A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Delaware Funding Initiative for Clean Water Efforts

Don Rush

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Delaware lawmakers want to establish a state trust fund to coordinate and manage financial resources for clean water initiatives.

Democratic Gov. John Carney signaled his support Tuesday by announcing that he would propose $50 million in next year's capital budget for wastewater, stormwater, drainage and drinking water infrastructure.

Officials say the $50 million is in addition to $20 million for clean water programs in the current year's budget, and can be used to leverage federal funds.

Despite decades of clean water initiatives, a 2017 report by state task force found that more than 90% of Delaware's waterways were impaired.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.