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2nd Annual Clean Water Rally Draws Crowd of Over 120 Citizen Advocates

Attendees Meet with Governor Markell
to Discuss Clean Water Funding

On June 7, 2016, over 120 people rallied in Dover to show their support for clean water funding. After gathering outside of Legislative Hall, citizen advocates went on to speak with Governor Markell and their local legislators to explain why clean water funding is personally important to them.

Chris Bason, Executive Director for the Delaware Center of the Inland Bays explained, “Water quality is now one of the biggest economic, public health and environmental issues we’re facing nationally. Here in Delaware, we’re thrilled to bring together legislators, heads of utility companies, academia, conservationists and citizen advocates to rally behind the need for additional clean water funding. By working together, I am confident that we can combine the technology, passion and manpower to improve water quality for current and future generations of Delawareans.” 

Rally attendees Kenneth Haynes, Joanne Haynes, Dotty LeCates and Lew Podolske

Rally attendees Kenneth Haynes, Joanne Haynes, Dotty LeCates and Lew Podolske

Roy Miller CIB Policy Coordinator and CIB Executive Director Chris Bason help two kids use the enviroscape which shows how water works through an ecosystem

Roy Miller, CIB Policy Coordinator, and Chris Bason, CIB Executive Director, help two kids use the enviroscape which shows how water works through an ecosystem.

Led by the Delaware Nature Society, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, the rally was part of the Clean Water: Delaware’s Clear Choice campaign, which is a statewide outreach and education effort focused on securing additional funding for clean water.

Rally attendees included Delaware State Senator Bryan Townsend, Delaware House Speaker Peter Schwartzkopf, State Representative Ronald Gray, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary David Small, academic experts on clean water, conservationists, community leaders, industry representatives and residents from every part of the state.

“There is nothing more fundamental to our existence than clean water.  Our economy, our environment, and our health all depend on clean water. Over the past 11 months a task force has met many times to develop a model piece of legislation for how to clean Delaware’s waterways efficiently, effectively, and with transparency.  I look forward to the day, as soon as possible, that this legislation becomes law and that Delaware becomes a leader in demonstrating an effective solution to one of the most pressing public-policy challenges of our generation,” said Senator Bryan Townsend, Chair of the Clean Water and Flood Abatement Task Force. 

The rally included brief speeches from Senator Townsend, House Speaker Schwartzkopf, and Representative Gray; 15 exhibitors that provided information on local watersheds, water quality testing; Natalie’s Fine Food Food Truck; face painting and all-around fun!

The campaign will continue to engage organizations and individuals in its work and build support for clean water initiatives moving forward.

The Clean Water: Delaware’s Clear Choice campaign is a statewide outreach and education effort focused on securing additional funding for clean water. The campaign supports additional funding going towards improvement to wastewater systems, flood reduction initiatives, restoration of our natural resources like wetlands, innovative toxic removal technologies and investments in drinking water.

The campaign is championed by the Clean Water Alliance, a diverse group of stakeholders representing businesses, conservation organizations and academia in Delaware.
Learn more about the campaign at www.cleanwaterdelaware.org.

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