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Grant: $1,205,300 |
Outline of Need: In the early 1990's, the Town's wastewater treatment plant was handling 300,000 gallons per day. When the level reached 500,000 gallons per day, the Mayor and Council recognized the need for wastewater treatment expansion. The projected residential connections were anticipated to grow at a rate of 1.25 percent annually. Anticipated growth included serving the very-low income community of Ellendale, the new Sussex Central High School, the Sussex Correctional Institute, the airport, new businesses and homes. The Town immediately began taking proactive actions to expand the project. The Town entered into an agreement with the Department of Correction to reserve treatment capacity in exchange for aid in construction to expand the wastewater treatment facility. In addition, the Town entered into a lease agreement with Baxter Farms, an adjacent farm to the treatment plant, for wastewater treatment discharge. While the Town was working to plan for the expansion of their facility, the magnitude of the expansion project increased greatly with the issuance of the State's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations that were issued to help protect the Inland Bays. |
How Rural Development Helped:
Rural Development originally funded the expansion project in 1998 and provided a subsequent loan in 1999. The total expansion project cost $8,266,873. The total Rural Development investment was $3,174,968 ($1,969,668 loan and $1,205,300 grant), representing 38 percent of the total project costs.
The Results:
The expansion of the wastewater treatment facility involved increasing the total plant capacity to 1.3 million gallons per day and the acquisition of approximately 90 additional acres to handle the increase wastewater flow from the Sussex Correctional Institution, Ellendale - a new sewer district, and numerous in-town projects. At the time of funding, the Town's wastewater treatment flow had increased to 694,000 gallons per day, serving 1,378 residences. This project was supported by an excellent partnership as a result of the Town securing funding from a variety of different sources that include State, County and Local funds. This is viewed as a model TMDL project by the State due to the direct effect on user rates; the Town's aggressive action to comply with TMDL regulations; and the positive environmental impact on Delaware's Inland Bays. The expansion project was completed in the fall of 2003 and took approximately one year to accomplish. Rural Development has been a long time supporter of projects in the Town of Georgetown ranging from improvements to infrastructure to affordable housing that has helped with the Town's growing Hispanic population.
Pictured, above: (L) Dedication of $8.2 million dollar wastewater treatment facility. Representing Local Boy Scout Troop 95 are Mike Goins, Lance Hickman, and Cody Pepper who join Delaware Congressman Mike Castle in cutting the ribbon. Others pictured include town employees and representatives who helped with funding, design and construction of the project. (R) Local Boy Scout Troop 95 Members Lance Hickman, Cody Pepper, Congressman Mike Castle, Mike Goins and Town Manager David Baird at the dedication of the $8.2 million dollar wastewater treatment facility that was funded in part by USDA Rural Development. Facility flows over 900,000 gallons of wastewater a day and serves 1,600 customers. The project is viewed as a model in the State because of the variety of funding involved from all levels of government, the affordability to the users, and the impact the project has on Delaware's Inland Bays.
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