BETHEL

DelDOT Traffic Alert: Closure of the Woodland Ferry

Seaford – The Delaware Department of Transportation announces the closure of the Woodland Ferry, starting TODAY (September 14th), for maintenance.

The Ferry is expected to resume normal operations on Monday, September 21st.

For more information, please visit www.deldot.gov.

REMINDER: DNREC will hold a community meeting on Wednesday evening (September 16th) 

in Georgetown to discuss Chronic Wasting Disease affecting deer

DNREC will hold a community meeting regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the auditorium at Delaware Technical Community College Owens Campus in Georgetown on Wednesday evening (September 16th) at 6:30 p.m. For anyone unable to attend the in-person meeting, DNREC has made participation by a virtual option available via Microsoft Teams – with more information and registration found on the DNREC events calendar.

DNREC recently announced the adoption of temporary deer hunting and rehabilitation regulations to try to limit the spread of CWD and confine it to the area where it has been found in central Sussex County. The Division of Fish and Wildlife will explain the temporary regulation provisions and why they are necessary.

DNREC will listen to community feedback and take questions during meeting, with limited available time slots for speaking. Comments will be limited to two minutes, and interested parties must sign up beforehand. To sign up, individuals may email DNREC_DeerMgmt@delaware.gov by 4:00 p.m. TOMORROW (September 15th) or arrive early for the meeting on September 16th. DNREC staff will be present starting at 6:10 p.m. at the Del Tech College auditorium for sign-up.

Please note that this meeting is informational and not part of a formal public comment related to the regulations. Possible permanent changes to regulations in response to CWD will be open for formal public comment during the standard regulatory process later this year.

More information – including the state response plan to CWD in Delaware, a map of the CWD Management Zone, and public guidance for dealing with CWD – can be found on the de.gov/cwd webpage.

News from DNREC: Free private well water testing is available for Delawareans

Delawareans who rely on private wells for their drinking water can request free testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and a range of other contaminants through a statewide program offered by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS).

This free testing is available as part of Delaware’s expanded efforts to identify and address potential contaminants in drinking water.

Unlike public drinking water systems, private wells are not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Therefore, people who rely on private wells are generally responsible for ensuring their drinking water is tested and their well is properly maintained. The statewide program provides Delaware households that use private wells with an opportunity to better understand the quality of the water they use for drinking, cooking, and other household purposes.

There is no cost to the resident for sampling or laboratory analysis. After a resident submits the request and consent form, within two weeks, an agency staff member or the state’s sampling contractor will contact the applicant to schedule an appointment.

For more information, please click here.