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Letter: Artesian proud to provide healthy drinking water

October 16, 2018

In his Oct. 4 letter, “Water woes in Sussex seem insurmountable,” Robert Bachand argues that the challenges facing public water have no solution. In fact, there is a solution to these common concerns and Artesian, backed by science and rigorous review by state regulators, is proud to be a part of it. 

Providing clean water is our business. It is a solemn responsibility we safeguard through working around the clock, all year long. Artesian is a leader in private water systems in Sussex County that consistently meets the stringent federal and state drinking water regulations.

Each year, we spend more than $270,000 on water quality samples, excluding labor, conducting tests at our water treatment plants and throughout our distribution system which includes customers’ homes. 

Data verifying the results of our efforts are compiled in our annual Water Quality Reports. These reports are delivered to customers each spring and include all water quality monitoring and testing data, along with a description of programs implemented to maintain and improve the quality of water we supply. These reports can also be found online at www.artesianwater.com

The State of Delaware has long recognized the importance of clean water by establishing and enforcing regulations to protect the sources of public drinking water from contamination. In fact, the State of Delaware’s regulations are more stringent that those of the Environmental Protection Agency.  
Delaware’s Source Water Assessment and Protection Program created as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 requires a 150-foot diameter well protection radius, while also regulating land uses and other best management practices, so that no source of contamination is located close to a public well, and to assess potential risks of contamination. 

Public water systems throughout the state are required by law to regularly monitor for a wide range of contaminants, and to install treatment to maintain drinking water quality regardless of whether the contaminants are naturally occurring or man-made. 

Artesian has consistently invested in ensuring the reliability of its water treatment and distribution systems. Our more than 100 wells and interconnected systems can consistently be relied upon, without any service interruption to customers. Private water systems have the resources necessary to provide treatment and monitoring to ensure high- quality water to customers.    

Managing wastewater to protect clean, healthy drinking water is part of our water business. Artesian has operated wastewater disposal facilities for over 20 years with a superior record of environmental performance proven through data from our wastewater treatment and disposal facilities that show that nitrate levels in neighboring monitoring wells actually decrease over time during our operation of these facilities.

Artesian’s lagoon systems have multiple, built-in safeguards. Monitoring wells are installed alongside our lagoons to identify any change in the groundwater. Our liners are purposefully designed to enable repairs to be made quickly and securely. Our systems also are designed with significant storage buffers to allow for the deluge of rainwater expected from major storms.

Artesian, like the other private water and wastewater systems, is especially grateful to our state-certified operators who spend their careers at the source ensuring that all our customers receive high-quality drinking water and environmentally friendly wastewater services.  

Since 1905, the foundation of our business has been the delivery of high-quality drinking water and the certainty of reliable service that the community we serve can depend upon.

Artesian is vigilant, dedicated and proud to provide clean, healthy drinking water to Sussex County. 
Water is a finite resource.  Artesian works to make every drop count. 

Dian C. Taylor
president & CEO, Artesian

 

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