Westminster?s seven-month building moratorium ended Tuesday when city and state officials signed a consent order detailing how the county seat will secure more water.
“This gives the city time to develop a water supply on a schedule and create sustainability,” said Robert Summers, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment.
In September, MDE halted construction in Westminster until the city could find enough water to satisfy a worst-case drought ? a new regulation the state adopted last year to guide growth in all of Maryland?s municipalities.
Westminster Councilmen Gregory Pecoraro and Robert Wack will host a forum tonight to gather residents? input on how the city should allocate the limited amount of building permits allowed under the 60,000 gallons of water a day the city now is allowed to pump.
“Obviously, projects like [Carroll Hospital Center?s] dialysis department will get done,” Council President Roy Chiavacci said.
Commercial and industrial building may get preference over new houses because businesses would not only help the city?s economy, but also provide the restaurants and other stores a growing population requires, Pecoraro said.
According to the consent order, Westminster will continue with its plan to build an emergency water pipeline from Medford Quarry to Cranberry Reservoir and explore tapping into the Big Pipe Creek, Little Pipe Creek and Koontz Creamery Well.
In addition, the city must develop a water conservation plan to educate the public and enact ordinances and rebate programs to encourage conservation.
Westminster attracted the state?s attention in 2002, when the city had to spend $120,000 to truck in water.
If you go
» What: Water appropriation forum
» When: 7 p.m. today
» Where: Westminster City Hall
