June 19th, 2025 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Commissioners are exploring options in relation to the Bel Air water system. County officials had a brief meeting with new owners American Water, but little information came of it since the sale is not yet finalized. County Administrator Jason Bennett tells WCBC calls for the county to invoke eminent domain are being looked at, but that would not necessarily be the solution…

   

“That’s a very – one, legally painful process. Two – there’s no guarantee we can help the residents because if we have to pay, I don’t even want to guess at a number now –multiple million dollars, for that system, we might not be able to help the residents any doing that.”

If the county would go that route, they couldn’t do it alone…

   

“If something’s to happen, we’re going to need the feds and the state to help us dramatically to be able to get there.”