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DELAWARE’S DRINKING WATER

DELAWARE’S DRINKING WATER. Preface. This is NOT intended to be a complete analysis of Delaware’s water, waterways or its regulations. This IS intended to give you some basic information; foster further interest in our region’s water and waterways;

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DELAWARE’S DRINKING WATER

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  1. DELAWARE’S DRINKING WATER

  2. Preface • This is NOT intended to be a complete analysis of Delaware’s water, waterways or its regulations. • This IS intended to • give you some basic information; • foster further interest in our region’s water and waterways; • get you involved in protecting our water!

  3. Did You Know…..? • “Water will be the “blue-gold” of the 21st century” -- The United Nations • “Water is arguably Delaware’s most precious natural resource”-- Water Resources Agency • Gerald Kauffman, State Water Coordinator, Water Resources Agency

  4. streams- 75% and wells- 25% New Castle County’s Drinking Water Comes From:

  5. New Castle County’s Drinking Water Specifically Comes From: Watersheds in the Christina River Basin

  6. What is a Watershed? • A watershed is the land area that drains water to a stream, river, or lake. • Watersheds come in many shapes and sizes. • Larger watersheds are composed of many smaller watersheds.

  7. 75% of New Castle County’s Drinking Water Comes From: • Brandywine Creek • Red Clay Creek • White Clay Creek • Christina River • Each of the above is a major watershed in the Christina River Basin.

  8. The Brandywine, Red Clay and White Clay Creek Watersheds all empty into the Christina River. The Christina River empties into the Delaware River-- in Wilmington. Christina River Basin

  9. Delaware City of Wilmington City of Newark United Water Delaware Artesian Water Pennsylvania: Coatesville, Downingtown, Kennett Square, Avondale/WestGrove, Philadelphia Suburban Christina Water BasinProvides water for these suppliers:

  10. Brandywine Creek City of Wilmington Red Clay Creek United Water Delaware White Clay Creek United Water Delaware City of Newark Christina River United Water Delaware Specific Surface Waters thatProvide Drinking Water:

  11. Ground Water Provides Drinking Water for: • Artesian Water Company • Individual wells

  12. So….From What Water Source Does Your Water Come?

  13. What the EPA Says About Drinking Water Contaminants:

  14. What is the Quality of Water in The Christina Basin?Streams in the Christina Basin contain: • 1. Excessive nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, that depress dissolved oxygen levels and disturb the “fishable”quality of the waters. Phosphorus has remained the same over the years, but nitrogen levels are increasing. Nitrogen is from fertilizers and manure.

  15. What is the Quality of Water in The Christina Basin?Streams in the Christina Basin contain: • 2. Elevated toxics (zinc) levels from superfund and hazardous waste sites along the Red Clay and White Clay Creeks in Kennett Square, PA and Yorklyn, DE. Zinc levels have remained the same over the years in both creeks. Both states are involved in the clean up program.

  16. What is the Quality of Water in The Christina Basin?Streams in the Christina Basin contain: • 3. Higher than desired bacteria levels which negatively affect the “swimmable” quality of the streams. Note: coliform counts have actually decreased along Brandywine at Chadds Ford, PA due to improved wastewater technology, agriculture conservation programs, and better septic systems.

  17. What is the Quality of Water in The Christina Basin?Streams in the Christina Basin contain: • 4. High sediment loads which carry topsoil into turbid streams. Sediment loads have decreased slightly over the last several years.

  18. What is the Quality of Water in The Christina Basin?Streams in the Christina Basin contain: • 5. Health warnings against the consumption of fish from the urban waterways due to high levels of PCB’s-- occur in 82 streams. In the Brandywine Creek, the pesticide chlordane (which has been banned) is the cause of the fish advisories.

  19. What is the Quality of Water in The Christina Basin?Streams in the Christina Basin contain: • 6. Degraded stream habitat due to upstream development and stormwater runoff in the watershed. This situation has worsened over the years.

  20. What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? • Wastewater Discharges- these have declinedby 70% from 1977 to 1999 due to regional wastewater plans that were implemented. • However, even in 2004 wastewater STILL continues to be discharged into our streams and rivers! (See next four slides)

  21. The News Journal, 8/9/ 2002:Wilmington’s sewer system routinely dumps raw sewage during rains into the Christina & Brandywine Rivers, Shellpot Creek, Little Mill and Silverbrook. New holding tanks are designed to capture 60 million of the 76 million gallons that overflow from 2 of the 38 pipes each year! Not all of it! What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? (Wastewater discharges)

  22. What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? (Wastewater discharges)

  23. What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? (Wastewater discharges) • The News Journal, Aug. 9, 2002 • The remaining 16 million gallons of overflow will continue to discharge into Silverbrook Run and Little Mill Creek after the project is complete. • “A survey of the empty creek last week illustrated how just about anything that goes into toilets or storm drains on city streets winds up in the waterways near the overflow pipes….Toilet paper was entwined in sticks and on rocks, condoms and tampons were on the creek bed, along with cans and bottles,…..” • Question: Where are the other 36overflow pipes????

  24. Could there be overflow pipes here??? What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? (Wastewater discharges)

  25. What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? • Dissolved Oxygen- These levels have increased since 1990 along the Brandywine, due to wastewater treatment standards imposed. High dissolved oxygen levels are necessary for the preservation of fauna (animals) species in streams and rivers.

  26. What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? • Impervious Cover- (the amount of buildings and pavement in the watershed) has increased from 9% in 1975 to 16% in 1995. Impervous cover that surpasses 10-15% is expected to have negative effects on stream habitat, wetlands, water quality, and trout streams. • However, NCC zoning regulations allow developers 20% impervious cover!

  27. What Other Factors Are Important to the Christina Watershed? • Open Space- Both Pennsylvania and Delaware have recently acquired large amounts of public open space which provide multi-objective watershed protection benefits. • However, some zoning laws have allowed uncontrolled growth with few “green areas”.

  28. Effects of Increasing Population: • Increase in impervious cover, due to increased building and development. • Decrease in open space due to building and development. • Increase in water demand • Increase in wastewater

  29. Water Demand for NCC • In 1990 the population of NCC was 441,930 and the water demand was 66 mgd (million gallons per day) • In 2000 the population of NCC was 500,930 and the water demand was 75 mgd. • Gerald Kauffman, State Water Coordinator, Water Resources Agency

  30. Water Demand for NCC • Water demands in 2001 were • 68 million gallons/day normally • 90 million gallons/day at peak times • Gerald Kauffman, State Water Coordinator, Water Resources Agency

  31. Water Demand for NCC • Technical studies forecast a 17 mgd deficit in water supplies in northern Delaware by the year 2020. • Gerald Kauffman, State Water Coordinator, Water Resources Agency • Some people predict the shortage will come sooner.

  32. Climate • Because Northern Delaware utilizes surface streams for such a large percentage of consumable water, theclimate of the region is a very important factor in the issue of water availability.

  33. Delaware’s hydrologic budget • Delaware gets 44 inches of precipitation a year • 26 inches is lost to evapotranspiration • 4 inches is lost to direct runoff- eventually it ends up in the groundwater • 14 inches left to seep into groundwater

  34. Climate • Extreme variability of precipitation in the Delmarva area is a significant source of drought problems. • Temperatures vary also, but to a much lesser degree.

  35. Drought- Type 1 • Soil Moisturedrought • short period of time (days or weeks) • decrease in precipitation is often accompanied by an increase in evapotranspiration • primarily affects agriculture and lawns • usually occurs during the summer months

  36. Drought- Type 2 • Hydrologic drought (1999) (2002) • longer in time span (months) • long-term lack of precipitation • lowered streamflows • lowered well levels • lowered reservoir levels • affects human usage, water supplies and aquatic communities

  37. Why is Delaware Susceptible to Drought? • Increasing population (known as sprawl) • Limited water supply

  38. United Water Delaware began tapping Hoopes Reservoir to protect its own dwindling supplies. Hoopes Reservoir is the state’s only large reservoir-- 1.8 billion gallons The News Journal, August 2, 2002, pg.1 Drought- August 2, 2002

  39. Drought- August 2, 2002 • Low freshwater supplies in White Clay Creek allowed salty water to surge inland from the Delaware River. • Salt levels reached 236 ppm at United Water’s intake, prompting United to seek water from Hoopes Reservoir. • 250 ppm is the level detectable by most consumers and used as Delaware’s drinking water limit. • The News Journal, August 2, 2002, pg.A8

  40. Drought- August 2, 2002The News Journal, Friday, August 2, 2002

  41. Drought- August 2, 2002 • Rainfall levels at New Castle County airport were 15 inches, or 33% short of normal over the past 13 months. • Similar conditions were in southern Delaware, which is almost totally dependent on groundwater. However, well levels remained adequate, but farms suffered. • The News Journal, August 2, 2002, pg.A8

  42. Drought- August 2, 2002 • Consumption surged to above-average levels in northern Delaware despite a March 5th call for a 10% reduction. • Mature neighborhoods were conserving • New neighborhoods were watering newly planted grass • The News Journal, August 2, 2002, pg.A8

  43. Drought- August 2, 2002 • City of Wilmington still taking water from depleted Brandywine Creek-- which is now 1/5 its long-term average depth. • City of Wilmington has rights to all water in the Brandywine. • City is allowed to draw creek water until muddiness or contamination forces use of Hoopes Reservoir. • The News Journal, August 2, 2002, pg.A8

  44. Drought- August 2, 2002 • Artesian Water Co. says groundwater supplies are more than adequate to meet customer needs. • Artesian is Delaware’s largest private water supplier. • The News Journal, August 2, 2002, pg.A8

  45. Drought- August 3, 2002 • Water Emergency Declared for DE! • Mandatory water restrictions on areas north of the canal. • Drought warning for areas south of the canal. • The News Journal, August 3, 2002, pg.A1

  46. Drought- August 3, 2002 • Reasons cited for drought: • unprecedented dry spell- below normal rainfall since 1997 • low creek levels- at or near all-time record lows • grim forecasts- expect drought to continue or deepen over next few weeks • increased water use- rose to 80 mgd from the normal 75 mgd • The News Journal, August 3, 2002

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