I was very disturbed to hear that Artesian and Allen Harim's solution to dumping in Beaver Dam Creek is to pump 1.5 million gallons a day of the same treated wastewater causing an uproar in Harbeson to Milton. The wastewater plans call for it to be pumped to Milton and sprayed on farm fields or dumped in a to-be-built 75-acre lagoon until it can be sprayed.
Well, that doesn't sound like much of a solution to me! Complaints about Allen Harim's stench and according to local residents the death of the Beaver Dam Creek where Allen Harim is currently dumping are due to the same treated wastewater and remnants of years of wastewater from the current lagoons on Allen Harim property. Where in the plan does the Allen Harim wastewater get any more treatment before pumping it to Milton and spraying it on farm fields or storing it in the proposed lagoons for future use?
I see no additional treatment anywhere in the plan. I do see Harbeson's problem wastewater pumped with no additional treatment to Milton. Spraying it on farm fields and holding it in a containment lagoon is not going to make it smell any better.
Yes, we need progress and yes, we need jobs but not at the price of a degradation of quality of life and/or health of current or future residents and businesses. Perhaps a more suitable plan would be for Allen Harim and Artesian Water to actually treat the water before it leaves the plant so that it can be returned without any additional chemical/biological compounds that will harm the health or safety of residents.
DNREC has cited Allen Harim for numerous violations for discharging phosphorous and ammonia at higher levels than allowable into Beaver Dam Creek. Now the discharges will be into Milton and indirectly into the Broadkill, or even worse, the aquifer many of us in Milton use for drinking water. Why would I think the wastewater will be less harmful in Milton than it was in Harbeson? Why would I trust Allen Harim to now follow the wastewater rules set by DNREC for all companies?
Carol Taylor
Milton
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