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Jan. 22, 2001
Vol. 31, No. 20
For further information, contact Melinda Carl at 302-739-4506
Christina River Basin Low-Flow TMDLS Established
Delaware Set to Benefit from Discharge Limits at Pa.
Treatment Plants
Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)
and dissolved oxygen under low flow conditions in the Christina River
Basin have been set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A TMDL
is the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and
still meet water quality standards.
Low-flow TMDLs for the Christina have been set in Delaware for Brandywine
Creek, Christina River, Red Clay Creek and White Clay Creek. Delaware
has no wastewater treatment plants that discharge into the Christina
River Basin but Delaware stands to gain improvements in water quality
from reductions in nutrient discharges from six Pennsylvania wastewater
treatment plants.
New Castle County draws a significant portion of its drinking water
from the Christina Basin, and the Brandywine is the single source of
Wilmington's drinking water. The TMDLs set last week address low-flow
conditions, which are most critical during summer months when water
holds less oxygen and flows typically reach their lowest levels. The
TMDLs are designed to improve water quality when pollutants reach maximum
levels due to less dissolution in low water flows.
"This is good news for Delaware and especially the citizens of
the Christina River Basin," said DNREC Secretary Nicholas A. DiPasquale.
"We look forward to continuing our work with Pennsylvania in order
to meet these targets."
Delaware will issue TMDLs by 2004 that address high-flow conditions
in the state's segments of the basin when stormwater and combined sewer
overflows typically have a greater impact.
EPA developed the Christina River Basin TMDLs cooperatively with the
Delaware Department of Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection, Maryland Department of the Environment
and the Delaware River Basin Commission. The group has already begun
working with the dischargers and other interested parties to develop
a strategy to meet the reductions.
Delaware is currently developing TMDLs for all of its waterways that
do not meet standards for swimming, drinking or to support aquatic life.
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Document no. 40-01/01/01/20
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