KI shows off sewage plant upgrades

Queen Anne's County and state officials this week cut a ceremonial purple ribbon and showed off a new and improved sewage plant on Kent Island.

In operation for nearly a year, the $33 million Kent Narrows-Stevensville-Grasonville Wastewater Treatment Facility is larger and has better pollution controls than the old plant.

The water flowing out of the plant directly into the Chesapeake Bay now has about 2.3 milligrams per liter of nitrogen, and 0.1 milligrams per liter of phosphorus - the two leading nutrients that pollute the bay and fuel the growth of harmful algae blooms.

"That number may not mean a lot to you...