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Clean County Initiative
Washington County’s Clean County Initiative is an integration of the County’s compliance efforts for the Federal Clean Water Act. Regulations are set by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Washington County has compliance requirements on multiple water quality standards; each has a specific purpose, but improvement efforts can have overlapping benefits. The County budgets for stormwater retrofits, stream restorations, and tree plantings.
If you see illegal trash dumping or illicit discharges please report them through our online forms:
Learn about upcoming Clean County Events by signing up to our newsletter! You will also receive a FREE PDF copy of the children’s book Marew’s Stormwater Adventure.
These events qualify for students’ SSL hours.
For additional information, please contact the Clean County Initiative at [email protected].
Street Sweeper Truck Washington County has developed a program for cleaning roads in urbanized areas by street sweeping. This sweeper is able to clean out stormwater inlets. The benefits of this include:
200 Miles of Street Sweeping =
525 lbs. reduction in nitrogen
210 lbs. reduction in phosphorus
32 tons reduction in sediment
Mass Loading for Street Sweeping=
(Assuming 150 tons collected)
42 Ac Impervious Acre Equivalent (IAE)
These benefits of the street sweeper will: Reduce credits for Chesapeake Bay and Local Watershed TMDLs and NPDES Permit credit and IAE reduction.
Did you know that due to a high protein diet, pet waste is highly acidic and will burn grass? Through partnership with PetSmart, Washington County has placed 70 pet waste stations in seven county parks. Properly disposing of your pet’s waste reduces the amount of water polluting materials and bacteria in our streams and storm drains. Please remember to clean up after your pets while you are walking and enjoy the many outdoor activities Washington County has to offer.
A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to run off and diverted to storm drains and streams. Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most – during periods of droughts to water plants, wash your car or add water to your swimming pool. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, but it could save you money!
Washington County and organizations such as the Board of Education and the Antietam Watershed Alliance, participate in numerous stream cleanups and tree plantings around the county. Numerous items have been removed and disposed appropriately from many Washington County areas that help keep streams and the environment clean. For more information or to become a volunteer, please contact the Division of Environmental Management.
Click on the image above to download our Septic Stewardship Guide.
The septic tank is an underground watertight container that is usually made with concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. It holds wastewater long enough for solids to settle out to form sludge, oil and grease to float to the surface as scum. It allows partial decomposition of solid materials.
HAGERSTOWN, MD (July 22, 2024) – The Washington County Clean County Initiative regrets to announce the cancellation of the upcoming Clean-Up Event in Hancock. The decision
HAGERSTOWN, MD (April 11, 2024) – Join the Washington County Clean County Initiative and the Town of Williamsport on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 9:00
HAGERSTOWN, MD (December 11, 2023) – The Washington County Department of Solid Waste is offering free Christmas Tree recycling to Washington County residents. All lights, ornaments,
HAGERSTOWN, MD (April 14, 2023) – The Washington County Department of Environmental Management announces that there will be a free agricultural tire recycling collection event on Friday, May
16232 Elliott Parkway
Williamsport, MD 21795
Phone: (240) 313-2600
Fax: (240) 313-2601
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm
TTY users may call any government office through the Maryland Relay Service 1-800-735-2258
