Activists hailed the agreement’s $4.75 million civil penalty as the largest in 25 years for a water pollution infraction—and one of the biggest ever in Maryland for an environmental law violation.

By Aman Azhar

Environmental advocates hope an agreement negotiated earlier this month by Baltimore City, the state Department of the Environment and the nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore to upgrade the city’s two wastewater treatment plants will help meet the state’s Chesapeake Bay restoration goals.