Water Supply Coordinating Council
Date
2022
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Abstract
In response to the drought of 1999, Governor Thomas Carper appointed a Water Supply Task Force that endorsed a report on December 2, 1999 and recommended a series of options to develop an additional one billion gallons of reserve water supplies in northern New Castle County by 2003. The report also recommended appointing a Temporary State Water Coordinator (Water Master) and a Water Supply Coordinating Council consisting of public agencies, water purveyors, and the public to work cooperatively to implement the selected water supply options. The mandate of the WSCC is to work cooperatively to achieve water supply self-sufficiency in northern New Castle County (eliminate dependence on out-of-state supplies) by 2010 and develop water supply plans for southern New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County.
In July 2000, Governor Carper signed HB 549 that formed the Water Supply Coordinating Council and designated the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) as Chair, Delaware Geological Survey as technical advisor, and University of Delaware Water Resources Agency as “Temporary Water Coordinator”. The WSCC is created and empowered by 26 Del. C. Sections 1305 through 1308 and further empowered by 26 Del. C. Chapter 14. In August 2003, Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed HB 203, which reauthorized the Delaware Water Supply Coordinating Council (WSCC) to January 1, 2010, expanded it to include statewide representation, and appointed the Delaware Geological Survey and the University of Delaware Water Resources Agency (WRA) as voting members. In July 2014, Governor Markell signed amendments passed by the 147th General Assembly that extended the duties and responsibilities of the WSCC from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2022.