DNREC issues notice of violation to Donovan-Smith Mobile Home Park LLC

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control issued a notice of violation July 8 to the Donovan-Smith Mobile Home Park LLC in Lewes for ongoing violations of the state’s laws governing wastewater treatment and disposal systems. The manufactured home community’s onsite wastewater treatment system was found by DNREC to be out of compliance thus posing risks to public health and the environment. The surfacing wastewater poses public health exposure concerns and contributes to groundwater pollution. Routine monitoring of the onsite drinking water system shows that thus far the community drinking water wells have not been impacted by the ongoing wastewater compliance issues. With the notice, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin issued the following statement:

“This action follows several months of work to document the ongoing onsite wastewater treatment and disposal violations at the Donovan-Smith manufactured home community. It sets enforceable deadlines to fix the issue for residents in this community and push the improved sewer connection project forward, the first project under an important plan to address wastewater and drinking water issues in underserved communities throughout Delaware.”

DNREC has been working with the Department of Health and Social Services and the Delaware Housing Authority to develop a priority list for underserved communities that have water and wastewater issues. The project for Donovan-Smith Manufactured Home Community aims to end water pollution at the site by eventually tying the community’s wastewater discharge into the city of Lewes central sewer system. The notice documents ongoing noncompliance at the manufactured home community and establishes deadlines for Donovan-Smith MHP LLC to correct the problem and move forward on the sewer connection with financing from the underserved communities initiative administered by DNREC and DHSS.

To eliminate risks to public health and the environment, the notice calls for interim actions, including cordoning off areas where wastewater surfacing has occurred in the manufactured home community, and a mandatory pumping of the community septic system to mitigate further wastewater surfacing and groundwater pollution within the community while Donovan-Smith moves toward the sewer connection working with the Lewes Board of Public Works.

Michael Globetti, media relations manager with DNREC, said more information about the underserved communities initiative should available by the end of the month. 

Corrective actions

• Donovan-Smith MHP LLC shall install a temporary fence designed to keep children and pets away from all areas with surfacing untreated wastewater

• Donovan-Smith MHP LLC shall post and maintain “Keep Out” signs around the areas of surfacing untreated wastewater

• Donovan-Smith MHP LLC shall pump out septic and dosing tanks within five days of receiving the notice of violation. Donovan-Smith MHP LLC shall pump out the system at a minimum every three days thereafter or more frequently if surfacing wastewater is observed. Pumping records shall be submitted to the Department’s Groundwater Discharges Section within 14 days of receiving the notice of violation and then monthly thereafter until the violations are corrected

• DNREC has determined that a central wastewater system is physically and legally available to the park; therefore, Donovan-Smith MHP LLC must correct these violations by connecting the park to the sanitary sewer system.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new information.