October 22, 2007

Delaware wants Residents to cut down water use

Governor Ruth Ann Minner
 

DOVER, Del. - Delaware is asking residents to voluntarily cut down the amount of water they're using.

On Saturday, Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed an executive order declaring a statewide drought. The order is in response to low rainfall amounts this past summer which caused extremely dry soil conditions especially in Kent and Sussex counties.

The soil conditions and resulting crop losses also prompted the Governor to request a drought disaster designation for Delaware that was granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The voluntary water conservation was recommended by the Delaware Water Supply Coordinating Council last Thursday.

"I'm asking Delawareans to use wise water conservation habits, not only during this dry period, but year-round," Gov. Minner said. "We're fortunate that our reserve water supplies in northern New Castle County are adequate during this dry period due to the diligence of our water supply committee and its response to the droughts of 1999 and 2002."

Water conditions reported at the Oct. 18 meeting include a 5-month rainfall deficit of 6 inches at the Wilmington Airport, 9.5 inches in Dover, and 10.3 inches in Georgetown. Stream flows and ground-water levels across the state are in sharp decline at a time when they should have started to increase seasonally. The Nanticoke Basin is particularly stressed with a 12-inch rainfall deficit over the last five months as recorded at Greenwood.

The amount of rainfall forecasted for this week and next week, if it occurs, is expected to stabilize the decline in stream flows, but not significantly make up for the decline in rainfall experienced during the last six months.

The council will meet again later this year to consider the status of the state's stream flows, groundwater levels and water supply and make any additional recommendations to the Governor.