Groundwater in Anne Arundel County lies within the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, an aquifer group that stretches along the eastern United States from North Carolina to New York. As one of the largest municipal users of the aquifers within the system, Anne Arundel County recognizes the need to move toward long-term sustainability of groundwater resources. The MAR program seeks to develop technology to support a more sustainable approach which can maintain our groundwater supplies for the future while mitigating against the impact of continued withdrawals.

MAR also provides additional nutrient removal benefits by directly reducing the discharges to nearby water bodies. In comparison with other options, nutrient reductions associated with MAR appear to be more cost-effective than other options and can be implemented at existing County facilities. For this reason, the Our wAAter program includes MAR as one of several approaches being developed as part of the long-term strategy to reduce nutrient discharges.

Utilities around the world are successfully using similar approaches to supplement water supply. Here are key facilities that have implemented large-scale MAR programs in the U.S.:

Lakewood, California Orange County, California Rio Rancho, New Mexico El Paso, Texas Reno, Nevada Southeastern Virginia

Lakewood, California
Orange County, California
Reno, Nevada
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
El Paso, Texas
Southeastern Virginia

Yes. The County will be testing and developing a multi-step advanced treatment system and will identify critical points to operate and control the system. The advanced water treatment pilot system helps the County evaluate the process before implementation. This type of multi-barrier approach is used in other applications where safety is a paramount concern. Water from the advanced treatment system will be treated to meet all drinking water standards. Click on each icon below to learn more about each process step.

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  Water Reclamation Facility

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  Water Reclamation Facility Effluent:

  Recycled water from the Patuxent Water Reclamation Facility will undergo an advanced treatment process to meet drinking water standards

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  Coagulation/ Flocculation Sedimentation

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  Coagulation / Flocculation / Sedimentation:

  This process involves removing organic matter from water by adding a chemical to create large particles called “flocs.” The flocs settle and are then removed. This process helps to remove solids, color, iron, manganese, and pathogens from the water.

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  Ozone (and Ozone Advanced Oxidation Processes)

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  Ozone and Ozone/Advanced Oxidation Processes:

  Ozone is a strong disinfectant that kills harmful organisms and degrades emerging contaminants-- pollutants not currently regulated that may negatively affect human health and aquatic life. Ozone breaks down organic matter that is used as “food” in the biofiltration process.

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  Biofiltration

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  Biofiltration:

  Biofiltration is the process of allowing organisms naturally found in water systems to break down and remove organic matter. Biofiltration has been shown to be a safe and effective way to remove solids, iron, manganese and emerging contaminants.

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  Granular Activated Carbon Adsorption

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  Granular Activated Carbon (GAC):

  GAC is a widely implemented water treatment process to remove organic matter. Water flows through the GAC and contaminants are removed by attaching to the activated carbon surface. GAC is highly effective for removing emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

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  UV Disinfection

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  UV Disinfection:

  UV is the final disinfection step that uses ultraviolet light to kill harmful organisms. This type of disinfection does not require any chemicals, which means it does not result in disinfection byproducts—harmful substances that form when a disinfectant reacts with naturally occurring organic matter.

Yes. The injected water will be monitored and treated to protect the water quality of the native groundwater and to ensure stability of the aquifer systems.