The DNREC Division of Water will conduct a Public Hearing (Docket #2022-P-W-0004) on applications from Artesian Wastewater for permits for the Sussex Regional Reclamation Facility. Public comment period closed.

Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. has applied for an On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System Construction Permit and a proposed Amendment to their On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Operations Permit (Spray Permit) for the Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Water Recharge Facility (ANSRWRF), now known as the Sussex Regional Reclamation Facility (SRRF).

Construction Permit

Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. has applied for a State of Delaware Construction Permit for the phase 2 construction of an onsite wastewater treatment system designed to treat 625,000 gallons per day (GPD) of wastewater received from Artesian’s wastewater service territories in Sussex County.

The project scope includes construction of a 3.0 million gallon (MG) combined equalization and off-spec water diversion lagoon, a headworks system consisting of screen and grit removal equipment, an influent lift station, a Hybrid Bardenpho treatment process system, two cloth media filters, an ultra-violet disinfection system, and an effluent lift station to pump treated wastewater to the existing 90 MG treated effluent storage lagoon.

The construction project is to be located on Sussex County Tax Map/Parcel Number 2-35 6.00 28.09, located on a 75-acre site south of Reynolds Pond Road, east of Route 30, north of Ingram Branch and Route 16, and west of Cedar Creek Road, Sussex County, Delaware.

Spray Permit Amendment

Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. is currently authorized to receive treated poultry processing wastewater (treated effluent) from the Allen Harim Foods Harbeson Processing Facility’s wastewater treatment system for storage in a 90 MG lagoon prior to discharge via spray irrigation for final disposal. This Phase 1 project is operating in accordance with AWMI’s Operations Permit No. 359288-02 for the Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Water Recharge Facility (ANSRWRF), which is now called the Sussex Regional Reclamation Facility (SRRF).

The proposed draft amendment to the operations permit will authorize the Phase 2 newly constructed onsite wastewater treatment system to receive and treat wastewater from within Artesian’s service territories in Sussex County. Treated wastewater from the onsite treatment system will be mixed in the lagoon with the treated effluent from Allen Harim Foods Harbeson Processing Facility’s wastewater treatment system and discharged via spray irrigation onto privately owned agricultural land, under a lease held in perpetuity by Artesian as the wastewater utility provider. The spray fields have been permanently placed in an Agricultural Preservation Easement by the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation.

For more information and to review applications, supporting documents, and draft permits contact John Rebar, Jr., Division of Water, Groundwater Discharges Section, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE, 19901; by phone at 302-739-9948; or, by email, at John.Rebar@delaware.gov.

The Department will accept public comment through the close of business on March 10, 2022. 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 below.

Public Hearing Officer

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

Transcript, Hearing Officer’s Report and Secretary’s Order

Public Hearing Transcript

Hearing Officer’s Report
– Appendix A: Technical Response Memo (Aug. 21, 2023)

Secretary’s Order No: 2024-W-0013 — Approval of Permit Applications of Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. (“AWMI”) for the proposed On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System (“OWTDS”) Construction Permit and the proposed OWTDS Operations Permit Amendment for the AWMI planned Phase 2 project, consisting of construction and operation of a new wastewater treatment system at the Sussex Regional Reclamation Facility (“SRRF”), located in Sussex County, Delaware.
(Effective Date: April 1, 2024)

DNREC Exhibits

Exhibit 1: DNREC On-Site Regulations and Guidance Documents – January 11, 2014

Exhibit 2: February 4, 2021 (inadvertently dated 2020) AWMI letter providing resubmittal and addressing comments outlined in DNREC-GWDS’s November 30, 2020 letter

Exhibit 3: February 4, 2021 (inadvertently dated 2020) AWMI letter providing Application Forms

Exhibit 4: February 4, 2021 Application Form for an Amended Operations Permit

Exhibit 5: February 3, 2021 Application Form for a Construction Permit

Exhibit 6: February 2021 Design Engineer Report – Sussex Regional Recharge Facility (SRRF) – Phase 2

Exhibit 7: February 2021 Drawings (Set of 52)

Exhibit 8: February 2021 Equipment Specifications

Exhibit 9: DNREC Draft Construction Permit 359288-03 – AWMI

Exhibit 10: DNREC Draft Amended Operations Permit 359288-02 – AWMI

Exhibit 11: December 9, 2021 AWMI Letter Commenting on Pre-Hearing Draft Amended Operations Permit

Exhibit 12: Public Meeting Calendar Notice of the Public Hearing

Exhibit 13: Virtual Public Hearing Event Page (This page)

Exhibit 14: DNREC Website Public Notice of the Public Hearing

Exhibit 15: Public Notice of the Public Hearing in the Delaware State News

Exhibit 16: Public Notice of the Public Hearing in the News Journal

Exhibit 17: DNREC Construction Permit 359288-01 – AWMI -SRRF Phase 1

Exhibit 18: DNREC Operations Permit 359288-02 – AWMI -SRRF Phase 1

Exhibit 19: DNREC Presentation

Applicant’s Exhibits

Exhibit 1: Artesian Presentation

Comments

Danielle Ellis, Div. of Fish and Wildlife (2/3/22)

Shelly Cohen (3/9/22)

Anthony Scarpa (3/9/22)

Susan Linzey (3/10/22)