$400 Million Could Change Everything for Maryland’s Water 💧🌎 — Here’s How

PHOTO OF THE MONTH: Twenty-one environmental projects were awarded at an event in April, bringing together community organizations focused on improving the health of the Back and the Patapsco rivers.

We celebrated Earth Month with passion, with purpose, and — most importantly — with partnership. I am so proud of how Maryland came together: agencies, communities, industries, neighbors — all united by our shared commitment to protect the only home we have. And I’m excited to say: our work is just getting started.

One of the moments I’m especially proud of was celebrating the tremendous progress at our largest wastewater treatment plants, Back River and Patapsco. Not long ago, these facilities were struggling, failing and spilling pollution into our precious waterways. Today, thanks to the leadership of Governor Wes Moore and a strong, renewed partnership with the City of Baltimore, both plants are back on track. Investments matter — and while money alone isn’t the answer, it is a powerful tool for change.

The momentum is continuing. Next year’s capital budget includes $400 million to support clean water and Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Just last month, the Board of Public Works approved several new infrastructure projects for Baltimore City — including $10 million for future upgrades at Patapsco.

When we talk about restoring the Bay, we’re not just talking about preserving a national treasure. We’re talking about protecting a $3 billion economy. We’re talking about strengthening communities. We’re talking about building a healthier, more resilient Maryland for every family, for every child, for every future.

Thanks to this budget, we are putting real, meaningful resources behind cleaner water, stronger flood protections, and long-term progress that will serve our state for generations to come.

And our work doesn’t stop there. From cleaning up dangerous scrap tire sites to investing in clean energy projects that lower emissions and create good-paying jobs, Governor Moore’s plan touches every part of Maryland life. It’s about building communities where every child can breathe easier. Where every family can trust the water coming from their tap. Where every business can grow in a cleaner, greener economy.

At the Maryland Department of the Environment, we wake up every day driven by the urgency to modernize, to innovate, and to deliver real results — for our Bay, for our climate, for our communities, and for every generation yet to come.