Adoption of source water assessment, wellhead protection, and excellent ground-water recharge potential areas by counties and municipalities.
Del. Code tit. 7, § 6082
in effect(a) By December 31, 2004, the Department shall develop a guidance manual, in conjunction with and with the substantial concurrence of the Source Water Protection Citizens Technical Advisory Committee, for desirable land uses within source water assessment areas that promote the long-term protection of public drinking water supplies, consistent with “Shaping Delaware’s Future: Managing Growth in 21st Century Delaware, Strategies for State Policies and Spending” (December 1999).
(b) The counties and municipalities with populations of 2,000 persons or more, with the assistance of the Department, shall adopt as part of the update and implementation of the 2007 Comprehensive Land Use Plans, the overlay maps delineating, as critical areas, source water assessment, wellhead protection and excellent ground-water recharge potential areas. Furthermore, the counties and municipalities shall adopt, by December 31, 2007, regulations governing the use of land within those critical areas designed to protect those critical areas from activities and substances that may harm water quality and subtract from overall water quantity.
(c) Municipalities with populations of less than 2,000 persons, with the assistance of the Department, may adopt by ordinance the overlay maps delineating, as critical areas, source water assessment, wellhead protection, and excellent ground-water recharge potential areas. Furthermore, the ordinance shall include regulations governing the use of land within those critical areas designed to protect those critical areas from activities and substances that may harm water quality and subtract from overall water quantity. Counties and municipalities of more than 2,000 persons that have previously adopted ordinances that include the Department’s overlay maps and regulations that protect public water supplies and are consistent with minimum standards identified in the guidance manual shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection.
(d) The Department shall make source water assessment areas available to the public as they are completed, with all systems to be completed by 2003.
(e) The Department may, when based on sound science and factual information, revise and update the overlay maps of source water assessment areas.
(f) Counties and municipalities with populations of 2,000 persons or more shall update their overlay maps in accordance with changes made by the Department with respect to source water assessment, wellhead protection and excellent ground-water recharge potential areas.
(g) Municipalities with populations of less than 2,000 persons may update their overlay maps in accordance with changes made by the Department with respect to source water assessment, wellhead protection, and excellent ground-water recharge potential areas.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title7/c060/sc06/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026