ELLENDALE — The Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) application for Sussex County to provide water to the Ellendale Water District on Tuesday, the agency said.



After three failed attempts, Ellendale residents successfully passed the referendum to create the water district on Sept. 15, 2018, according to the PSC. About 100 residences along North and South Old State Road will utilize the county-backed central water system.



The PSC says Ellendale has had sewer service through a unified sewer district for years, but efforts to bring public water to the small town south of Milford until now have failed. Residents and members of the Ellendale Civic Association have been advocating for public water for decades due to poor quality of drinking water, the PSC claimed.



Sussex County submitted the application for CPCN on May 24 and it was unanimously approved by the Commissioners this week.



“This has been a long time coming and I want to congratulate the Town of Ellendale and all those involved for a job well done” PSC chairman Dallas Winslow said in a statement.



The project is expected to be funded through a loan from the State of Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, Rural Development USDA and any other available resources for which this project is eligible.



Billing services will be provided by Sussex County and the average annual household cost will be approximately $430.