Officials with the Water Supply Section of the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control are urging Delawareans not to pull water from ponds and lakes for landscape use.
“During this hot, dry spell, water levels and stream flows have fallen much below normal, which can lead to low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water and cause harmful algae blooms and fish kills,” said Stewart Lovell, manager of the Water Supply Section.
“Withdrawing water can further stress a pond’s balance and reduce flow to downstream areas. We urge lakefront homeowners to refrain from withdrawing water to help prevent more stress on the habitat.”
All waters in Delaware are considered “waters of the state,” protected under the Delaware Water and Air Resources Act. The law includes a regulation that requires a water allocation permit for any withdrawal from surface waters, including all Delaware private and public ponds and lakes.
The permit specifies withdrawals from ponds and lakes must not result in adverse impacts to the environment. To protect fish and wildlife habitat, water quality standards and adequate flow over spillways must be maintained. Permits for surface water withdrawals are issued by DNREC’s Water Supply Section.
DNREC’s environmental protection officers routinely conduct permit checks and receive complaints through the toll-free 24-hour Environmental Complaint Line at 800-662-8802.
Verizon wireless customers in Delaware can reach the complaint line by calling #367 on their cell phones.
For more information on enforcement, call Chip McDaniel, chief of DNREC’s Environmental Crimes Unit at 739-9401.
For more information on DNREC’s Water Supply Section and surface water allocation permitting, call Patty Murray at 739-9945.
