Westminster Receives $1M for Maryland's First Water Reuse Facility

The new 'Purewater Westminster' system will convert wastewater into drinking water, helping the city prepare for future droughts.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:01pm

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The city of Westminster, Maryland has received over $1 million in federal funding to build the state's first water reuse facility. The 'Purewater Westminster' system is designed to divert filtered and treated wastewater into a purification plant, providing a new source of drinking water for residents and eliminating the need to truck in water during droughts.

Why it matters

Westminster experienced severe water shortages during droughts in 2001 and 2002, requiring the city to truck in water from Baltimore. The new water reuse facility will help the city be more self-sufficient and resilient in the face of future droughts caused by climate change.

The details

The Purewater Westminster system will divert wastewater to a purification plant where it will be filtered and treated to drinking water standards. Construction on the facility is set to begin in 2027. City officials say the new system will ensure a reliable water supply and eliminate the need to truck in water during droughts.

  • In 2001 and 2002, extreme drought depleted Carroll County's reservoir, forcing the city to truck in water from Baltimore.
  • On Tuesday, the city received over $1 million in federal funding for the Purewater Westminster project.
  • Construction on the purification facility will begin in 2027.

The players

Purewater Westminster

A new water reuse system designed to convert wastewater into drinking water for the city of Westminster, Maryland.

Mona Becker

The mayor of Westminster, Maryland, who expressed hope that the new water reuse facility will ensure the city's water supply and eliminate the need to truck in water during droughts.

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What they’re saying

“With this coming online, one of the things that we are most hopeful (for) is that this project will ensure our water for the future. We can put those drought conditions, when they occur, we can put them to the side. We will not have to worry so much about being in any sort of dire situation where we don't have the water to meet the needs of the city.”

— Mona Becker, Mayor of Westminster

What’s next

Construction on the Purewater Westminster facility is scheduled to begin in 2027 after the city secures the necessary funding and approvals.

The takeaway

The new water reuse facility in Westminster represents an innovative approach to building climate resilience and ensuring a reliable water supply, even in the face of extreme drought conditions. This project could serve as a model for other communities in Maryland and beyond looking to become more self-sufficient and prepared for the impacts of climate change.