RIDGE, Md. — St. Mary’s County has installed a second 30,000-gallon water storage tank, part of a multiyear capital project aimed at reducing fire risks and improving response times in communities without public water service.
The tank, placed Sept. 25 at the Ridge Firehouse carnival grounds, follows the first installation in March at the Porto Bello subdivision in Drayden. The next site is slated for the Avenue Firehouse in the Seventh District.
“These water tanks and hydrants will provide a critical resource for our fire departments in areas that do not have public water service,” said Jennifer Utz, director of the Department of Emergency Services. “The County is committed to supporting our emergency responders and ensuring our residents have the resources they need to stay safe. We are grateful for the support and work being done by our Department of Public Works & Transportation to make this a reality.”
The program is funded through the county’s capital budget and managed by the Department of Public Works & Transportation. Each 10-by-54-foot tank is strategically sited in consultation with a planning team that includes local volunteer fire departments, who help identify locations where water supply is most limited. In addition to the tanks, the project includes dry hydrants — non-pressurized connections that allow fire engines to pump directly from the storage supply.
The St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission is assisting by filling the tanks at no cost. Commissioners said the partnership between DPW&T, Emergency Services, MetCom, and volunteer fire companies has been key to the project’s success.
Commissioner Eric Colvin praised the project as a community-driven effort. “I’m so proud that we’ve been able to help with this initiative! The request came from our volunteer fire departments and there are several people who did a huge amount of work to get us to this step,” Colvin said. “Joe Guyther, Keith Fairfax, and RedTop Henderson were the first to speak with me about this — thank you for your research and persistence! And thank you to our Department of Public Works for championing and seeing this project through. We hope it is never needed, but we’re thankful that it is there in case of an emergency.”
“This kind of partnership is what makes the project work,” said James R. Guy, president of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County. “Between our departments and our volunteer fire service, we are building an emergency water system that benefits the entire community.”
Commissioner Mike Alderson Jr. said the Ridge installation demonstrates the county’s commitment to rural areas. “This investment ensures our residents in the farthest corners of St. Mary’s have the same level of protection as those connected to public water.”
Watch the storage tank installation video shared by St. Mary’s County Government:
Commissioners Michael L. Hewitt, and Scott R. Ostrow also voiced support, calling the initiative a countywide step toward stronger safety and resilience.
Benjamin Clark, deputy director of DPW&T, is overseeing implementation. He said additional sites are being evaluated, with emphasis on areas where long tanker hauls create delays during emergencies.
For residents, the new tanks mean faster response when it matters most. In rural parts of the county, fire calls often require shuttling water from hydrants miles away, a process that costs valuable minutes. County leaders say these installations cut that risk by putting supply points directly in the communities most in need.
For more information about the emergency water storage program, residents can contact the Department of Public Works & Transportation at 301-475-4200, ext. 3533, or visit stmaryscountymd.gov.
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