Mandate | Meetings and Reporting | Delaware Water Issues, Legislation, and Plans
Kent and Sussex Water Supply Report
Mandate
In response to the drought of 1999, Governor Thomas Carper appointed a Water Supply Task Force that endorsed a report on December 2, 1999 and recommended a series of options to develop an additional one billion gallons of reserve water supplies in northern New Castle County by 2003. The report also recommended appointing a Temporary State Water Coordinator (Water Master) and a Water Supply Coordinating Council consisting of public agencies, water purveyors, and the public to work cooperatively to implement the selected water supply options. The mandate of the WSCC is to work cooperatively to achieve water-supply self-sufficiency in northern New Castle County (eliminate dependence on out-of-state supplies) by 2010 and develop water supply plans for southern New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County.
In July 2000, Governor Carper signed HB 549 that formed the Water Supply Coordinating Council and designated the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) as Chair, Delaware Geological Survey as technical advisor, and University of Delaware Water Resources Agency as “Temporary Water Coordinator”. The WSCC is created and empowered by 26 Del. C. Sections 1305 through 1308 and further empowered by 26 Del. C. Chapter 14. In August 2003, Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed HB 203, which reauthorized the Delaware Water Supply Coordinating Council (WSCC) to January 1, 2010, expanded it to include statewide representation, and appointed the Delaware Geological Survey and the University of Delaware Water Resources Agency (WRA) as voting members. In July 2014, Governor Markell signed amendments passed by the 147th General Assembly that extended the duties and responsibilities of the WSCC from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2022. By law, the Council shall have the following members:
a. The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control or Secretary’s designee (Chair)
b. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture or the Secretary’s designee
c. The Executive Director of the Public Service Commission or the Executive Director’s designee
d. The Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency or the Director’s designee
e. The Director of the Division of Public Health or the Director’s designee
f. The Public Advocate or the Public Advocate’s designee
g. The Director of the Delaware Geological Survey or the Director’s designee
h. The Director of the Water Resources Agency at the University of Delaware or the Director’s designee
i. The Executive Director of the Delaware River Basin Commission or the Executive Director’s designee
j. A representative of the office of the Governor
k. A representative of each of the governments of New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County
l. A representative of each public and private water utility serving New Castle County
m. A representative of public water supply utilities from the Sussex County Association of Towns
n. A representative of public water supply utilities of Kent County from the League of Local Governments
o. A representative from the Delaware Rural Water Association
p. A representative from the Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies
q. One representative from Chambers of Commerce in New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County
r. A representative of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
s. A representative of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
t. A representative of the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association
u. A representative of the Delaware Grounds Management Association
v. A representative of the Delaware State Golf Association
w. A representative of the Delaware Nature Society
x. A representative from the Delaware Farm Bureau
y. A representative from the Center for Inland Bays
z. The State Fire Marshal or the State Fire Marshal’s designee
aa. A representative from the Civic League of New Castle County
bb. A representative from the Coalition of Natural Stream Valleys
cc. The State Climatologist or State Climatologist’s designee.
Gerald J. Kauffman, Ph.D., P.E.
Director
University of Delaware
Water Resources Center
“Temporary Water Coordinator” for the State of Delaware
Section 1306(c) of the WSCC law states that: “The principal duty of the Council shall be to work cooperatively with WRA, DGS, DNREC, and DPH to achieve water supply self sufficiency in northern New Castle County by 2010, and to develop and publish water supply plans for southern New Castle County, Kent County and Sussex County. These plans shall identify and describe uses, localities or areas where water supply issues exist and identify and describe localities or areas where future water supply issues may occur. These areas and uses should include, but not be limited to Middletown-Odessa-Townsend, Dover and central Kent County, Coastal Sussex County and agricultural irrigation uses. These plans shall contain an estimate of existing and future public and private water supplies and water demands through 2025. Private demands shall take into account, to the maximum extent practicable, all domestic, industrial, and irrigation uses.”
Kauffman named state’s first Water Coordinator, Newark Post (March 10, 2000)
Carper appoints coordinator, council to work on water supply, News Journal (February 2, 2000)