The Windsor Knolls and Greenridge subdivisions and the Windsor Knolls Middle School and Friends Meeting School (FMS) are provided public water service from the Windsor Knolls (Pleasant Branch) Treatment Plant.

State law requires that a subdivision plat may not be recorded unless there are adequate water facilities to serve the proposed development.

Over the past year, the Frederick County Department of Public Works (DPW) has placed Windsor Knolls on mandatory water restrictions. Last June, it was discovered that the three wells, which provide water to the approximately 200 large, single family homes, could not pump enough water to the meet the demand. The problem was also compounded by the drought conditions which plagued the region throughout much of last summer.

While the level in the Windsor Knolls water system has recovered since the mandatory restrictions were implemented, the restrictions remain because the county does not want to run into the same problem again. Residents are still on an odd-even outside watering schedule and can only water during certain times during the allotted day.

In July of 1999, the commissioners voted to suspend the issuance of building permits for the Windsor Knolls subdivision for nine months until the problems could be fixed. The original resolution expired on April 13.

The commissioners found that despite recent progress in the water situation, the water system remained in adequate for new construction. Therefore, they decided, it was necessary to extend the moratorium on any new construction in the community.

Five wells have been found by Advanced Land and Water, Inc., which could potentially be used to provide the subdivision with an adequate water supply.

Windsor Knolls is only appropriated by the Maryland Department of the Environment's (MDE) Water Rights Division for an average daily flow of 226 gallons of water per minute, which is about average for a subdivision of its size. That number is based on average daily flow, not peak flow.

The Board of County Commissioners voted on March 9 to apply for an increase in appropriation to 375 gallons average daily flow and a peak flow of 750 gallons per minute. The request and a report prepared by ALWI, which supports the increase, have been forwarded to MDE for review. The county also hired an independent consultant to review ALWI's findings; who concurred with them.

If the new wells are found to provide the homes with an adequate water supply and the increase in appropriation is approved, the wells can be connected and the building permit moratorium may be lifted.

In the resolution to extend the building moratorium, the board said it recognized that "emergencies may arise during the duration of the restrictions which would compel a lifting of these restrictions" and included an emergency exemption procedure.

Annette Breiling, the principal at FMS, says she thinks the schools has such an emergency. Breiling said she is worried the school will not be able to proceed with its scheduled expansion if the commissioners do not grant an emergency exception.

The school has filed a request with the Division of Utilities and Solid Waste Management (previously part of the DPW) and is responsible for proving lifting the restrictions will cause "no substantial adverse impact on the health, safety and welfare of citizens of Frederick County." The school must also prove that the exemption will not violate the state law that provides for adequate water facilities.

Breiling maintains that the school's plans to add on to their existing eight-classroom building will not have an adverse affect on the Windsor Knolls water system.

"Our statistics show that we are using a very small amount of water... about one-tenth of the amount of water (taps) we paid for," she said. "The new building is not going to be using any additional water."