Lewes WWTP, fully operational, ends discharge of partially-treated effluent into Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, Delaware Bay
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Water | Division of Watershed Stewardship | Date Posted: Saturday, December 28, 2019
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control was informed by Tidewater Utilities, Inc. that the Lewes wastewater treatment plant was back online and had resumed normal treatment of effluent following a Dec. 18 system malfunction at the plant.
DNREC continues to monitor effluent discharge from Lewes WWTP and work with plant owner toward resuming full treatment
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Water | Division of Watershed Stewardship | Date Posted: Wednesday, December 25, 2019
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control continues to monitor the Lewes wastewater treatment plant’s discharge of partially-treated effluent into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and the lower Delaware Bay due to a system malfunction at the plant that occurred Dec. 18. DNREC also continues to work with the facility and its owner, Tidewater Utilities, Inc., to help expedite the work of repairing the system currently operating on a bypass situation and restoring full treatment to the Lewes WTTP’s effluent discharge.
DNREC raises public awareness of Lewes WTTP effluent bypass discharge, closes Delaware Bay shellfish harvest areas
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Water | Division of Watershed Stewardship | Date Posted: Monday, December 23, 2019
DOVER – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control was notified Wednesday, Dec. 18 of equipment malfunctions at the Lewes wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that the facility operator, Tidewater Inc., was working to correct. Due to the nature of the affected equipment, the malfunction could not be expeditiously resolved, which required the Lewes WWTP to begin bypassing stages of its treatment, and begin discharging partially-treated wastewater effluent from the facility the evening of Thursday, Dec. 19.
DNREC, Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc. enter into agreements on violations at Mountaire poultry processing facilities
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Water | Date Posted: Monday, December 16, 2019
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control signed an agreement with Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc. Dec. 13 to resolve spray irrigation and land application permit violations cited by DNREC in a Nov. 2, 2017 Notice of Violation (NOV). DNREC first took action against Mountaire for these violations via the filing of a complaint in Delaware Superior Court against Mountaire in June 2018. The complaint was stayed by Superior Court pending resolution of a parallel action in Federal Court. To formalize ongoing and required corrective actions resulting from the September 2017 wastewater treatment plan failure, DNREC and Mountaire have finalized an agreement based on the consent decree proposed in June 2018. The agreement includes three major components – mitigation, environmentally-beneficial offset, and an administrative penalty and costs. Mountaire is required to mitigate damage to the environment through short-term and long-term corrective measures. In the short term, Mountaire must continue the interim corrective measures required by DNREC that have been ongoing since October 2017. Mountaire must also make long-term system upgrades to the plant, including the requirement for environmental mitigation through the relocation of Mountaire’s production wells within the spray fields to establish a pump and treat system.
Source Water Protection Subcommittee to meet Dec. 12 in Dover
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Water | Date Posted: Monday, December 9, 2019
The Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) Subcommittee of the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program will meet from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Dec. 12
