You may have read already that the Rehoboth Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant has received a violation form the State of Delaware, (DNREC) for discharging brown solids into the Rehoboth-Lewes Canal. Cape Gazette's take here. And WGMD's article here. We are linking the actual violation letter from the State to the plant because it makes for good reading and there are pictures! The big concern here obviously is that the City of Rehoboth wants to put this pipe from the plant into the ocean eventually instead of into the Canal and Bay. As you know we fought the plan to put this outfall pipe into the ocean and lost last year when the state decided to approve the flawed Environmental Impact Statement to put the pipe in the ocean. Rehoboth voters then approved borrowing money to build the pipe by a mere 31 votes, but that result was challenged and investigated.
The big concern was wasting this treated fresh water, especially when farmers need it, want it, and spray irrigation is a widespread, accepted, and preferred method of wastewater disposal in DE. But still, accidents happen. What if this happens once the pipe is in the ocean...on a weekend in July? The town will be devastated.
The full letter from the State to the Treatment Plant can be seen here.