Legislation (HB 1141) passed by the 2006 Maryland General Assembly requiring all local jurisdictions to develop and adopt a Water Resources Element (WRE) to their comprehensive plans. 

This WRE must identify drinking water and other water resources needed for existing and future growth. It also must identify suitable receiving waters (where stormwater and treated wastewater can be discharged) and land areas for stormwater management and wastewater treatment. The WRE must address pollutant reductions, where needed, from both existing development and future growth.   

2010 WRE

The WRE was first adopted by Carroll County and the municipalities in 2010.  Carroll County and its municipalities worked collaboratively to develop one unified WRE document that can be adopted by all of Carroll County’s jurisdictions to satisfy the requirements of House Bill (HB) 1141.  A joint WRE plan document was developed, using the Water Resources Coordination Council (WRCC) as the forum for collaboration. This same document was then adopted by all the participating jurisdictions. 

2024 WRE

State law requires comprehensive plans to be updated every 10 years.  In January 2022, MDP released updated guidance, which added addressing best practices for integrating climate change, identifying suitable receiving waters, and looking at projects through an equity lens.

As with the original 2010 plan document, for the 2024 WRE, County and municipal staff worked together to update the WRE plan document.  The background assessments and resulting strategies for the WRE were primarily based on adopted plans, policies, and zoning/regulations in place at the time the assessments were completed or under consideration in 2023.  The drinking water supply and wastewater system capacity and demand estimates were based on the zoning in place in 2022 for the 2023 Water and Sewer Service Areas.  Although the plan document was adopted in 2026, the title refers to 2024 because of the point in time in which the data is based.

The 2024 WRE was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on July 30, 2026.  The Town/City Councils adopted the document between April and August 2026.

DOCUMENTS

To view or download the adopted 2024 plan document, click here:

 Adopted 2024 WRE Plan Document (full document) COMING SOON!

A summary of the document can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here:

WRE Summary:  Planning for Water Resources in Carroll County (July 2026)

To view or download the adopted 2010 plan document, click here:

    Adopted 2010 WRE Plan Document (full document) 

For questions about the Carroll County and Municipalities WRE, contact Brenda Dinne by e-mail to bdinne@carrollcountymd.gov or by phone at 410-386-2140.