'Refrain from flushing': Wastewater plants in Sussex lose power
‘Refrain from flushing’: Wastewater plants in Sussex lose power
Snowy sights around Wilmington as the blizzard begins
Views from around downtown Wilmington as the snow begins to fall and Delaware braces for the expected blizzard, Feb. 22, 2026.
Residents in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes are being asked to limit water use and not flush their toilets as wastewater treatment plants were without full power the morning of Feb. 23.
According to an email from the Lewes Board of Public Works and a social media post from the city of Rehoboth Beach, power outages are affecting the towns’ wastewater treatment plants.
“We ask that you refrain from flushing toilets and limit water use until further notice to help prevent system issues,” an 8 a.m. Facebook post by Rehoboth Beach said.
Similarly, an email from the Lewes Board of Public Works asked residents to “please refrain from flushing toilets and limit water use until further notice.”
Several Facebook users questioned whether Rehoboth Beach had any backup generators, especially “for important infrastructure like a wastewater facility.”
POWER OUTAGES IN DELAWARE: Blizzard leaves nearly 90,000 without power in Delaware. See outage map
Just before noon, the city addressed the comments in an email, saying its wastewater facility does have backup power systems and generators were running.
“The plant has maintained power through its backup systems, and crews continue actively managing operations during the outage,” the email said. “Temporary conservation measures are simply a precaution while conditions stabilize across the city. There is currently no risk to infrastructure or the environment.”
Power outages widespread across Delaware
Nearly 90,000 customers were without power in Delaware on the morning of Feb. 23.
As of 8:45 a.m., more than 33,000 customers in the Delmarva area were without power, according to Delmarva Power. The company serves as the primary electric utility for most of Delaware but also services customers in Maryland and Virginia.
According to Delaware Electric Cooperative, which serves Kent and Sussex counties, about 55,000 customers were without power as of 11 a.m.
How to report a Delmarva Power outage:
Delmarva Power offers several ways to report outages:
- Online at delmarva.com/storm
- Delmarva Power’s app
- Texting to 67972
- Calling 1-800-898-8042
How to report a Delaware Electric Cooperative outage:
Call 855-332-9090 and report the outage through its automated system.
A message will play to stay on the line to report an outage. After the message has played, press 1. Customers can report the outage with the phone number listed on the account or your account number.
The account number can found on the bill.
Reports can also be made online at delaware.coop/outage-center/report-outage.
Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com.