Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is seeking to expand the wastewater treatment facility at its Milton brewery and conduct renovations to improve the quality of its treated effluent.

In its application with Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Dogfish looks to increase the maximum amount of daily processed wastewater from 90,000 gallons per day to 142,000 gallons per day. According to the application, Dogfish will improve the effluent by installing new equipment, such as new bioreactors that remove solids and microorganisms from the raw wastewater and a storage tank for holding treated effluent before it is sprayed on fields. The brewery will also install new electrical equipment at the facility.

Dogfish uses spray irrigation of treated effluent at four different sites: two farms on Route 30 outside Milton, another farm 5.5 miles outside Milton on Route 16 and another on Sand Hill Road, 4 miles from Milton.

DNREC is currently taking questions regarding the application, and plans are available for inspection by appointment at DNREC’s Dover offices. A public hearing will not be held unless determined by DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin or if a written request is received by Sunday, March 29, and deemed to have merit. DNREC deems a public request to have merit if it shows a familiarity with the application and a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact.

How a public hearing would be conducted is still up in the air as public gatherings are cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. DNREC spokesman Michael Globetti said DNREC’s offices are still open, the department is trying to limit in-person interactions and beginning to conduct online meetings, although whether this hearing would be conducted virtually is still unknown.

Questions and requests to see the plans can be directed to Keith Kooker, DNREC Environment Finance, Enterprise Business Park, 97 Commerce Way, Suite 106, Dover, De.19904, or by phone at 302-739-9941.