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Keeping Antibiotics Effective - An Update and Call to Action
Last year, we worked with the Keep Antibiotics Working Coalition to mobilize to phase out the practice of feeding healthy animals antibiotics. In the United States, approximately 70% of antibiotics human use are sold for use on animals. These drugs are often fed to animals that aren't sick in order to prevent disease. This routine use of antibiotics contributes to the breeding and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These bacteria can then travel off the farm and into our communities.
Ultimately, the General Assembly passed the Keep Antibiotics Effective Act, which passed without Governor
2018 Legislative Wrap Up
Another legislative session has come and gone. We saw some wins and some losses, but no matter the outcome we continue to work on issues that impact water quality in Maryland.
Septic Stewardship Plans (HB1765): This legislation incentivizes local jurisdictions to create Septic Stewardship Plans, which require education, pumpouts, and record keeping, based on septic system best practices. This bill passed unanimously by both the House and Senate and it now awaits Governor Hogan's siganture.
Complete Streets ( HB535/SB407, HB744/SB850): Both bills passed and are now on the governor's desk for
Visualize 2045
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is developing a new longterm transportation plan for the region: Visualize 2045. While focused on road and transit projects, this plan will also include bicycle and pedestrian projects as well as land use issues. While inclusion in the plan does not guarantee that something will happen, exclusion from the plan makes it more difficult.
The transportation system has a major impact on our waterways, whether pollution from cars, acres of impervious surfaces in the form of roads and parking lots, or sprawl development spurred by more highway
HB1765: Septic Stewardship Plans
Pollution from septic systems is an ongoing issue in local Maryland streams and rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and in wells. Last summer, we participated in a summer working group to identify the problems and possible solutions for moving forward. HB1765 is a result of collaboration among stakeholders and has passed the House of Delegates. This bill has passed both the House and Senate!
The Problem:
There are two types of pollution associated with septic systems: nitrogen and bacteria.
Nitrogen is a nutrient pollutant - a fertilizer for plants that can cause algae blooms and deadzones in our
Baltimore City and basement sewage back-ups
Two years ago, as Baltimore City renegotiated its agreement with the EPA to repair faults and design flaws in its sewage system, residents spoke out and organized because their neighborhoods had a chronic sewage problem: at times the system designed to collect and pipe sewage to treatment plants would fail, causing raw sewage to overflow into their homes. As a result of these protests and comments submitted by advocacy groups, the final consent decree was revised to include requirements that Baltimore develop programs for basement backups caused by problems in city-owned infrastructure. Under