The basic storage facility types are clearwell, ground, and elevated. Clearwell storage is generally located adjacent to the water supply or treatment facilities. Ground storage is on or beneath the ground and generally located within the water distribution network. Elevated storage tanks are most ideally located within the service area which has the lowest water pressure. This latter condition permits the force of gravity to work for, rather than against, the water distribution system and is particularly useful in supplying water during periods of peak demand and for fire fighting needs during any periods of power outage.
Elevated tanks are a common method of storage in Maryland.
Sewer Systems One of the consequences of urban growth in Maryland has been the almost perennial need to provide for, or to add to, sewer systems and the means of sewage treatment and disposal. As sparsely settled areas in the state have undergone transformation into more densely populated areas, the need to replace outdated septic tank systems with costly collection and treatment systems has become a prominent issue with which many town councils and commissions have had to contend. Construction is easier said than done. Often, the topography, terrain, and drainage conditions of the affected land area pose serious obstacles to the installation of the system. For this reason alone, a number of Maryland communities have often found it desirable to adopt a regional approach to this part of their overall waste collection, treatment, and disposal problems.