LINCOLN, Del.- The owner of a Pine Haven mobile home community in Sussex County has been issued a violation from the Delaware Department of Resources and Environmental Control for improper wastewater discharge.
DNREC says after a month-long investigation into reports of illegal wastewater discharge within the Pine Haven Campground Community near Lincoln, they issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) for wastewater violations to property owner Blue Beach Bungalows DE, LLC and parent company Blue Water Development Corp. of Ocean City, Md.
The NOV says the company did not possess appropriate on-site wastewater and disposal system permits as required by Delaware regulations, and cited violations beginning Dec. 9, for untreated wastewater surfacing above septic tanks and cesspool disposal areas within the campground community.
DNREC’s Division of Water began monitoring the situation at Pine Haven in early December, directing the property owner at that time 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.
The NOV memorializes these immediate corrective measures communicated by DNREC to company officials, and includes other corrective action requirements such as: fencing off impacted areas to prevent public contact with untreated wastewater; daily inspections and reporting of data to DNREC, and establishing a timetable for developing a permanent wastewater solution for Pine Haven residents.
Neighbors living in the community say they have dealt with not only septic issues, but unclean water as well, with a brown color, metallic smell, and detected contaminates. For months, neighbors like Cathy Barr and Lu Lu Lucido have reached out to state and county leaders for help. They hope the notice will inspire change from management.
"We have to get justice," says Lucido. "Something has to be done. The water and the sewer. The sewers back in the back are horrible. The bacteria is airborne."
In a statement to WBOC, Blue Bungalow's attorney Nicole Faries says, "My client is working on a long-term solution for the water and sewer issues within Pine Haven. My client is happy to work with DNREC as it completes the repairs and upgrades within the seasonal campground."