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CHRISTINA WATERSHED FACES CLEANUP CHALLENGES (Wilmington, Del.)

Release Date: 7/12/2000
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

WILMINGTON, De1. - Substantial progress has been made in reducing water pollution from major dischargers since the Clean Water Act was passed 25 years ago. However, 40 percent of the country’s rivers, lakes, and streams do not meet the Clean Water Act goal of being safe for fishing and swimming.

This is the case in the Christina watershed including portions of the Christina River, Brandywine Creek, White Clay Creek, Red Clay Creek and Buck Run. The state has identified these waters as impaired and water quality improvement plans called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) must be developed.

To help citizens participate in water quality improvement and explain the anaylsis that has been completed on pollution levels at low flow in these water bodies, there will be several public information sessions in the Christina watershed.

A public information meeting in Wilmington, Delaware will be held at 7 p.m. on July 19, 2000 in the Carvel State Office Building, at 820 North French Street. A public hearing for formal comments will be held August 30. The location will be announced soon along with information about written comments. The period for written comments will begin on August 1 and close September 15, 2000.

A public meeting will also be held in West Chester, Pa. at 7 p.m. on July 18 at the Government Service Center on 601 Westtown Road. A public hearing will be held at the same location from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.on August 29. For additional information our website is www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/christina/index.htm .

Each water quality improvement plan will include all the contributors of pollution - - from point sources (such as factories or sewage plants that discharge into a river) and non- point sources (including agricultural and urban runoff) plus a margin of safety. The water quality improvement plans are useful in setting pollution reduction goals from specific sources in a community or watershed

Each water quality improvement plan addresses a single pollutant, such as phosphorus or copper. If a river or creek is impaired by multiple pollutants, then multiple plans will need to be developed, one for each pollutant exceeding water quality standards.

For additional information regarding the upcoming meeting or the public hearing, call Bill Toffel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 215-814-5706.