EPA announces Maryland water infrastructure funding

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to inject almost $122 million (£73 million) to fund water infrastructure projects in Maryland.

Provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the money will be use to help local governments finance improvements and is expected to provide local economies with a significant boost.

William Early, acting administrator of the EPA's mid-Atlantic region, said: "This financing is significant when you consider that the state is poised to fund a project in every Maryland county."

In related news, it was announced last month that Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the US, is also set to benefit from federal funding.

According to MSNBC, there has been concern for some time over excessive levels of algae growth reducing oxygen levels in the water.

The area is home to a wide array of marine life, including blue crabs and oysters.