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Prince George's and Montgomery counties may learn how they would function without sharing zoning, park, and water and sewer services.

In two bills announced Thursday at a public hearing, Prince George's legislators said they plan to call for two task forces to discuss ways to alter the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. One of the options includes having each county take over its own services.

The WSSC serves 1.8 million residents in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, which have shared water and sewer services for 91 years.

Although each county has its own planning board and parks department, the M-NCPPC provides shared administrative services and has helped coordinate long-range planning and parks management for both counties since 1927.

The 90-day legislative session for 2010 starts Jan. 13. Either bill would need the approval of both counties' delegations to both chambers of the legislature before the General Assembly would vote.

Bowie lawmakers — state Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Dist. 23) and Dels. James W. Hubbard (D-Dist. 23A) and Gerron S. Levi (D-Dist. 23A) — are seeking the zoning task force. The city has sought municipal zoning authority but has met resistance from the County Council.

"Many of the municipal departments already provide the same services," Bowie City Manager David Duetsch told delegates at the hearing. "We believe a task force which examines which elements of parks and planning are provided [by both] would be appropriate."

Municipal leaders have often tangled with the county over its approval of development projects. County leaders say giving each municipality zoning control could create growth that interferes with the county's long-range plans for schools, transportation and economic development.

The main sponsor of the WSSC task force bill, Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Dist. 26) of Fort Washington, wants to study whether the two counties should split the water and sewer agency.

Tensions between the two counties have hampered the six-member commission for years as it deals with an aging infrastructure. Because each county has three representatives, the group often stalemates on key decisions.

In February, members of the Montgomery County Council floated a similar idea as they watched WSSC appointees argue over rate increases, major repairs and other issues.

WSSC members attended the meeting but did not voice any objection to the bill.

Montgomery County Council President Nancy M. Floreen said splitting the agencies has arisen from time to time.

"That'll be an interesting conversation. Typically these things are precipitated by some disagreement and I'm not sure what the disagreement is right now," said Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park.

Splitting the agencies, particularly WSSC, would be hard to accomplish, she said.

"We have a lot of shared pipes. We have a lot of shared structures that are hard to divvy up. The bottom line is do you save any money?" Floreen said.

Most of WSSC's water treatment operations are based in Montgomery County, and most of the wastewater treatment services are handled in Prince George's.

Staff Writer C. Benjamin Ford contributed to this report.