Executive Order Number One Hundred Three Declaring Drought Watch
WHEREAS, in recent months, the State of Delaware and surrounding areas have experienced an extended period of unusually low rainfall and dry conditions; and
WHEREAS, as a consequence of dry conditions within the State, many streams and water sources haven fallen substantially below their normal levels with larger rainfall deficits in Kent and Sussex Counties; and
WHEREAS, recently implemented water supply projects and conservation measures adopted after the droughts of 1999 and 2002 have substantially improved Northern New Castle County’s water supply and are working as designed given current demands and low rainfall conditions in the region; and
WHEREAS, the absence of rainfall during this past summer and the lack of rainfall forecasted for the foreseeable future call for increasing public awareness of the need for the adoption of voluntary water conservation measures; and
WHEREAS, the Water Supply Coordinating Council has recommended that I issue a drought watch pursuant to 20 Del. C. § 3116(a)(5), in order to effectuate a drought watch and implement voluntary conservation measures; and
WHEREAS, such measures are necessary to avoid or mitigate the adverse impact of continued drought that may require that a drought warning be declared; and
WHEREAS, the current dry conditions experienced in Delaware are adversely affecting fresh water supplies; and
WHEREAS, instream water needs to protect fish and wildlife and to maintain water quality standards must also be addressed; and
WHEREAS, a high degree of cooperation among various water users of Delaware will be necessary throughout the period of drought and such cooperation can best be implemented with input from persons regulating and/or representing such interests; and
WHEREAS, the Water Supply Coordinating Council has established a phased approach in implementing the State’s drought operating plan and will be closely monitoring Delaware’s water supply situation in the coming months and updating the Governor and public with additional advice and recommendations,
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 as follows:
1. This Executive Order shall constitute a drought watch for the State of Delaware, pursuant to 20 Del. C. § 3116(a)(5).
2. All citizens of the State are urged to voluntarily limit their use of water as follows:
a. Lawn and Turf Watering (including residential, commercial, institutional, and government uses).
(i) Use of potable water for lawns and turf should be minimized and performed in a conservative manner.
b. Landscape Plant Watering (including residential, commercial, institutional, and government uses).
(i) Use of potable water for outdoor landscape plants (including groundcover, flowers, shrubs, and trees) should be minimized and performed in a conservative manner.
c. Golf Courses and Athletic Fields.
(i) Use of potable water for turf and landscape plants should be
minimized.
(ii) All outdoor watering should be performed by efficient means in a conservative manner.
(iii) A facility-specific drought management plan should be developed or updated in preparation for a drought emergency.
(iv) Where a source of non-potable water exists at the location of use it should be used in lieu of potable water, in a conservative manner.
d. Miscellaneous Uses.
(i) Water should be served in public establishments only at the customer’s request.
Citizens of the State are further urged to voluntarily conserve water through other measures including repairing leaky water fixtures, flushing toilets only when necessary, minimizing splashing from pools, avoiding evaporation by covering pools when not in use, and installing shower flow restrictors, toilet tank dams and faucet aerators.
3) Delaware water suppliers are encouraged to consider the adoption and implementation of other water conservation measures as may be practicable.
4) The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control shall implement the drought watch directives set forth in the drought operating plan.
5) The Water Supply Coordinating Council shall consult with municipalities, water suppliers and other public and private agencies and organizations, in carrying out the above-described activities.
Approved: October, 2007.
