Water is a fundamental part of everything we do. It’s the foundation of our tourism industry. It’s critical to the success of agriculture and manufacturing. And, of course, it’s essential to our health.
Yet a century of pollution has impaired nearly every river, lake and pond in our state. We can’t eat our fish or swim in our bays, and toxic pollutants contaminate our rivers. It’s embarrassing and unacceptable. Fortunately, this problem is solvable. We know the science – how to upgrade wastewater and drinking water plants, and improve stormwater infrastructure so we limit flooding and prevent pollutants from running into our streams. We’re making progress, but at this rate, it will take many decades to make substantial progress.
I propose the Clean Water for Delaware’s Future initiative to clean up our waterways within a generation. Some much faster than that. It calls on all of us to take responsibility for the quality of our water. It will cost the average household less than a dollar a week, with owners of commercial sites and other large properties paying more based on how much they own. That will double our clean water funds. But the deal is better than that. Every dollar of this investment brings in two more dollars through federal grants and private funding. And the projects we pay for — removing toxic substances from our streams, improving industrial sites or protecting our drinking water – will support thousands of jobs.That work will revitalize communities across the state and make Delaware a healthier and safer place to live for years to come. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this vital effort to keep Delaware moving forward.