ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Gov. Martin O’Malley says increasing fees on water use and limiting where developers can put new septic systems are essential to preserving the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Democratic governor spoke to the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee Tuesday afternoon, advocating for change to the state’s so-called “flush tax” that would charge residents and business based on how much water they use.

The tax, created by former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, supports upgrading the state’s wastewater treatment plants.

Another piece of legislation proposed by the governor targets individual septic systems and would create a tiered system to limit where new septic systems could be placed, requiring a large amount of new developments to be hooked up to public water and sewer.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)