Lawmakers have filed legislation aimed at cleaning up Delaware’s waterways by supporting efforts to control flooding, improving water quality and ensuring that they are vibrant, healthy and safe.
Delaware’s economic vitality and overall health are contingent on strong water resources, with watersheds supporting more than 70,000 jobs and contributing up to nearly $7 billion to Delaware’s regional economy. However, our state is plagued by poor water quality, stormwater management issues and a backlog of fragmented infrastructure projects, threatening the quality of life of our residents and state.
House Bill 200, sponsored by Rep. Valerie Longhurst, would work to close the gaps in critical projects, placing an emphasis on stormwater and flood management, and adding testing components so water can be screened for unsafe chemicals.
“Frankly, I’m concerned with the fact that Delawareans have been exposed to dangerous drinking water. I’m worried that residents can’t use our recreational waterways due to contamination and pollution. It’s horrifying to see that some roads are simply impassable in intense weather events due to faulty flood management. Is this the reality we want for the First State?” said Rep. Longhurst, D-Bear.
“It’s time to be bold, and lay the foundation so future generations do not face these detrimental ramifications. As one of the nation’s lowest-lying states, Delaware needs to act today and put the necessary funding into water infrastructure.”
A deep dive into Delaware’s water issues showed how the need for a clean water plan is paramount. Wastewater infrastructure supports more than 85 percent of Delaware’s population, but constantly feels the strain of aging equipment and population growth.
Meanwhile, federal funding for water infrastructure has been cut by 75 percent since the 1980s, and Delaware has more than $700 million in projects, from Wilmington to Selbyville, that need to be funded over the next five years.