24/11/2025
Teal Construction Inc. was awarded ABC Delaware's Excellence in Construction Award for Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park Sanitary Sewer and Water Extension- Lewes, DE
Project Description: Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park Sanitary Sewer and Water Extension – Lewes, Delaware
The Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park Sanitary Sewer and Water Extension project in Lewes, Delaware, is a transformative infrastructure initiative aimed at improving public health, environmental sustainability, and quality of life for a low-income community. Fully funded through the Governor’s allocation of Clean Water Trust funds, the project was structured such that residents bear no financial burden for the new water and sewer systems. This funding approach reflects a strong commitment to equity, ensuring safe and modern utility services are accessible to all, regardless of income.
Project Scope and Components
The project involved a comprehensive, turnkey installation of public water and sanitary sewer systems throughout the Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park, serving over 120 mobile home units. Every home received a direct plumbing connection, eliminating the need for individual contractors or additional resident coordination.
Key infrastructure installed includes:
• 4,510 feet of 8” PVC sewer main and 21 manholes
• Over 10,000 feet of sewer lateral piping (4” and 6” PVC) with cleanouts and connections to each home
• 750 feet of 10” PVC water main along Donovans Road
• Over 5,200 feet of 8” and 4” PVC water mains within the Park
• 9,000 feet of 1” PE water service lines, each with corporation and curb stop valves to serve all homes
• 13 water system gate valves, 9 fire hydrants, and 2 bi-directional flowmeters for system monitoring
• Abandonment of 10 existing sewage holding tanks and 2 community water wells, per state regulations
• 84 feet of below-grade green stormwater drainage chambers
• 13,500 square yards of asphalt paving, including base, curbing, and striping
Construction Challenges and Solutions
The project required careful planning and ex*****on due to several site-specific complexities:
• Narrow Park roads necessitated precision in the placement of water and sewer mains to maintain safe separation and avoid damage to homes and infrastructure.
• Traffic control measures were implemented to minimize disruption for residents during construction.
• Well-pointing and dewatering techniques were employed to allow safe trench excavation.
• Maintaining continuous sewer service during the replacement of the failing septic system posed logistical challenges, requiring detailed mapping and avoidance of legacy systems.
Environmental and Community Benefits
Prior to the project, the Park relied on an outdated and failing septic and holding tank system, including 10 tanks that were pumped daily to prevent overflows due to a failed drain field. This unsustainable approach posed a serious threat to public health and the surrounding environment, including contamination risks to the local water supply.
With the completion of this project:
• Residents now have reliable access to clean drinking water and modern wastewater infrastructure.
• Risks of raw sewage spills and groundwater contamination have been eliminated.
• The project contributes to the protection and restoration of the Broadkill River Watershed, by reducing nutrient leaching (nitrogen, phosphorus) and bacteria, helping meet established TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) limits and furthering goals of the Broadkill River Watershed Implementation Plan (2009).
Social and Economic Impact
The Donovan Smith project delivers lasting social equity benefits by removing financial barriers to infrastructure access for a historically underserved community. Residents now live in a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment, with significant reductions in risk of illness from exposure to untreated sewage or contaminated water.
Additionally, the value of each mobile home has increased due to connection to the Lewes Board of Public Works (BPW)-managed water and sewer systems—providing long-term economic benefits and infrastructure stability for families living in the Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park.
Summary
This project exemplifies how public investment in essential infrastructure can generate broad environmental, social, and economic returns. The Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park Sanitary Sewer and Water Extension not only improved the quality of life for residents but also advanced statewide goals for water quality, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
