Hoping elected officials work together on wastewater partnership
As a resident of Sussex County and Rehoboth Beach, I am closely monitoring the proposed regional wastewater partnership agreement between Rehoboth Beach, Sussex County and the Lewes Board of Public Works.
This proposal would allow the Lewes BPW to connect to the City of Rehoboth Beach ocean outfall pipe to discharge its treated wastewater into the ocean outside Rehoboth Beach. Sussex County and the Lewes BPW must take action now to expand its capacity due to growth in the county. This partnership, if codified, will help avoid astronomical costs for the residents of Sussex County and Lewes, while also giving us the opportunity to have a state-of-the-art, environmentally sound and quality service for generations to come.
While there are benefits to this partnership, there are also significant risks that will impact the quality of the ocean frontage, property values and the future financial viability of the partners.
I ask all those who are impacted by this agreement, particularly those in Rehoboth Beach, to reach out to elected officials, and ask for the following as this partnership is being negotiated.
1. Please give yourselves time to develop a thorough risk assessment and mitigation plan, and use this plan to negotiate favorable terms for all parties.
2. Consider and mitigate risks associated with the capitalization impact of this new connection. There are implications of the accelerated use of a capital asset, and the increased capacity going through the outfall system will accelerate depreciation, maintenance, repair and replacement costs, and may shorten the outfall's useful life, upon which loan terms, financial planning and other factors depend.
3. Consider the environmental impacts of an increased flow of treated wastewater into the ocean. Many new environmental practices will evolve over the years, and given the age of the Rehoboth Beach outfall, combined with the time it will take to build the new county connection, officials should ensure the terms require all connected facilities to meet or exceed current industry treatment plant performance practices.
Finally, make sure the terms of the agreement clearly outline the fiscal and environmental responsibilities among the parties. For example, who is responsible if a failure occurs and the ocean becomes contaminated? Who compensates the businesses and residents in the event of a failure?
There are many other points other smart people have made, and we hope our elected officials work together to ensure a fair agreement for our county and towns.
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