WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 815

determine appropriate boundaries for water supply service
regions, wastewater purification service regions, and solid waste
disposal service regions. Service regions shall be based upon
needs set forth in, and provide integration of, approved
State-county master plans for water and sewerage or solid waste
disposal, adopted pursuant to the Environment Article, but also
may take account of other plans and studies.

(b)  As soon as possible after the determination of
appropriate boundaries, the director, after consultation with the
municipalities affected, shall establish priorities for
designating water supply service regions, wastewater purification
service regions, and solid waste disposal service regions and
formally designate the regions.

(c)  Identical service regions need not be designated for
water supply, wastewater purification and solid waste disposal
projects. However, every part of the State shall be included in
one of the service regions established in the State for water
supply, wastewater purification, and solid waste disposal. No
part of the State may be included in more than one of these
service regions.

(d)  As soon as possible after designation of a service
region, the Service shall cause surveys, plans, studies, and
estimates to be made, and after consultation with the
municipalities located within the service region, prepare a
five-year plan for each service region for the most effective and
economical means of providing water supply, wastewater
purification and solid waste disposal projects. In preparing a
five-year plan, the Service shall consider the effects of public
versus private ownership of water and wastewater facilities upon
the provision of dependable, effective, and efficient water and
wastewater services. The five-year plans shall give due
consideration to the need for water supply and wastewater
purification projects included in the approved county water and
sewerage plans adopted in compliance with Title 9 of the
Environment Article. The five-year plans shall designate the
existing facilities or portions that are to be transferred to the
jurisdiction of the Service; improvements to and extension of
existing facilities; construction of new water supply, wastewater
purification, and solid waste disposal projects; proposed methods
of acquisition, ownership, and operation by the Service or by
affected municipalities and persons, or both together with
anticipated expenditures, sources of revenue, and charges for
projects to be levied against municipalities and persons; and
related matters the Service finds necessary or convenient.

(e)  The Service may adopt a five-year plan only after at
least one public hearing in each of the counties affected. At
least 60 days before a hearing, the proposed five-year plan shall
be submitted for review and comment to each county, and person
against whom charges will be levied if the plan is adopted, to

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