HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The City of Hagerstown is moving closer to a major infrastructure project to protect the community’s long-term water supply, with design work for the Edgemont and Tyler Reservoir Rehabilitation Project approaching a significant milestone.
During a June 2 work session, the Director of Utilities, Nancy Hausrath, outlined the latest progress on the project, which has been under development for several years and is intended to address aging infrastructure, dam safety requirements and water supply capacity concerns.
According to Nancy, engineering design is nearing 60 percent completion, with final design work expected in early 2027. Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2027.
A major component of the project involves securing additional water withdrawal capacity from the Maryland Department of the Environment. The city is seeking approval for an average water allocation of 2.75 million gallons per day, with a maximum withdrawal capacity of 4.8 million gallons per day. Officials noted that the requested allocation is substantially higher than the city’s previous authorization and would provide greater flexibility during normal operating conditions.
The rehabilitation effort has already received substantial financial support through state programs. Officials reported that the project has secured approximately $15.75 million in funding, including $14.25 million in low-interest loans, $1.5 million in loan forgiveness and an additional $1.5 million grant. The city has also applied for additional funding to support future project costs as engineering progresses.
Rather than replacing the dam itself, the project will focus on stabilizing and reinforcing existing infrastructure. Planned improvements include extensive grouting and foundation stabilization work, construction of a grout curtain to prevent seepage beneath the dam, and reconstruction of the emergency spillway.
City officials said investigations conducted over the past several years revealed seepage beneath portions of the dam and identified voids beneath sections of the emergency spillway. Those findings prompted additional engineering studies and ultimately expanded the scope of the project.
The emergency spillway also must be upgraded to meet modern dam safety standards established by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Officials explained that when the spillway was originally constructed in the early 1990s, it was designed to handle significantly smaller storm events than current regulations require. Today’s standards require dams classified as high-hazard structures to safely manage far more severe rainfall scenarios.
The project is considered critical to maintaining the city’s water system and ensuring the reservoirs continue operating safely for decades to come.
Once rehabilitation work is complete, city officials plan to proceed with modernization efforts at the Brickner Pumping Station, allowing both facilities to operate together as part of the city’s long-term water infrastructure strategy.
