DELAWARE -Sussex County is considering borrowing up to $7.2 million for a septic elimination project that would connect the Bethany Forest community to the county sewer system and reduce the amount of nitrogen entering the Indian River Bay.
The Sussex County Engineering Department is recommending that County Council introduce a debt ordinance authorizing up to $7,197,174 in general obligation bonds for construction and equipment associated with the Bethany Forest Septic Elimination Project.
The proposed project would install a gravity sewer collection system serving 91 improved lots in Bethany Forest. Wastewater would flow to a new pump station constructed as part of the project and then to existing county sewer infrastructure on Whites Neck Road near the Bay Forest subdivision.
From there, wastewater would travel through existing infrastructure to County Pump Station No. 303 and ultimately to the South Coastal Regional Wastewater Facility for treatment and disposal.
According to the Engineering Department, connecting Bethany Forest to central sewer is expected to eliminate approximately 3,500 pounds of total nitrogen annually from the Indian River Bay.
Sussex County would provide each property owner with a sewer connection at the property line. Property owners would be responsible for hiring a licensed plumber to connect the county-owned lateral cleanout to their homes. They would also be responsible for having their existing septic tanks pumped out and filled.
The proposal follows several years of consideration by the Bethany Forest community.
The Engineering Department distributed polling letters in October 2019 at the community's request to gauge interest in central sewer service. The results showed insufficient support to move forward at that time.
The Bethany Forest homeowners association later revisited the proposal. A subsequent poll showed 60 property owners in favor, 12 opposed and 21 who did not respond. The results represented support from about 63% of the subdivision's 95 recorded lots.
The Engineering Department presented the polling results to County Council on Aug. 23, 2022, and requested permission to prepare and post notices for a public hearing on expanding the Sussex County Unified Sanitary Sewer District to include Bethany Forest. Council approved the request.
A public hearing was held Oct. 21, 2022, at Millville Town Hall. The county presented information on the proposed annexation boundary, project background, user rates and estimated costs. A majority of those attending supported moving forward with the annexation.
On Dec. 6, 2022, County Council approved the Engineering Department's recommendation to add Bethany Forest to the Sussex County Unified Sanitary Sewer District through Resolution No. R 012 22.
Funding for the sewer project is proposed through the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund.
The Engineering Department completed a preliminary engineering report and environmental information documents in March. Those documents were required for the county's funding application to the Delaware State Revolving Fund.
On June 25, the county received and accepted a binding commitment letter from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Environmental Finance office.
The commitment identifies a $7,197,174 loan with a 30-year term. After the project is completed, up to $5 million of the principal would be forgiven. The remaining balance would be amortized over 30 years at 2% interest, with principal and interest payments required twice a year.
The Engineering Department is recommending introduction of the debt ordinance Tuesday, Aug. 11, authorizing the issuance of up to $7,197,174 in general obligation bonds for the project.
