hills.  These are areas where future septic system repair or replacement limitations may require the eventual use of public sewer service.  The inclusion of such an area in the County’s Water and Sewer Plan will require the approval of the County Council.

• That the use of the Water and Sewer Plan’s "abutting mains" service policy be restored within the study area.  This policy allows for only a single sewer connection for an existing property abutting an existing or approved sewer main.  The policy is designed so as not to promote the subdivision or resubdivision of existing properties using public sewer service.

• That the provisions of the Piney Branch restricted sewer service access policy  remain unchanged for those parts of the study area located within the Piney Branch subwatershed of Watts Branch. 

The Executive’s transmittal memo also recognized that, at present, sewer extension costs far exceed the costs for replacement septic systems and for sewer service connections to existing mains.  This applies county-wide, not just in the study area.  The County is pursuing the design of a modified water and sewer main extension process in co-operation with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and the Prince George’s County government.  The purpose of a modified process is to improve the affordability of new main construction where needed for individual property owners throughout the county. 

County Council's Consideration and Action

On receipt of the County Executive’s recommended service policy text amendment, the County Council established a public hearing date.  The hearing was held on September 24, 2015.  Following the closing of the hearing record, the Council held three work sessions for the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment (T&E) Committee. The committee considered the recommendations provided by the Executive, Planning Board, and Council staff, and testimony provided by the public, to develop a draft resolution for the Council’s consideration.  The work sessions were help on October 26 and November 16, 2015 and on January 21, 2016.

The full Council took up the T&E Committee’s policy recommendations in a work session on March 1, 2016. The Council continued that work session on March 8, 2016, and also approved resolution no. 18-423 for the Glen Hills study area. 

State Consideration

The County Council transmitted resolution no. 18-423 for review to the Maryland Dept. of the Environment (MDE), Water Management Administration, on March 21, 2016.  Under State law, MDE had 90 days to evaluate the resolution, at which point, MDE must either concur with, disallow, or disallow in part the Council’s action.  MDE provided concurrence with the Council’s resolution in a letter dated June 20, 2016.