Delaware packs an extraordinary concentration of chemical manufacturing, agricultural production, and coastal regulatory complexity into the second-smallest state in the country. The DuPont legacy — now continued through Chemours and a network of legacy contamination sites, active chemical manufacturing facilities, and brownfield remediation projects — makes Delaware one of the most chemically intensive states per square mile in the US. The Delmarva Peninsula’s poultry density is among the highest in the country. And DNREC’s coastal zone regulations add a compliance layer to any containment project near Delaware’s tidal waters. International Cover Systems (ICS) brings geomembrane liner installation expertise and CQA documentation practices to Delaware projects spanning chemical secondary containment, agricultural lagoon installation, and remediation containment under DNREC oversight.
Chemical Manufacturing Secondary Containment — DuPont Legacy and Active Facilities
Delaware’s chemical industry heritage — DuPont’s global headquarters in Wilmington and its massive Chambers Works facility in Deepwater — has defined the state’s industrial footprint for more than a century. Current operations by Chemours at Chambers Works, along with active specialty chemical manufacturers in New Castle County, require SPCC-compliant secondary containment systems for aboveground storage tanks and process areas handling materials with significant groundwater contamination potential. DNREC’s coastal zone regulations under the Delaware Coastal Zone Act impose additional permitting requirements for secondary containment projects at coastal industrial facilities, requiring containment system designs that address tidal influence and coastal groundwater conditions. ICS installs HDPE, LLDPE, and XR-5 liner systems appropriate for the full range of chemical profiles encountered at Delaware chemical manufacturing facilities, with the weld testing and CQA documentation that SPCC Plan engineers and DNREC reviewers require.
Legacy contamination from DuPont and Hercules manufacturing — particularly PFAS contamination from Chemours’s Fayetteville Works predecessor operations and PFAS groundwater plumes reaching the Christina River watershed — has generated active PFAS remediation containment projects under DNREC oversight.
Delmarva Poultry Lagoon Liners and Coastal Stormwater Management
Delaware’s portion of the Delmarva Peninsula supports one of the densest concentrations of broiler chicken production in the United States. Sussex County alone is among the top poultry-producing counties in the country. Agricultural lagoon liner systems for poultry waste storage — subject to DNREC water quality regulations and Nutrient Management Commission requirements — are a consistent project type across central and southern Delaware. Agricultural liner systems for poultry waste lagoons must be properly designed and installed to prevent leachate from reaching the shallow, sandy aquifer that underlies much of Sussex County and serves as the primary drinking water source for much of rural Delaware. ICS installs HDPE and RPP liner systems for poultry waste storage structures in coordination with nutrient management consultants and DNREC permit requirements.
Geomembrane Liner Services in Delaware
- HDPE, LLDPE, PVC, XR-5, RPP, and Dura-Skrim geomembrane liner supply and installation
- Chemical manufacturing secondary containment — SPCC and DNREC Coastal Zone Act compliant
- PFAS remediation containment — Chemours/legacy DuPont site applications
- Poultry and agricultural lagoon liner installation and replacement — Sussex County and statewide
- Brownfield remediation containment under DNREC oversight
- Coastal stormwater management — DNREC tidal area compliant
- Municipal landfill liner and cap systems
- Hot wedge and extrusion welding with destructive and non-destructive testing
- CQA documentation, ASTM testing, GRI standard compliance
- Custom fabrication and AutoCAD design assistance
- Liner inspection and repair for existing installations
Areas Served in Delaware
ICS serves project sites throughout Delaware including Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Milford, Seaford, Georgetown, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Smyrna, and industrial, agricultural, and municipal sites across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties.
Frequently Asked Questions — Delaware Geomembrane Liner Installation
What liner materials are appropriate for PFAS-impacted secondary containment at Delaware chemical manufacturing facilities?
HDPE and XR-5 are the most commonly specified liner materials for PFAS-impacted containment applications. HDPE’s chemical resistance profile is well-documented for PFAS containment at appropriate thickness (typically 60-mil minimum for primary containment applications). XR-5 provides superior flexibility and puncture resistance for irregular geometry containment areas. Material selection is coordinated with the project’s environmental consultant and DNREC permit conditions. ICS provides material certifications and installation documentation appropriate for DNREC remediation file requirements.
How does Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act affect secondary containment projects at chemical facilities near tidal areas?
The Delaware Coastal Zone Act restricts new heavy industrial development in coastal zones and requires DNREC permits for modifications at existing coastal industrial facilities. Secondary containment system installation or upgrade at a Coastal Zone Act-covered facility may require a DNREC Coastal Zone permit, with documentation of containment system design, materials, and installation quality. ICS coordinates with project engineers on containment designs that satisfy Coastal Zone Act permit conditions, including considerations for tidal groundwater influence on liner subgrade conditions.
Does ICS install agricultural lagoon liner systems for Sussex County poultry operations?
Yes. Poultry waste storage lagoon liner installation and replacement in Sussex County is within ICS’s established agricultural liner service capability. Liner systems for poultry waste storage must prevent leachate from reaching the shallow coastal plain aquifer underlying Sussex County. ICS installs HDPE and RPP liner systems in coordination with nutrient management consultants and DNREC water quality permit conditions. Material documentation and installation records are provided for DNREC compliance files.
What are DNREC’s liner system requirements for brownfield remediation containment in Delaware?
DNREC’s Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act (HSCA) program governs remediation of contaminated sites in Delaware. Engineered barriers — including geomembrane liner systems — used as part of a HSCA remediation plan must meet material and installation standards specified by the project’s Licensed Site Professional (LSP) and approved by DNREC. ICS provides CQA documentation and installation records appropriate for DNREC HSCA program submissions.
How quickly can ICS mobilize to Delaware project sites from Maryland?
Delaware is one of ICS’s closest service states from its Middle River, Maryland headquarters. Northern Delaware (Wilmington and New Castle County) is accessible within approximately one hour. Sussex County project sites are reachable within two to three hours. This proximity enables efficient mobilization and the ability to respond quickly to time-sensitive containment or remediation projects. Contact ICS at 667-290-4153 to discuss project scheduling.