MILTON, DE -- (Marketwire) -- 08/24/10 -- Delaware Governor Jack Markell visited Tidewater Utilities' wastewater treatment and collection facility in Milton, DE yesterday to tour the newly upgraded facility and to recognize the Town of Milton and Tidewater for working together to achieve a sustainable wastewater solution for the residents of Milton.
Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. acquired the 50-year old plant from the Town of Milton in 2007 and has invested more than $700,000 to upgrade the facility to maintain compliance with federal and state regulatory standards. The tour marked the three-year anniversary of the acquisition.
"The partnership between the Town of Milton and Tidewater represents one of the great things about Delaware -- government and the private sector working together to find solutions," said Governor Markell. "Their collaboration has helped protect our environment and quality of life, while also contributing to economic development."
The Governor, accompanied by Alan Levin, Director of Economic Development for the State of Delaware, DE Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Colin O'Mara, DE Public Service Commission Chair Arnetta McCrae and fellow Commissioner Joann Conaway, County Councilwoman Joan Deaver, Milton Mayor Cliff Newlands, members of the Milton Council and other regulatory and local officials toured the facility, and reviewed the sedimentation, clarification and disinfection processes associated in the treatment of wastewater before its return to the environment. After the tour, Governor Markell recognized representatives from DNREC and thanked the Council members present for their commitment to the town. He then presented a tribute to Mayor Newlands, Gerard Esposito, President of Tidewater Utilities and Dennis Doll, Chairman, President and CEO of Tidewater's parent company, Middlesex Water Company.
"Quality water and wastewater services are essential to the growth of Milton and the economic development of the state," said Tidewater President Gerard Esposito. "We were delighted to host the Governor and other officials at our Milton Plant to demonstrate firsthand the dedication of our company to the operational excellence of this plant and to residents of the town of Milton," added Esposito.
ABOUT TIDEWATER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI) owns and operates six wastewater treatment systems in Southern Delaware. Tidewater provides wastewater services to approximately 1,900 residential retail homes and businesses in Delaware. TESI's water utility affiliate, Tidewater Utilities, provides water services to approximately 33,200 retail customers for domestic, commercial and fire protection purposes in over 300 separate community water systems in Delaware. These companies are subsidiaries of the parent company, Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX), a leading provider of water service for over a century.
Contact:
Bernadette Sohler
Vice President - Corporate Affairs
Middlesex Water Company
1500 Ronson Road
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
(732) 638-7549
www.middlesexwater.com