Small Town News

Officials break ground on Inland Bays wastewater treatment plant

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Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and Sen. Tom Carper joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Delaware State Director Jack Tarburton and other officials April 23, to break ground on a project to improve water quality in Delaware's Inland Bays. Construction begins next month on a wastewater treatment plant expansion project at the Inland Bays Wastewater Treatment Facility. When completed, the increase in treatment capacity will enable over 2,500 onsite septic systems to be eliminated.

"Since President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [Recovery Act] over a year ago, an estimated 1.2 million customers have been notified that they will receive improved water and sanitation services. Almost 650 water improvement projects have been funded in 50 states and territories," said Merrigan. Including the Inland Bays project, almost $29.7 million in USDA Recovery Act wastewater projects have been funded in Delaware alone.

The expansion of the wastewater treatment plant will assist Sussex County in serving new customers who are expected to come on line in spring 2011. On Earth Day, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the project would receive $10.4 million through the Recovery Act The remainder of the $15 million project is being funded with additional USDA Rural Development funds from its regular yearly allocation, and with funding provided by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

Whiting-Turner Construction has been awarded a contract that will keep many of its employees and subcontractors in the mechanical, electrical and building trades employed during the 16 months it will take to complete the project.

"As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, it is important to remember that there are many aspects to keeping our world clean," said Carper. "A wastewater treatment facility may not be what immediately comes to mind for most of us, but this improved and upgraded facility will play a vital role in ensuring that the water that lands in our water supply and filters into our homes is the cleanest and safest it can be." In a statement, Sen. Ed Kaufman said, "This is also a wonderful example of how Recovery Act funds are helping Delaware by keeping our residents healthy and also by maintaining and creating jobs."

The $15 million project is being funded by a $10.4 million Rural Development low-interest loan, a $3 million USDA grant, $1.3 million grant from DNREC and $448,619 low-interest loan from DNREC.

Delaware developed an innovative approach to leverage $19 million of stimulus funding to support $85 million of clean water projects - more in one year than in the previous lifetime of a program - which could be a national model for other states.

"This project demonstrates how government should work -federal, state and local governments leveraging their resources to clean up the environment and strengthen our economy at the same time," said DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara. "Together, we will improve the water quality of the Inland Bays and create hundreds of well-paying jobs in the process."

"Our years-long partnership with USDA, the Delaware congressional delegation, and the state continues to pay dividends for the environment and for the residents of Sussex County, both now and for generations to come," Sussex County Administrator David B. Baker said. Details on rural programs is available by calling 856-3990, Ext. 4 or by visiting rurdev.usda.gov.





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