The Division of Water will conduct a public hearing (Docket #2025-P-W-0022) on a new construction permit and amendments to a renewed operation permit for phase 3 upgrades at the Sussex Regional Recharge Facility. Public comment period open through Jan. 2, 2026.

Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. (Artesian) has applied for a construction permit and for renewal and amendment of the operations permit for the Sussex Regional Recharge Facility (SRRF), located along Route 30, approximately 4,000 feet north of the intersection of Routes 16 and 30, south of Reynolds Pond Road in Sussex County (Sussex County Parcel Number 235-6.00-28.09).

Construction Permit

Artesian has applied for a State of Delaware On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System Construction Permit for Phase 3 upgrades at the Sussex Regional Recharge Facility (SRRF). The proposed upgrades would increase treatment capacity to 1.875 million gallons per day for wastewater received from Artesian’s wastewater service territories in Sussex County.

The proposed upgrades include new treatment equipment using the same technology as the existing treatment facilities and would include the construction of a mechanical influent screen, four additional hybrid Bardenpho treatment trains with integral clarifiers and aerated sludge holding, influent pumps (installed in existing wet well), cloth media filtration system, UV system and effluent pumps (installed in existing wet well).

Treated wastewater would be pumped to an existing 90 million gallon treated effluent storage lagoon. Phase 3 would not include any changes to the disposal capacity.

Operations Permit Renewal and Amendment

Artesian has applied for a renewal and amendment of State of Delaware Operations Permit No. 359288-02 for the Sussex Regional Recharge Facility (SRRF). The SRRF is currently authorized to receive treated poultry processing wastewater from the Allen Harim Foods Harbeson Processing Facility’s wastewater treatment system for storage in a 90-million-gallon lagoon prior to discharge via spray irrigation. The SRRF is also currently authorized to receive and treat wastewater from within AWMI’s service territories, mix the treated effluent with the treated effluent from Allen Harim within the existing 90-million-gallon storage lagoon and discharge the blended treated effluent via spray irrigation.

The proposed amendment would authorize operation of the Phase 3 wastewater treatment system upgrades, once constructed.

For additional information on the above matter, and to review Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc.’s applications, supporting documents and draft permits, contact John Rebar Jr. at john.rebar@delaware.gov or 302-739-9948.

The Department will accept public comment through Jan. 2, 2026. Comments will be accepted in written form via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments, or by U.S. mail to the address on this page.

Public Hearing Officer

Lisa Vest
DNREC Office of the Secretary
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901

Documents for Review

This is a partial list and will expand as the date of the hearing approaches.

Notice of the hearing as posted on the state public meeting calendar (Nov. 24, 2025)

Public notice of the hearing as posted in the Delaware State News (Nov. 28, 2025)

Public notice of the hearing as posted in the News Journal (Nov. 28, 2025)

Public notice of the hearing as posted on the DNREC website (Nov. 28, 2025)

Relevant State Regulations

DNREC On-Site Regulations and Guidance Documents (Jan. 11, 2014)

January 2025 Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. Application Package for a Renewal Operations Permit

SRRF Permit Renewal Application (Jan. 17, 2025)

Compliance Monitoring Report (CMR) for SRRF Permit Renewal Application (Jan. 17, 2025)

DNREC Request for information re CMR Soil Report (Aug. 19, 2025)

AWMI Response to Request for Information re CMR Soil Report (Aug. 22, 2025)

Email Attachment – SRRF Soils 2021.2024 (EXCEL) (Aug. 22, 2025)

Email Attachment – SRRF Updated Site Life Expectancy (EXCEL) (Aug. 22, 2025)

May 2025 Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. Application Package for Phase 3 Upgrades

KCI Technologies, Inc. Letter providing Applications (May 16, 2025)

Application Form for a Construction Permit (May 16, 2025)

Design Engineer Report – Sussex Regional Recharge Facility (SRRF) – Phase 3 prepared by KCI Technologies, Inc. for Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. with Appendices (May 16, 2025)

Construction Drawing Set prepared by KCI (May 16, 2025)

Artesian Letter requesting a modification to the renewal of Operations Permit to incorporate the Phase 3 treatment expansion and providing a schedule for bringing fields D and E online (June 6, 2025)

Existing SRRF Permits

DNREC Construction Permit 359288-03 – AWMI – SRRF Phase 2 Issued April 2, 2024

DNREC Operations Permit 359288-02 – AWMI – SRRF Phase 1 & 2 Issued as Amended April 2, 2024