The Pine Haven Campground Community in Sussex County was the recipient of wastewater violations by Delaware.
On Jan. 6, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control issued a Notice of Violation for “failure to possess appropriate on-site wastewater and disposal system permits as required by Delaware regulations” to Blue Beach Bungalows DE LLC and parent company Blue Water Development Corp. of Ocean City.
The original campground, located at 22506 Corey Drive near Lincoln, later added some mobile homes, according to the violation. The agency did not have records of where the wastewater systems were located. Homes within the community share septic tanks that discharge to a cesspool disposal area.
The monthlong investigation also found untreated wastewater surfacing above septic tanks and cesspool disposal areas within the campground community beginning Dec. 9, 2022, according to a Tuesday press release.
“Blue Beach Bungalow DE LLC purchased a seasonal campground from the prior owner. It was represented as a seasonal campground, and all the pre-purchase due-diligence and inspection proved it was regulatory licensed and operated as a seasonal campground. The infrastructure is designed to support a seasonal campground,” Nicole Faries, legal representation for Blue Beach Bungalow, said in a statement to Delmarva Now.
“The current owner is working diligently to address all issues and has a plan in place with DNREC to remedy any open issues, which were caused by the former owner’s lack of maintenance in the campground,” Faries said.
IN SUSSEX:Mobile home park residents plead for sewer help as Lewes annexation vote nears
On Dec. 19, the company submitted correspondence to the state agency that it would provide interim solutions for the violations 10 days previously. That response included an e-mail from Sussex County that a request to expand the sewer district to incorporate Pine Haven would be heard at the Jan. 24 County Council.
According to that email, a public hearing on the matter was scheduled for March 7 to discuss the new boundary. Property owners within that boundary would then have to vote in a referendum.
At the time, the state’s environmental department directed the property owner to take corrective action that included performing frequent pump-outs of the onsite systems to alleviate surfacing, and to submit a plan that addressed ongoing violations.
According to the state, company officials were also directed to complete other corrective requirements such as:
- Fencing off impacted areas to prevent public contact with untreated wastewater.
- Conduct daily inspections and reporting of data to DNREC.
- Establishing a timetable for developing a permanent wastewater solution for Pine Haven residents.
CHESAPEAKE BAY:Conowingo cleanup: Will EPA’s ‘no confidence’ stance change with funding?
BAY RUNOFF:Chesapeake Bay health earns D-plus amid struggle to control polluted runoff: Report
A Dec. 20 inspection document the surfacing of wastewater, an overflowing septic tank near Nelson Drive and an odor. Another inspection eight days later noted recent septic pumping at that address, however, “frozen wastewater from previous surfacing was noticeable” along with “frozen tank effluent.”
