Rehoboth wastewater no longer in the sludge business

For years, Rehoboth Beach hauled sludge created through the treatment of wastewater in 5,500-gallon tanker trucks up to a farm outside Milford for land application. With the recent completion of the city’s new belt filter press at the treatment plant, the city is no longer in the land-application business. Instead, it’s now in the cake-making business.

The city’s lease on the farmland expired in April. During a commissioner meeting in late June, Public Works Director Henry Matlosz said the treatment facility’s new belt filter press is operational. It takes the sludge, which is 2% solid, and turns it into a material called cake, which is about 18% solid, he said, adding that the liquid pressed out of the new filter goes back for further treatment.

Currently, the county has the hauling permit, so they come to the treatment facility in Rehoboth to dispose of the cake in a landfill, said Matlosz. The city plans to apply for the proper permits so it can haul the cake, he said.

In an interview after the meeting at the treatment plant, Matlosz said 99% of the liquid that comes into the treatment plant exits the plant as highly treated effluent through the ocean outfall. 

Paul Hignutt, wastewater department supervisor, was on hand for the tour. He said it takes five to six hours to fill a 30-yard dumpster halfway. After that, it’s too heavy, he said.

Hignutt said one of the advantages of the new belt filter press is there’s a significant reduction in truck traffic. It takes around 10 of the 5,500-gallon tankers to equal one dumpster of the cake material, he said.

As far as the old tanker trucks go, the city’s not going to get rid of them just yet, said Matlosz. If there was ever a large leak at a pump station, it’s nice to have a large tanker that can hold 5,500 gallons, because the city’s vac truck only holds about 700 gallons, he said.

Looking forward, the city still has one more phase to complete before all the treatment plant upgrades are done. A lot of Phase 4’s work is focused on the administrative side of the treatment plant – a new laboratory, HVAC system, roof, windows and doors at the administrative building; electrical upgrades throughout the plant; the large storage tanks will be repaired and painted; site-wide paving and grade restoration; and a fiber optic communications loop will be installed. There is about $2.3 million for Phase 4 in the current year budget, which began April 1, and about $12 million worth of expenses over the next two fiscal years – $6 million in Fiscal Year 2027 and $5.7 million in FY 28.

Matlosz said a mandatory pre-bid meeting for Phase 4 has been conducted, and he will be presenting the results at the regular meeting in August, which is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15.