DNREC Issues Notice of Violation to Owner of Pine Haven Campground Community for Ongoing Wastewater Issues

After a month-long investigation into reports of illegal wastewater discharge within the Pine Haven Campground Community located near Lincoln in Sussex County, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control today issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) for wastewater violations to property owner Blue Beach Bungalows DE, LLC and parent company Blue Water Development Corp. of Ocean City, Md.

The NOV faulted the company for failure to possess appropriate on-site wastewater and disposal system permits as required by Delaware regulations, and cited violations beginning Dec. 9, 2022 for untreated wastewater surfacing above septic tanks and cesspool disposal areas within the campground community.

DNREC’s Division of Water began monitoring the situation at Pine Haven in early December, directing the property owner at that time to take corrective action that included performing frequent pump-outs of the onsite systems to alleviate surfacing, and to submit a plan that addressed ongoing violations.

The NOV memorializes these immediate corrective measures communicated by DNREC to company officials, and includes other corrective action requirements such as: fencing off impacted areas to prevent public contact with untreated wastewater; daily inspections and reporting of data to DNREC, and establishing a timetable for developing a permanent wastewater solution for Pine Haven residents.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Water manages and protects Delaware’s water resources. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, InstagramTwitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Sewer Break Discharges Water into St. Jones River

Public Advised to Avoid Length of River from Dover to Bowers Until Wastewater Spill is Dispersed

The Kent County Levy Court Public Works is currently addressing a force main break, causing wastewater to flow into the St. Jones River. The public should avoid contact with the water in the St. Jones.

Kent County Levy Court Public Works is working into the night with environmental contractors to repair the main, with staff from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control onsite assessing the situation. While one of the largest water lines in the county is shut down for repairs to the sanitary sewage system, residents should limit water usage to consumption only, such as for cooking, drinking water, using the toilet, or dripping water to prevent pipes from freezing.

The sewer overflow – which occurred when the force main ruptured near Kent County’s pumping station along its Puncheon Run line – was reported to DNREC in the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 17. DNREC Division of Water and Levy Court wastewater staff are assessing the area of the St. Jones River impacted by today’s spill to assess the situation there as well.

To report environmental crimes and concerns in the state, the public may contact the DNREC Environmental Crimes Unit at 800-662-8802. For questions about this incident, contact the Kent County Department of Public Works at 302-744-2430.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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DNREC updates information on nitrate levels found in water at private residences near Mountaire Farms’ Millsboro poultry plant

MILLSBORO – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is working with the Delaware Division of Public Health to sample water from wells at private residences in the vicinity of Mountaire Farms’ Millsboro poultry processing plant that was recently cited by DNREC for wastewater violations involving excessive levels of nitrates. Water in several recently-sampled wells was found to contain nitrates in exceedance of the national drinking water standard of 10 milligrams per liter (10mg/L).

After the wells at several residences in an area neighboring the plant and its spray irrigation fields returned high levels of nitrates in their drinking water, Mountaire at DNREC’s recommendation today began providing bottled water to the affected residences.

Mountaire also agreed to provide bottled water and possibly other water treatment to other areas of concern surrounding the plant that have the potential to be impacted by nitrate contamination. A number of residences nearer the plant already are receiving bottled water from the company.

DNREC also is continuing to work with the Division of Public Health’s Office of Drinking Water to expand sampling of private wells at residences that may be affected by nitrates from the Mountaire plant’s wastewater discharge.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 355

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DNREC establishes 21-day timeframe for extended closure of Delaware Bay for recreational shellfish harvest

DOVER – As reported this week to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Surface Water Discharges Section, Kent County’s wastewater treatment plant is back within acceptable water quality levels for the effluent discharged into the Murderkill River – leading DNREC to establish a timeframe for a federally-advised 21-day closure of recreational shellfish harvest in the Delaware Bay north of the Mispillion Inlet.

The 21-day closure in effect for potential public health risks extends from July 24 to Aug. 14.

The closure of shellfish harvest in the Delaware Bay – ordered July 18 by DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin because of the plant’s discharge of undertreated wastewater – is based on US Food and Drug Administration Guidelines under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and provides adequate public health protection for pathogens of concern, including viruses.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 165

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DNREC closes recreational shellfish harvest in north Delaware Bay due to undertreated wastewater from Kent County treatment plant

DOVER – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today directed the Kent County wastewater treatment plant to take immediate action to correct an ongoing discharge of undertreated effluent that prompted the Secretary to issue an emergency order for the closure of recreational shellfishing in the Delaware Bay north of the entrance to the Mispillion Inlet. The emergency closure impacts only the harvest of bivalve molluscan shellfish – clams, oysters and mussels – and does not affect the legal harvest of other shellfish species such as crabs and conchs.

The emergency order was necessitated by possible health risks from the undertreated wastewater discharged into the Murderkill River by the Kent County treatment plant. Undertreated wastewater can contaminate shellfish growing areas. While there is no commercial oystering currently taking place in the Delaware Bay, recreational harvest of hard clams does occur at this time of year.

The shellfish closure will last for 21 days after wastewater discharge issues at the Kent County treatment plant have been corrected and the bacterial water quality of the effluent has returned to acceptable levels. The closure timeframe is based on US Food and Drug Administration Guidelines under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and provides adequate public health protection for pathogens of concern, including viruses.

DNREC also advises not swimming in the affected area of Delaware Bay or other physical contact with the water.

The emergency Secretary’s Order can be found on the DNREC website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders_Regulations.aspx

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 162

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