Taking a shower with low water pressure is annoying. Fighting a fire with low water pressure is life-threatening.
This summer, the Town of Selbyville will boost water pressure and prepare for future growth by purchasing water from Artesian Water Company.
Selbyville has its own wells and water treatment plant, but town limits have pushed eastward as more property owners annex into town, stretching Town water pipes farther away from the source. Residents in newer neighborhoods have complained about low water pressure, and Selbyville doesn’t want to risk an inadequate water supply in a firefighting emergency.
“On the east side of town, they have some growth development going on out there, so they have some opportunity there,” said Dave Spacht, CFO and treasurer of the Artesian Resources Corporation and all subsidiaries. “And we are right up the road.”
Artesian has a water tower and wells eastward on Route 54 toward Bayville, with plenty to spare.
“So we both benefit by … interconnections that help in times of emergencies, where you have supply issues,” Spacht said.
Currently, Selbyville will purchase a minimum of 50,000 gallons per day at a rate of $3.49 per 1,000 gallons. (At this approximation, Selbyville could pay roughly $175 daily or $63,700 annually.)
If needed, Artesian communities may eventually purchase water back from Selbyville on the other side of town, at the same rate.
Although they voted publically and unanimously to sign the contract on Feb. 5, Selbyville Town Council did not publically discuss details of the arrangement at length.
Artesian aims to lay pipes to the town limits and be online by summer.
In the future, Selbyville might still be considering its own Route 54 water tower, but that could be several years and millions of dollars in the future.
Headquartered in Newark, with local offices in Milton, Artesian has similar agreements with other public and private entities, for both water and wastewater.