Sides fail to reach accord on wastewater treatment plant in western Howard

An attempt to settle a wastewater treatment dispute that has delayed construction of a high school addition in western Howard County failed yesterday, both sides said, setting up the issue for a state administrative hearing Nov. 7.

Maryland Department of the Environment officials gave preliminary approval for a treatment plant in May, but residents appealed. Yesterday's settlement conference was an attempt to solve the dispute.

The 400-seat addition to Glenelg High School originally was to have opened by last year, and officials were hoping now for a spring 2007 opening, with August 2007 as a fallback time.

Some residents of the area oppose a planned wastewater treatment facility that would serve both the school and a private home development.