Editor’s note: Mountaire Farms is an agricultural food processing company employing more than 8,500 people at sites in Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
On April 9th, the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays released a report entitled “Findings of the Mountaire Pollution Committee.” The overall theme of this report is that the nutrient problems in the inland bays are attributable to Mountaire’s Millsboro facility. Nothing could be further from the truth. High nitrate concentrations in groundwater, particularly in and around the Millsboro area and the inland bays, have been well documented for decades. Indeed, as far back as the 1970s, long before Mountaire’s predecessor, Townsend, Inc., began spray irrigation, nitrate levels above the drinking water standard were documented in the Millsboro area, including communities such as Oak Orchard and Rosedale Beach.
Contrary to the impression given by the Center’s report, groundwater nitrate levels in and around Millsboro are elevated due to historic agricultural practices that existed for generations, along with the use of septic systems and cesspools in many of Sussex County’s growing rural and semi-rural communities. The Center’s report fails to address this critical fact, and also gives little or no mention of the presence of other sources of nutrients into the watershed, including three municipal or County wastewater treatment plants (Inland Bays Regional, Piney Neck Regional and City of Millsboro) engaged in land application of sludge and spray irrigation. These wastewater treatment plants are all less than 2.5 miles from Mountaire’s facility. Moreover, while the Center’s report emphasizes high nitrate levels in the Indian River at Swan Creek, it fails to mention similarly elevated levels of nitrates in Millsboro Pond, which is upgradient of the Mountaire facility (meaning in the opposite direction of groundwater flow) and discharges directly into the Indian River Bay. The condition of Millsboro Pond is just one example showing that nutrient contamination in the inland bays region is due to many sources.
The Center’s report repeatedly jumps to conclusions using terms such as “possibly” and “likely” to suggest the existence of facts without corresponding data to demonstrate these supposed facts, and when data does appear in the report, it is often selectively used. The real facts are that, yes, Mountaire’s system upset did significantly exceed permit limits; however, the upset occurred for a relatively short period of time, and all credible experts will agree that it had no immediate impact offsite.
A more balanced and objective report would have put more emphasis on other sources of nutrients in the inland bays, both current and historical. Additionally, a more comprehensive report would note that Mountaire’s short-term and long-term system upgrades will make Mountaire’s system one of the most advanced and environmentally friendly systems in the region. The focus of the Center’s efforts in addressing nutrient conditions in the inland bays is commendable; however, singling out one company, to the exclusion of many other sources and causes of nutrient pollution, is misleading. Mountaire has admitted to having a wastewater upset, but maintains that this event did not cause the elevated nitrate levels in local wells.We are committed to doing the right thing by making very substantial improvements and upgrades to our water treatment system. We value the relationship with our neighbors and will work very hard to regain their trust.
