Executive Order No. 33 Amending Executive Order No. 32 Concerning Mandatory Water Conservation Measures
WHEREAS, on August 2, 2002, I issued Executive Order No. 32, declaring a state of emergency in northern New Castle County arising from drought conditions there existing, as more fully described in Executive Order No. 32; and
WHEREAS, the drought conditions described in Executive Order No. 32 have persisted, warranting further mandatory water conservation measures to address the existing state of emergency in northern New Castle County; and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s Drought Advisory Committee has proposed that I amend and expand upon certain of the mandatory water conservation measures ordered under Executive Order No. 32,
NOW THEREFORE, I, RUTH ANN MINNER, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby declare and order on this Fifteenth day of August, 2002 as follows:
1. Executive Order No. 32 is amended as follows:
a. Paragraph 9 of Executive Order No. 32 shall be and is stricken in its entirety, and replaced with a new paragraph 9 to provide as follows:
“9. The use of fresh water for non-commercial washing and cleaning of vehicles, except emergency vehicles, is prohibited.”
b. Paragraph 10 of Executive Order No. 32 shall be and is stricken in its entirety, and replaced with a new paragraph 10 to provide as follows:
“10. The use of water from hydrants and the use of fresh water for flushing water mains and sewer mains is prohibited, except as deemed necessary by and performed by authorized personnel for the protection of public health and safety.”
2. In addition to the mandatory water conservation measures adopted and ordered by Executive Order No. 32, the following additional mandatory water conservation measures are hereby adopted and ordered in northern New Castle County, effective August 15, 2002, 12:00 p.m.:
a. The use of water for filling of swimming pools, except those used for therapeutic purposes, is prohibited unless necessary to prevent structural damage to newly constructed swimming pools. Topping off of swimming pools is permitted to the minimum extent necessary to permit proper operation of filter systems.
b. Industrial users in northern New Castle County that are either self-supplied, water customers of municipal or private water utilities, or both, shall implement water shortage contingency plans to achieve the maximum possible water-use efficiency and elimination of all non-essential and wasteful water use. Those industrial users which are both self-supplied and water customers of municipal or private utilities shall also investigate and implement to the maximum extent practicable the use of self-supplied water in lieu of publicly-supplied water.
c. Water allocation permit holders who are providing or who hereafter commit to provide potable water to municipal or private water utilities in northern New Castle County shall, on a case by case basis, have said permit limits suspended for the purpose of maximizing public water supply, upon written request to and written approval from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), and such suspensions shall remain in effect until further Order of the Governor or of the Secretary or Acting Secretary of DNREC.
3. The Delaware Emergency Management Agency shall coordinate with DNREC, Water Resources Agency, Delaware Geological Survey, the water utilities of northern New Castle County, and other appropriate agencies as may be necessary, to prioritize and develop implementation plans for contingency water supply sources. This task shall be undertaken as soon as practicable after approval of this Order.
4. All citizens of Delaware are urged to continue to follow the conservation practices set forth in this Order and Executive Order No. 32 in order to avoid shortages similar to those being experienced in northern New Castle County.
5. Except as otherwise provided expressly herein, the provisions of Executive Order No. 32 remain effective in their entirety.
