Lewes BPW set to replace wastewater treatment plant operator

The Lewes Board of Public Works is set to replace the operator of its wastewater treatment plant on American Legion Road Nov. 1. 

The new operator, Inframark, formerly known as Severn Trent, operated the plant from 2007 until March 2017 before current operator White Marsh Environmental Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tidewater Utilities Inc., took over in 2017. White Marsh is under contract until 2022, but BPW is able to terminate the contract under certain circumstances.

BPW officials said Inframark is more than capable of operating its plant.

“Inframark brings to the table a vast experience in operating microfiltration plants throughout the U.S.,” the BPW said in a press release. “They also bring a professional staff with incredible bench strength. If additional help is needed from outside the local area, Inframark has its entire U.S. staff to draw from.”

The Lewes plant features technology that removes particles down to 5 microns, small enough that most bacteria cannot get through. The BPW said its mission is to provide wastewater treatment that is environmentally safe for customers and the community.

“This technology goes the extra step to protect the environment and exceeds regulatory requirements,” the BPW release said.

Inframark and White Marsh will work collaboratively over the course of a few weeks during a transition period in October, said BPW President D. Preston Lee.

The BPW reached a settlement with White Marsh. The BPW press release says it was amicable.

The move to change operators comes about nine months after a malfunction at the wastewater treatment plant resulted in 3.9 million gallons of partially treated wastewater being discharged into the marsh adjacent to the plant over several days in late December and early January. In August, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control fined BPW $64,000 for the incident, which was set to be covered by White Marsh.

Since the incident, BPW hired an independent specialist to perform a wetlands evaluation, monitoring the marsh area for several months after the incident. The report is complete and the event appears to have had no adverse effects, said Darrin Gordon, BPW general manager.

As part of DNREC’s conciliation order from Secretary Shawn Garvin, BPW was also required to submit an update on the status of facility operations, an update to the emergency contingency plan detailing specific steps the facility will take to prevent a similar incident in the future, and the final wetland assessment. All were submitted prior to the Sept. 5 deadline.

BPW and White Marsh have taken a number of actions to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility in the months since the incident. BPW authorized the replacement of all four sets of filters at the plant, about $1 million in total, and all have been installed.

In addition, Lee said, there have been major upgrades to all control systems, alarm systems and printouts. White Marsh and BPW are also more closely monitoring the data available through the system, and White Marsh’s monthly reports to BPW have much more detail than was provided prior to the incident.