|
|
|
 Developers
And Landowners
Many developers and landowners often inquire about how to become a part of Tidewater's service territory. The following questions and answers may provide more information.
Q.
What is
Tidewater Utilities, Inc.? A. Tidewater Utilities, Inc. is a water utility company that provides drinking water and fire protection services (hydrants) to over 30,000 customers throughout the State of Delaware in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties. Q.
What is a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity? A.
Prior to providing service to a property, Tidewater is required to obtain
a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Delaware Public Service
Commission (PSC). The
CPCN gives Tidewater the legal right to provide service to an area.
As part of our application for a CPCN, we are required to
list all tax parcels within the proposed service area.
We are also required to show that over 50% of the property
owners within the proposed service area have requested to be
included within Tidewater’s service territory. Q.
Where are Tidewater’s Service
Territories? A.
Tidewater’s existing service
territories are located in all three Delaware counties.
In addition,
Tidewater will consider submitting an application to the Public
Service Commission to establish a new service area upon a request
for service by the majority of property owners within the proposed
service area. Typically,
requests for service are submitted to the Commission in the form of
a simple one-page petition. Q.
When will water service be available for my property? A.
That depends. If your property is located adjacent to the road where
a water main extension has been completed, water service will become
available as soon as a CPCN is granted and facilities are installed.
If your property is located in an area to which water mains
have not yet been extended, water will become available as soon as
water mains are extended to your area.
Tidewater will contact property owners within each phase of
the project to inform them of the current schedule and steps
required to receive service. Q.
If a
property owner requests to
be included in Tidewater’s Service
Territory,
are they required to receive public water when it becomes available? A.
No. There is no requirement or obligation on your part to receive
service. You can
continue using your existing well.
Or you can tie into Tidewater’s system to receive the
benefits of public water once it becomes available and you may
retain your existing well for irrigation and non-potable uses.
If, however your well fails after public water is within 200
ft. of your property, DNREC may refuse to issue a well permit to
drill a replacement well. Q.
Why
is it important to be in Tidewater’s Service
Territory? A.
Prior to delivery of water service to a property, a CPCN is
required. When Tidewater
extends service to your area, we will be able to offer service to
those properties located within our service territory.
If your property is not included within our service
territory, and you request service, we will be required to file for
a CPCN prior to the delivery of water service.
This will require a separate filing with the Delaware Public
Service Commission and a delay in the delivery of service to your
property. In
addition, if your property is ever developed, the property owner is
required to provide the County with information regarding the water
supply for the proposed community.
An Ability to Serve Letter from the water provider is
required as part of the application process.
The "Ability to Serve" Letter is based on information submitted
by the developer and confirms that the project is within the
provider’s service territory and that the provider has the
capacity to provide service and meet all regulatory
responsibilities, including fire protection. Although
Tidewater’s regional water systems are designed and constructed to
provide service to existing and future projects, it is possible that
rapid development in an area could limit supply availability to
future customers.
If that occurs, service requests for projects located within
Tidewater’s service territory will be assured service.
However, requests for service for projects located outside of
our service area may be declined. Q.
If
a property owner is
located in Tidewater Utilities, Inc.’s territory,
are they
obligated to
connect to the Tidewater system? A.
Having your property located within Tidewater’s service territory
does not obligate you to receive service and there is no financial
obligation on your part. You
may continue to farm the property, and you are able to continue
using existing wells. If
in the future you decide to develop the property and public water is
required, then Tidewater would be the water provider.
Any costs associated with the provision of water service to
the property would be the responsibility of the developer. Numerous
large property owners throughout the state have requested to be
included within one of Tidewater’s service areas.
Many have no current plans for development and are interested in
continuing with the agricultural use of their property. However,
they believe that a regional water system is the best use of
resources and have selected Tidewater as their future water
provider. We encourage you to do the same. |
A Service Territory Petition allows you to request that your property be included within Tidewater's service territory and will help to ensure that water and wastewater service to your property will be available. To have your property included in our next CPCN application, please sign the appropriate petition(s) and return them to us by fax at 302-734-9297.
If you have questions about obtaining service from Tidewater Utilities, Inc. please contact Kirsten Higgins at 1-800-523-7224. |
Home
Tidewater Utilities, Inc. Water Service Petition (pdf)| Home About Us Customer Service Developers/Landowners Water Quality Contract Operations Wastewater |
| Copyright © 2005 Tidewater Utilities, Inc. |