GEORGETOWN, DE, April 3, 2008 -- Artesian Resources Corporation and the Town of Georgetown have signed a letter of intent to establish a long-term arrangement to meet the future wastewater treatment and disposal needs in Georgetown's growth and annexation areas.
Through the agreement, Artesian will provide up to 1 million gallons per day of wastewater capacity for the town within the next 10 years. The Company will receive untreated wastewater effluent from properties located within Georgetown's current and future annexation and growth areas.
Georgetown Mayor Mike Wyatt and Town Manager Gene Dvornick have been working on numerous alternatives for more than a year to find a viable solution to address the town's anticipated wastewater demands.
"We are very pleased to be working with Artesian to support growth in and around our town," said Wyatt. "Artesian has a proven history of successful partnerships with other municipalities, providing towns such as Middletown with cost-effective solutions to their growing wastewater needs."
Georgetown will benefit from economies of scale by utilizing Artesian's North Sussex Regional Water Recharge facility, which is expected to be operational by mid-2009. Located northwest of Milton, it will encompass a 75-acre treatment site and approximately 1,700 acres of farmland preservation land, where treated wastewater will be disposed of through spray irrigation. The facility will have the capacity to provide wastewater service for up to 40,000 homes in the northern Sussex County area.
Artesian will be responsible for capital improvements required for the treatment, storage and disposal of wastewater effluent from Georgetown's Sand Hill Pump station, as well as design, construction and maintenance of the regional wastewater facility, a force main interconnection, all meters, and piping necessary to receive Georgetown's effluent flow.
The town will retain ownership of its existing water and wastewater facilities, and will continue to operate those facilities. Its day-to-day operations will not require any personnel adjustments. A final agreement is expected to be signed by Artesian and Georgetown officials by early summer.
Artesian Resources Corporation operates as the holding company of six wholly-owned subsidiaries offering water and wastewater services.
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