Water runs through our lives and sustains us in many ways, from the most basic physical functions of our bodies to our mental and psychological well-being. We depend on water. We need it to be clean and plentiful.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) deals with water as a central factor in our coastal life. We must manage water as stormwater. Healthy wetlands protect us and sustain our wildlife. And much of our outdoor recreation in based on water.
DNREC works to keep our waters clean and plentiful. It studies and finds ways to manage water as a functional part of the landscape, looking at individual watersheds and drainage areas. The agency works with homeowners, local governments and industry to avoid polluting surface water and ground water. It works to ensure clean and plentiful drinking water. And it provides grants and loans to support clean water planning and infrastructure projects.
Every bit of land is part of a watershed. A watershed is that area of land from which all waters drain to the same place (a stream, river, pond, estuary, ocean or other water body. There are 45 distinct watersheds in Delaware, in four larger drainage basins — the Piedmont, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Inland Bays basins. The Division of Watershed Stewardship oversees watershed assessment monitoring and management programs and develops integrated plans to ensure healthy watersheds and clean waters.
The Watershed Assessment Program
Surface Water Quality Standards
Delaware Watershed Assessment Reports
Watershed Plans and Strategies
The Division of Water monitors, manages and protects both surface water and ground water in Delaware. The Division includes an EPA- and FDA-certified environmental laboratory and oversees permitting and regulatory programs to manage the treatment and disposal of wastewater, both on the land and into surface waters.
The Residential Services Section
The Commercial and Government Services Section
The Wetlands and Waterways Section
Other parts of the Department offer resources and information to help clean our waters clean.
Surface Water Matching Planning Grants
Recreational Water Quality Testing
Septic System Rehabilitation Loans
Ideas for things that homeowners and the rest of us can do to keep the waters clean
For information about the over-all management of water resources in Delaware, contact the Division of Water: 302-739-9949
For information about watersheds and watershed management, contact the Watershed Assessment Section: 302-739-9939
For information about surface water pollution, contact the Surface Water Discharges Section: 302-739-9946
For information about septic systems and other ground water discharges, contact the Groundwater Discharges Section: 302-739-9948
For information about water supply and water allocation, contact the Water Supply Section: 302-739-9945
For information about funding for clean water projects, contact the Office of Environmental Finance: 302-739-9941
Watershed Assessment Section (7 DE Admin. Code 7400)
Groundwater Discharges Section (7 DE Admin. Code 7100)
Surface Water Discharges Section (7 DE Admin. Code 7200)
Water Supply Section (7 DE Admin. Code 7300)
Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands (7 DE Admin. Code 7500)
Related Topics: clean water, coast, ocean, topic
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