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*hb1621*
HOUSE BILL 1621
M3 6lr3572
By: Delegate Grammer Delegates Grammer, Behler, and Guyton
Introduced and read first time: February 21, 2026
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
Re–referred to: Environment and Transportation, February 26, 2026
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 18, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Wastewater Treatment Plants – Discharges – Monitoring, Reporting, and 2
Requirements 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of the Environment to monitor and evaluate 4
effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants for certain substances; 5
establishing certain requirements for certain wastewater treatment plants; 6
requiring the Department to establish certain bacterial action levels; prohibiting 7
certain wastewater treatment plants from taking part in the Water Quality Trading 8
Program; authorizing t he Department to deny, suspend, or revoke the approval or 9
certification of certain credits under certain circumstances; requiring certain 10
notification to be provided immediately; requiring the Department to establish a 11
certain database requiring certain wastewater treatment plants to maintain a 12
publicly accessible website on which certain information relating to certain 13
discharges is required to be published in a certain manner; requiring certain 14
wastewater treatment plants to begin certain testing within a certain period of time 15
after a certain discharge; and generally relating to wastewater treatment plants. 16
BY adding to 17
Article – Environment 18
Section 9–321.3 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1621
Article – Environment 1
Section 9–331.1 and 9–332 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
Article – Environment 7
9–321.3. 8
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT 9
THAT HAS A DISCHARGE PERMIT TO PROCESS AN ANNUAL AVERAGE FLOW OF AT 10
LEAST 50,000,000 GALLONS OF EFFLUENT PER DAY. 11
(B) A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SHALL: 12
(1) (I) MAINTAIN A WEBSITE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC; 13
AND 14
(II) PUBLISH ON THE WEBSITE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 15
1. ON A MONTHLY BASIS , AFTER REPORTING TO T HE 16
DEPARTMENT ON ANY TOT AL BACTERIA RESULTS REQUIRED UNDER THE 17
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ’S DISCHARGE PERMIT , THE TOTAL BACTERIA 18
RESULTS REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT; 19
2. WITHIN 5 DAYS AFTER ANY BYPAS S, OVERFLOW, OR 20
TREATMENT FAILURE, THE TOTAL VOLUME OF WASTEWATER DISCHARGED DURING 21
THE BYPASS, OVERFLOW, OR TREATMENT FAILURE; 22
3. WITHIN 5 DAYS AFTER ANY BYPAS S, OVERFLOW, OR 23
TREATMENT FAILURE, AN EXPLANATION, IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, OF: 24
A. THE BYPASS , OVERFLOW, OR TREATMENT FAILURE ; 25
AND 26
B. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBL E, ANY ACTION TAKEN 27
CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER § 9–331.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 28
4. WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER RECEIVIN G THE RESULTS 29
OF A TEST CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE 30
RESULTS OF THE TEST; AND 31
HOUSE BILL 1621 3
(2) WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER A BYPASS, OVERFLOW, OR TREATMENT 1
FAILURE THAT REQUIRES TESTING FOR BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN D EMAND, TOTAL 2
SUSPENDED SOLIDS, BACTERIA, INCLUDING FECAL COLIFORM, ENTEROCOCCI, AND 3
E. COLI, NUTRIENTS, INCLUDING NITROGEN A ND PHOSPHORUS , OR WHOLE 4
EFFLUENT TOXICITY, BEGIN THE REQUIRED TESTING. 5
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “PFAS” MEANS PER – AND POLYFLUOROALKYL 6
SUBSTANCES. 7
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 8
(1) MONITOR EFFLUENT DISC HARGED FROM WASTEWAT ER 9
TREATMENT PLANTS FOR HORMONES, PFAS, AND BACTERIA; AND 10
(2) EVALUATE WHETHER THE EFFLUENT DISCHARGED FROM 11
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS CON TAINS HORMONES , PFAS, OR BACTERIA 12
BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE WASTEWATER TREAT MENT PLANT ’S DISCHARGE 13
PERMIT. 14
(C) EACH WASTEWATER TREAT MENT PLANT THAT HAS A DISCHARGE 15
PERMIT TO PROCESS AT LEAST 50,000,000 GALLONS OF EFFLUENT PER DAY SHALL: 16
(1) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30, 2027, AND EACH 6 MONTHS 17
THEREAFTER, REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 18
2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT 19
PLANT’S STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN; 20
(2) MAINTAIN A WEBSITE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC; 21
(3) REPORT DAILY ON THE TOTAL BACTERIA DISCHARGED FROM THE 22
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ON THE WASTEWA TER TREATMENT PLANT ’S 23
WEBSITE; 24
(4) PROVIDE AN EXPLANATIO N, IN PLAIN LANGUAGE , ON THE 25
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT’S WEBSITE: 26
(I) OF ANY BYPASS, OVERFLOW, OR TREATMENT FAILURE; AND 27
(II) TO THE EXTENT POSSIBL E, THE ESTIMATED DURATI ON, 28
AFFECTED WATERWAYS , AND POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONME NTAL 29
IMPACTS OF THE BYPASS, OVERFLOW, OR TREATMENT FAILURE; 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1621
(5) WITHIN 24 HOURS OF A BYPASS , OVERFLOW, OR TREATMENT 1
FAILURE THAT REQUIRE S TESTING FOR BIOCHE MICAL OXYGEN DEMAND , TOTAL 2
SUSPENDED SOLIDS, BACTERIA, INCLUDING FECAL COLIFORM, ENTEROCOCCI, AND 3
E. COLI, NUTRIENTS INCLUDING NITROGEN AND PHOSPHO RUS, OR WHOLE 4
EFFLUENT T OXICITY, POST THE RESULTS OF THE TEST ON THE WAST EWATER 5
TREATMENT PLANT’S WEBSITE; 6
(6) WITHIN 14 DAYS OF ANY EVENT OR OCCURRENCE THAT RESULTS 7
IN THE WASTEWATER TR EATMENT PLANT DISCHA RGING EFFLUENT CONTA INING 8
HORMONES, PFAS, OR BACTERIA BEYOND T HE LIMITS OF THE WASTEWATER 9
TREATMENT PLANT’S DISCHARGE PERMIT, POST ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT 10
PLANT’S WEBSITE: 11
(I) THE CAUSE OF THE EVENT OR OCCURRENCE; 12
(II) CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN; AND 13
(III) MEASURES IMPLEMENTED TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE; 14
(7) KEEP ANY SEWAGE SLUDG E OR DRY SOLID HOLDI NG AREA 15
PHYSICALLY ENCLOSED; AND 16
(8) CAPTURE OR TREAT ANY VAPORS EMITTED FROM THE 17
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT MAY AFFECT THE PUBLIC. 18
(D) EACH WASTEWATER TREAT MENT PLANT THAT HAS A DISCHARGE 19
PERMIT TO PROCES S LESS THAN 50,000,000 GALLONS OF EFFLUENT PER DAY 20
SHALL, ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2027, AND EACH DECEMBER 31 21
THEREAFTER, REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 22
2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT 23
PLANT’S STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN. 24
(E) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH: 25
(I) BACTERIAL ACTION LEVE LS FOR EFFLUENT FROM 26
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS; AND 27
(II) A PROCESS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SUB SCRIBE 28
TO RECEIVE REAL–TIME ALERTS WHEN A B ACTERIAL ACTION LEVEL ESTABLISHED 29
UNDER ITEM (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS EXCEEDED. 30
(2) IF A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXCEEDS THE BACTERIAL 31
ACTION LEVEL ESTABLI SHED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 32
HOUSE BILL 1621 5
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SHALL IMMEDIAT ELY PROVIDE NOT ICE ON THE 1
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT’S WEBSITE. 2
(F) (1) A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT FAILS TO MEET THE 3
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION OR IS FOUND TO HAVE DISCHARGED E FFLUENT 4
CONTAINING HORMONES , PFAS, OR BACTERIA BEYOND T HE LIMITS OF THE 5
WASTEWATER T REATMENT PLANT ’S DISCHARGE PERMIT F OR 2 CONSECUTIVE 6
MONTHS MAY NOT TAKE PART IN THE WATER QUALITY TRADING PROGRAM FOR 7
THE REMAINING PERIOD OF THAT WASTEWATER T REATMENT PLANT’S DISCHARGE 8
PERMIT. 9
(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY DENY , SUSPEND, OR REVOKE THE 10
APPROVAL OR CERTIFICATION OF CREDITS APPLICABLE FOR THE WATER QUALITY 11
TRADING PROGRAM IF THE DEPARTMENT FINDS THAT A WASTEWATER TREATMENT 12
PLANT HAS A HISTORY OF DISCHARGING EFFLU ENT CONTAINING HORMO NES, 13
PFAS, OR BACTERIA BEYOND T HE LIMITS OF THE WAS TEWATER TREATM ENT 14
PLANT’S DISCHARGE PERMIT. 15
(G) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT THE 16
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. 17
9–331.1. 18
(a) (1) The owner or operator of any sanitary sewer system, combined sewer 19
system, or wastewater treatment plant shall report to the Department any sewer overflow 20
or treatment plant bypass that results in the direct or potential discharge of raw or diluted 21
sewage into the surface waters or groundwaters of the State. 22
(2) The report shall be made as soon as practicable bu t no later than 24 23
hours after the time that the operator or owner became aware of the event. 24
(3) Within 5 calendar days after notification of the event, the owner or 25
operator shall provide the Department with a written report regarding the incident tha t 26
includes any information required by the Department. 27
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department, in 28
cooperation with the Maryland Department of Health, the local health departments, and 29
local environmental health directors, shall develop AUTOMATED procedures for requiring 30
the owner or operator of any sanitary sewer system, combined sewer system, or wastewater 31
treatment plant to provide public notification of a sewer overflow or treatment plant 32
bypass. 33
(2) The procedures developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall: 34
(i) Require that the notification be posted: 35
6 HOUSE BILL 1621
1. In Spanish and English at the location of the sewer 1
overflow or treatment plant bypass; 2
2. On the website of the Department, the Maryland 3
Department of Health, and the appropriate local health department; and 4
3. On any social media website on which the appropriate 5
local health department regularly posts information; and 6
(ii) Require IMMEDIATE notification [within a reasonable time] to: 7
1. Appropriate downstream jurisdictions; 8
2. Appropriate county governments; 9
3. State parks impacted by the sewer overflow or treatment 10
plant bypass; 11
4. The Department of Natural Resources; and 12
5. Any other local, State, or federal land manager impacted 13
by the sewer overflow or treatment plant bypass. 14
(c) (1) The Maryland Department of Health and the local health departments 15
shall make all decisions and determinations as to public health issues resulting from sewer 16
overflows or treatment bypasses. 17
(2) The owner or operator of any sanitary sewer system, combined sewer 18
system, or wastewater treatment plant is not responsible for making public health 19
determinations regarding sewer overflow or treatment plant bypasses. 20
(d) The Depa rtment shall adopt regulations to implement the requirements of 21
this section. 22
9–332. 23
(a) A person may not introduce any pollutant, either directly or indirectly, into a 24
publicly owned treatment works, or into any conveyance leading to a publicly owned 25
treatment works, in violation of any applicable pretreatment requirements including 26
federal pretreatment standards, State requirements, local ordinances, or any pretreatment 27
agreement. 28
(b) The Secretary may delegate to owners of publicly owned treatment works the 29
authority to apply and enforce State pretreatment requirements against industrial users. 30
HOUSE BILL 1621 7
(c) The Secretary may determine which publicly owned treatment works are or 1
may be adversely impacted by industrial users and may require the owners of those publicly 2
owned treatment works to develop and maintain programs which meet State pretreatment 3
requirements. 4
(d) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PUBLICLY AVA ILABLE AND 5
SEARCHABLE DATABASE THAT INCLUDES: 6
(1) A LIST OF ALL THE INDU STRIAL USERS THAT HOLD A 7
PRETREATMENT PERMIT; 8
(2) WHICH POLLUTANTS ARE BEING DISCHARGED BY EACH 9
PRETREATMENT PERMIT HOLDER; 10
(3) WHETHER EACH PRETREATMENT PERMIT HOLDER IS COMPLYING 11
WITH THE PRETREATMENT PERMIT HOLDER’S PERMIT; AND 12
(4) WHICH ENFORCEMENT ACT IONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AGAINST A 13
PRETREATMENT PERMIT HOLDER THAT HAS VIOL ATED THE PRETREATMEN T 14
PERMIT HOLDER’S PERMIT. 15
(E) This section shall not be construed to limit any other provision of law imposing 16
any restriction or prohibition relating to the discharge or disposal of pollutants or controlled 17
hazardous wastes. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2026. 20
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.