Enough is enough, residents file lawsuit over DAF tank in Wicomico County

SALISBURY, Md. — A group of residents in Wicomico County said they’ve had enough of a 3-million-gallon dissolved air flotation (DAF) tank that has been causing environmental and quality of life issues in the area.

Lynette Kenney, a local resident, said the community has protested in every way possible but didn’t know what else to do. “Our effort now is to get that tank removed,” she said.

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano expressed support for the residents’ fight. “The approach that these people took with the lawsuit is the appropriate approach,” she said. “There wasn’t anything at the county level that we could do, but we will support whatever happens.”

Gary Mansell, another resident involved in the lawsuit, said he refuses to drink his well water due to concerns about the 2023 tank spill. “When this is at its peak, you can basically get rotten eggs, a dead animal, burnt flesh, ammonia,” he said. “Now, you tell me what that’s going to smell like.”

Kenney added that the odor is far worse than manure. “I once described it as hell cracked open. It’s putrid. It will curl your toes. It will make you sick to your stomach,” she said. “I know some of my neighbors have complained about headaches.”

The residents say the tank’s presence has not only impacted their health but has also reduced property values. The situation worsened in 2023 when the tank spilled tens of thousands of gallons of sludge.

Carol Dunahoo, president of the Wicomico Environmental Trust, said residents are concerned about potential contamination of their drinking water. “Several of the neighbors went in and had their water tested again immediately after that spill to provide baseline data,” Dunahoo said. “It takes time for materials to filter through the bedrock into the aquifer that supplies the wells.”

Mansell said the whole experience has been frustrating. “Once we found out about it, there was nothing we could do,” he said. “The county’s hands were tied. There was absolutely nothing and we fought for three years for the county to put a ban on putting any more of these up.”

Both Kenney and Mansell emphasized that it’s unfair for residents to live with the constant disruption. “It takes one change of direction in the wind and your day’s ruined,” Kenney said. “You’ve got to go inside, close your windows, and close your doors. That’s not fair. It’s not fair to anybody. But we have no choice. This is how we have to live.”