HAGERSTOWN – Washington County has shown its commitment to cleaner roads, healthier waterways and a more sustainable community through its deployment of a street sweeper collecting debris on county roads.
Mobilized by the Clean County Initiative, the two-vehicle sweeping team has just surpassed a total of 9 million pounds (4,500 tons) of debris removed from local streets since the program’s start in January 2019, the Department of Stormwater and Watershed Services announced on Thursday, July 10.
Mandated by the federal Clean Water Act, the initiative helps reduce stormwater pollution by capturing sediment, heavy metals, nitrogen, phosphorus and roadside litter before it enters storm drains and local streams. It also improves water quality and keeps the cost of stormwater maintenance infrastructure down.
“The impact of this initiative on water quality and community appearance is tremendous,” said Alex Reed, the county’s watershed specialist. “It has helped us meet unfunded federal and state obligations without raising taxes or adding fees. Thanks to the dedicated work of our staff, this continues to be cost-effective and successful.”
Clean County integrates compliance with Clean Water Act regulations set by the EPA and administered by the state Department of the Environment. Each of the multiple compliance requirements has a specific purpose, but improvement efforts can have overlapping benefits. The county also budgets for stormwater retrofits, stream restorations and tree plantings under the initiative.
The sweeper was purchased in late 2018 and is operated up to five hours daily by the two-man team of county employees Jack Vincent and Al Whetsell, supported by hard-working mechanics who ensure the $340,000 machine is always in good working order. The sweeper is equipped to dump into an accompanying truck, which allows the team to operate across the county without needing to stay near a landfill.
The duo prioritizes roads most in need but aims to cover all county-maintained roads using GPS tracking, many times over from year to year. They don’t work within municipalities or on state roads.
Working together, Vincent and Whetsell pick up more than four ton of debris from county streets daily. While maintenance of such a specialized vehicle usually requires outsourcing, the county’s in-house team of solid waste mechanics Tyler and Mark, who work tirelessly to ensure that the sweeper is always on the road. As the sweeper ages, maintenance needs increase, making their role critical.
Officials said the collected material counts toward state and federal environmental mandates including maintenance of its national pollutant discharge elimination system permit, and the state’s Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily load requirements.
The clean county team also responds to illegal dumping reports and assists with litter cleanups, removing tons of roadside waste annually. The initiative supports broader environmental goals, including stormwater retrofits, stream restorations and tree plantings, all aimed at meeting state and federal water quality standards.
Clean county is a comprehensive approach to reduce stormwater pollution and improve water quality. The street sweeping plays a key role by capturing pollutants before they reach the watershed, contributing to a cleaner and greener community for future generations. For more information, readers may visit here.
