The irrigation field consists of 38 acres, which is planted in corn during the summer months and rye during the winter months. In 1999, the facility began spray irrigation on an adjacent 16.67-acre section of loblolly pine trees. This has increased the flexibility of the system, allowing irrigation during crop planting and harvesting. The system uses naturally occurring microorganisms to purify wastewater in a series of lagoons. The reclaimed water is then recycled onto cropland.
Soil provides final filtration and crops uptake the remaining nutrients.
The renovated water returning to ground water exceeds EPA drinking water standards. Through this natural recycling process, nutrient laden wastewater is productively used on farmland instead of flowing to Delaware s environmentally fragile inland bays and waterways.