City of Hagerstown Discusses Water Supply Implications for ICE Processing Facility

The City of Hagerstown is actively examining the implications of a potential U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) purchase of a warehouse at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. According to the February 17 Mayor and Council work session, while the warehouse is not within city limits, the primary concern for the city revolves around its role as the water utility provider for the property and the significant increase in water demand that such a facility could generate.

Discussions within the city have focused on the existing water allocation for the warehouse, which currently stands at 800 gallons per day. This allocation is considered by city officials to be insufficient if the facility is intended to house a significant number of individuals, as might be the case for a detainee processing center. Projections based on similar facilities and usage patterns suggest that accommodating 1,500 individuals could require anywhere from 75,000 to 150,000 gallons of water daily, depending on ancillary services like laundry, food preparation, and personal hygiene facilities. This stark contrast highlights the potential inadequacy of the current water supply.

The city’s water department has outlined a rigorous process for any entity seeking to increase its water allocation or upgrade its service. This involves submitting detailed site plans, engineering drawings, and obtaining necessary permits. The existing infrastructure at the warehouse presents a particular challenge: while there is a 10-inch fire line, the domestic water service is a 2-inch line with a meter that has a maximum continuous flow rate of 200 gallons per minute, with an intermittent flow capacity of 250 gallons per minute. This current setup is unlikely to meet the demands of a facility housing a large population. Upgrading this service would necessitate a new tap on the main, a larger meter, and would automatically trigger a site plan review requirement. Importantly, any costs associated with these upgrades, from the property line to the building, would be the responsibility of the property owner.

City code also provides the Water and Sewer Department with the authority to refuse or discontinue service under certain circumstances, including when a property owner attempts to use the facility in a manner different from its approved purpose without proper authorization. While the city generally cannot arbitrarily deny service to an applicant who meets all requirements, a “valid and sufficient reason” can be grounds for refusal. Past issues with speculative warehouse developments exceeding their initial water allocation requests have informed the city’s cautious approach to large allocations, as these can place an unforeseen strain on utility infrastructure and capacity planning.

The discussion also touched upon the process for obtaining water allocations. Currently, the city requires applicants to specify their desired capacity and provide supporting documentation, which can be based on fixture units or estimated occupancy. Once an allocation is purchased and approved, it is permanently associated with the property and cannot be reclaimed by the city, even if the facility later becomes vacant or changes its operational intensity. This policy was established, in part, to manage the development of spec warehouses, but the city acknowledges that future governing bodies may need to revisit allocation policies in light of evolving land use and economic conditions.

Residents’ concerns regarding the potential for the warehouse to become a public health issue were also addressed. While the city prioritizes not creating public health crises, the ability to terminate water service in such a scenario would require consultation with legal counsel, as there are existing protocols for notification and a directive to avoid creating health emergencies through service termination.

Furthermore, the conversation clarified that the warehouse property is located within the MRGA, not within the city’s municipal limits. This distinction means that while the city provides water service, certain approvals, such as those related to fire protection and occupancy, would fall under the purview of the county and state fire marshal. This indicates that even though the federal government may be the purchaser, the facility would still be subject to state and local regulations and permitting processes for infrastructure and usage. The city has not yet received any official contact or request regarding the potential purchase and use of the warehouse, but remains prepared to engage with the process should one be initiated. The city’s primary authority in this matter is limited to its role as the water service provider, and any requests or modifications related to water would be managed according to established city code and policies.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from City of Hagerstown Council Meeting Transcript

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