Lewes BPW focus, funding keyed on Sussex partnership

The Lewes Board of Public Works hosted a second public meeting March 22 at the Rollins Community Center to continue discussion on the future of wastewater treatment in Lewes.

Based on public comments, residents seem to be torn. The BPW, however, appears to prefer a partnership with Sussex County based on its allocation of research resources. 

The cheapest options receiving the highest scores in a multi-criterion study stemming from a long-range study on wastewater treatment in Lewes involve partnering with Sussex County. Some Lewes residents, however, do not trust the county, blaming density and environmental issues on what they perceive as a lack of standards and poor accountability. 

To the dismay of residents wary of how Sussex County operates, the BPW revealed its current focus and funding are geared toward a partnership with the county.

“We’re spending most of our effort and energy right now on exploring option three, with the county,” said BPW President Tom Panetta.

Panetta took time before the revelation to address frequently asked questions from the initial study and previous workshop. Panetta said FAQs, answers and further information are available on a newly created web page with a link on the BPW home page.

Some opposing or wary of a partnership cite the county’s unsuccessful attempt to purchase Rehoboth Beach’s outfall. 

“The Rehoboth Beach discussion was strictly about the use of their outfall. It did not include treatment. Discussions we're having with the county pertain to treatment and discharge. It's not apples to apples,” Panetta said.

Other detractors worry about the loss of control Lewes could have with a partnership. In addition to controlling the connection network, officials said the BPW would remain the sewer system operator and oversee pump stations, customer service and billing. There would be a detailed agreement in place laying out responsibility for operations, capital costs, monitoring and upgrade decisions.

While there have been some resources invested in the option to harden the existing wastewater plant on American Legion Road, officials said it has been centered around creating visuals for what the plant would look like. Renderings of a hardened plant should come out soon. There are concerns about maintaining operations during construction, sea-level rise coupled with an increase in the severity of storms, and the frequent flooding of American Legion Road. 

BPW officials believe the plant would be demolished if it is no longer included in long-term plans. However, because it is jointly owned by the city, future use choices would be made jointly. No decisions have been made.

Future planning has been increasingly difficult due to the unpredictability of both the natural and financial environments. Residents worry that the 2050 time horizon is not set out far enough. Panetta said information can become more speculative beyond that year. 

Some Lewes residents have wondered if the BPW should wait and examine options beyond the three recently proposed.

Resident Barbara Curtis suggested the BPW consider hardening the existing plant as a temporary fix for the next 10 years or so, then reevaluate. 

Officials said waiting exposes a few issues. Growth in Lewes may continue to deplete available land and increase property values beyond affordability. Other possible issues include the county moving on without them, or a storm large enough to overwhelm current mitigations.

During the workshops and meetings, resident Barbara Warnell has consistently pushed for a holistic approach that is environmentally conscious. As chair of the historic preservation architectural review commission, she understands firsthand how difficult decisions can be for committees and boards to make, but they must still be made. She said one little decision can have a big impact on the future.

“It's kind of unfortunate, as we all know, that most change is an uphill battle,” she said.

The BPW will host three more public workshops to openly discuss wastewater treatment options. They are set for Wednesdays, April 12, May 17 and June 14. 

More information is available by selecting “WWTF Planning” at lewesbpwde.gov.