USDA and Partners Deliver $22.9 Million Wastewater Project Supporting Smith Island’s Resilience and Way of Life

(Smith Island, Md., October 30, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser joined key community and funding partners recently to celebrate the completion of the island's wastewater treatment facility. The project spans 14 years from planning to completion and is a major investment in infrastructure for the historic island located 11 miles from Crisfield.

"When people on Smith Island turn on the faucet, they expect clean, safe water - and they trust their wastewater is treated responsibly," said Elmshaeuser. "They may not see the miles of pipe beneath their feet or be aware of the $22.9 million investment by the USDA and partners, but they can count on their infrastructure to work. This upgrade strengthens essential services while protecting the Chesapeake Bay and the natural resources that sustain crabbing, oystering, and the watermen who keep this historic way of life alive."

"Smith Island is a true Maryland treasure, and protecting its future has long been a priority for the Maryland Department of the Environment," said Maryland Department of the EnvironmentDivision Chief Sunita Boyle, P.E. "By modernizing the wastewater treatment system to withstand tidal flooding and sharply reduce pollution, we're safeguarding the Chesapeake Bay, strengthening public health, and honoring a community whose heritage is truly irreplaceable."

"This project is a powerful example of what we can achieve when local leaders, the state, and the federal government work together to deliver real results for the Chesapeake Bay," said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey. "Reducing nutrient pollution and restoring this Bay watershed are central to EPA's mission and the Administration's commitment to protecting clean water. The impact of this work will be felt far beyond Smith Island, strengthening communities, supporting watermen, and delivering tangible results across the Bay watershed."

The Smith Island Clean Water Project, led by the architectural and engineering firm George, Miles & Buhr, LLC, modernized the wastewater treatment system owned and operated by the Somerset County Sanitary District. A new treatment plant was built in Ewell to replace older facilities, and a new underwater pipe now connects the communities so wastewater can be handled in one modern location. All three pump stations were elevated to several feet above flood elevation to protect them from floodwater inflow. These improvements greatly reduce pollution entering local waterways by cutting harmful nutrients by up to 83%-90%, which helps protect the Chesapeake Bay and keep the island healthy for future generations.

The project was made possible through a collaborative investment from multiple public partners. The Maryland Department of the Environment provided the largest share, contributing $15.64 million in grants and loans to support planning, design, and construction of the upgraded wastewater system. USDA Rural Development added $5.08 million in grants and loans, building on earlier USDA support that funded the project's environmental report and preliminary engineering work. EPA contributed an additional $2.25 million completing the funding package that enabled this comprehensive modernization of Smith Island's wastewater infrastructure.

For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway. The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with rural people, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress by making agency investment data accessible to the public.

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