Aquifers are susceptible to nitrate contamination associated with agricultural systems.
These irrigation systems - including with spray irrigation pivot equipment - increase an aquifer's vulnerability, especially with continual wastewater applications. Such activity directly or indirectly introduces concentrations of inorganic chemicals and biologicals into the groundwater. Continued operation of the Clean Delaware Inc. facility on Milton's Route 30/16 places homeowners with private wells at increased risk along with all of us that depend on the public water supply. Water seeping into an aquifer constantly flows underground to neighboring sites. Contamination thus spreads over large areas, endangering other municipal and private water supplies!
Continuing and expanding the current Milton operation may not result in a Love Canal - but close to it. If those people are so convinced that they will do "no harm" with the operations, let them drill a well directly below their spray fields and serve only that water to their children and/or grandchildren. In addition, have them build their homes and backyards bordering the spray fields. I'm sure that they will enjoy being downwind of their brown spray mist!
Perhaps they should consider building a tertiary higher-level sanitation treatment facility at Harbeson, using filtration, coagulation sedimentation, reverse osmosis and state-of-art secondary biological treatment. Disposal of the treated effluents nonetheless would not be appropriate for the Milton site.
Robert Bachand
Milford
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
