Every year, Drinking Water Week is held in May. Its purpose is to highlight the value of water and recognize the water professionals who make sure that source waters and drinking water are clean and there when we need it.
Did you know that while water covers nearly three-fourths of the Earth’s surface, only about 0.5% of it is available to drink? On behalf of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), I want to thank everyone working in the water sector for their dedication and service.
Here at DRBC we think about water every day, yet past year has put into focus that equitable access to clean water is essential, no matter where you live. In short, we are all forever reminded that water is life.
In the Delaware River Basin, the water resources have been managed, protected and improved by the DRBC for nearly 60 years. (In fact, our 60th anniversary is this October.) The DRBC brings together the four states of the basin — Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York — and the federal government to cooperatively manage the waters of the Delaware River Basin across political boundaries, understanding that water in the river and its tributaries knows no borders. It is a collaboration that has proven successful, today providing clean, sustainable water to more than 13 million people, including 75% of all Delawareans. The DRBC plays a vital role in protecting the source water used for public water supply.
In Delaware, about 60% of the population gets its water from the Brandywine Watershed, which begins across state lines in Pennsylvania. The Delaware River Basin Compact, which formed the DRBC, states that interstate waters — like the Brandywine — be managed under the doctrine of equitable apportionment. As such, DRBC approvals have included a flow objective at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, to ensure the Brandywine supports both the water needs of Pennsylvania communities and those in Delaware, specifically the city of Wilmington.
While most Delaware residents living north of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal get their drinking water from surface water, in southern Delaware, all water used for public and domestic supply comes from groundwater. This is because surface water sources are too salty for public water, agricultural and industrial supplies in the southern part of the state. Aquifers in Delaware are monitored through a network of groundwater wells equipped with sensors that collect data on real-time conditions, groundwater quality and saltwater intrusion. These data are critical for water-resource planners to manage growing water demand, climate change and sea-level rise in this region.
So we now know that our water comes from surface water or groundwater, but how does it get to our homes and businesses? If you do not have a private well, your water comes from a public water-supply system that is owned and operated by a municipal government or an investor-owned utility. These are the entities responsible for treating and distributing the water that flows through the tap.
But how do we know how clean that water really is? For those on public water supply, check with your water purveyor. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires community water systems to deliver a consumer confidence report (commonly known as a drinking water-quality report) annually to their customers. These reports provide information such as the source of your drinking water, information on regulated contaminants and if any of them were found in violation of a health standard. If you have your own water well, the EPA recommends that you test your well annually.
We expect that water will always be flowing in our wells and streams and from our taps and probably take for granted what it takes for the water community to consistently achieve those outcomes. This month, let’s celebrate how that happens and also think deeper about the water cycle, water security and how we all can help protect and conserve our shared water resources, at home, work or when we’re out and about. Turn off the tap when not in use. Never flush medications. Run only full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher. Pick up after your pet. Use a rain barrel. Reduce single-use plastics. Being water smart helps preserve a finite resource, reduces pollution, saves energy and saves money. It’s a quadruple win, and who can’t get behind that?
Steve Tambini, P.E., has served as executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission since 2014. To learn more about DRBC, visit drbc.gov.
