DOVER, Del. - Many small, rural and low income communities lack access to clean drinking water. So, Senator Tom Carper (D, Del.) , Senator Chris Coons (D. Del) and Senator Shelley Capito (R, WV) gathered today in Dover for a hearing on the issue.
Sen. Carper and Sen. Capito both sit on the Environment and Public Work committee and the topic of access to clean water has been on the forefront. Recently, Senate passed the Drinking Water and Waste water Infrastructure bill. The bill is awaiting approval from the House of Representatives.
Today's hearing was to address the challenges many rural and low income communities face in Delaware regarding access to clean and drinkable water. Rural communities do not have access to public water sources, so many are forced to survive off of well water.
Private well water, if not treated and examined properly, often contains containment that can be very dangerous and harmful to individuals, especially children.
Although many rural and low income communities are in need of clean water, witnesses who testified at todays hearing used the town of Ellendale in Sussex county as a key example of a community in need. Loretta Benson, director of Ellendale's Civic Center told WBOC, Ellendale has received a grant from the county to implement a new public water system. But, she said this is a long time coming. Ellendale has been experiencing contaminated water for over three decades.
"Ellendale has been fighting for clean drinking water say for 30 40 plus years," Benson said. "So now were at the point now we are going to have clean drinking water for the people of Ellendale."
Those who testified in todays hearing said the clean water coming to Ellendale is just a blueprint for what needs to happen with other communities in Delaware.
Senator Carper said he has hopes this bill will pass in the house.
"Our bipartisan infrastructure bill addresses everything from toxic forever chemicals to lead pipes," Senator Carper explained. "Once it passes and President Biden signs it into law, it’s going to mean cleaner water access for a lot of communities.”
"We have too many people in Delaware, West Virginia and the other 48 states that are drinking water that are unsafe and unhealthy and we are trying to do something about it at the state and local level," Senator Carper said. "The federal government is helping, but we need to do more. All of need to do more. This is a shared responsibility."
To learn more about the proposed bill click here.
