Prince George’s County officials said proposed laws forcing builders to reduce water pollution on their properties is a step forward, despite criticism from county environmental groups.

“This is the best legislation so far to date that Prince George’s County could come up with,” said Haitham Hijazi, the county Public Works director.

Hijazi and other officials trying to draft new stormwater management laws faced criticism from environmentalists and some County Council members at a June 9 hearing.

“This is the floor,” said Councilwoman Mary Lehman (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel, who said the laws meet minimum state standards. “We should do better than the floor in Prince George’s County.”

Members are reviewing the bill and hope to have it passed before their August recess.

Stormwater limits have been an ongoing issue in the county for years. An attempt to update the law last year failed over protests from developers who alleged the standards were too strict and cost-prohibitive to build in the county.

Over the decades, rain flowing off parking lots, driveways, streets and drainage pipes has been the major cause of flooding and water pollution, carrying trash, debris, leaked gasoline, chemicals and other waste into streams and rivers.

The laws call on new developers to add prevention measures, including natural landscaping and filters, to help cushion the effects of stormwater.

For people building on undeveloped land, the county would require enough filters to catch one inch of rainfall in a storm. Projects that redevelop old land would have to prevent a half-inch from escaping.

The standards are the minimum set by the state when Maryland adopted new laws in 2009.

Environmentalists argue the county should require developers to catch at least 2.7 inches of rainfall, which would be enough to prevent excess water from eroding streams. The same standard applies in neighboring Montgomery County.

Other members worried further boosting the standards would make developers pass on building in places that need the revenue.

“We don’t want it to be a deterrent,” said Councilwoman Karen Toles (D-Dist. 7) of Suitland. “We have been left out so long.”

dvalentine@gazette.net