Sandy's Rainfall Floods Lewes Wastewater Plant

Two million gallons of untreated wastewater from the City of Lewes treatment plant flowed into local waterways following superstorm Sandy, but state and local officials say bacteria levels were heavily diluted by rainfall so the overflow should have no lasting effects on waterlife.

"We are confident that there was no harm done to life or environment from our operations of the wastewater treatment plant during the Sandy Hurricane," said Darrin Gordon, general manager for Lewes Board of Public Works.

The overflow is defined as raw sewage because it is untreated wastewater, Gordon said. About 2.2 million gallons overflowed Lewes' Howard Seymour wastewater treatment plant's capacity early morning Oct. 30, following a mandatory evacuation of Lewes Oct. 29, he said.
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