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1997 federal court case required Delaware to set pollution limits
for our waterways. These limits are called "Total
Maximum Daily Loads," or TMDLs.
The
important step following the setting of new pollution limits
is developing strategies for meeting them. Each Tributary
Action Team must write a formal Pollution Control Strategy
that includes numerous ways to reduce pollution levels.
 The
Pollution Control Strategy (often abbreviated PCS) includes
a combination of more than one pollution-reducing method.
Methods could include:
- The
removal of point-source discharges from waterways.
- Better
management of fertilizer and manure.
- Replacement
of failing septic systems with environmentally safer sewer
systems.
- Protective
agricultural practices such as the planting of vegetative
buffer strips between cropland and waterways.
Each
Tributary Action team decides which approaches would be most
effective in its watershed, based on extensive study, comments
at citizen forums, advice from experts and discussions at
public team meetings.
You
can help your Tributary Team develop the best package of pollution
controls by attending public forums, by studying the team's
proposed Pollution Control Strategy (available on this Web
site once it's written), and by commenting on it by phone,
letter or e-mail. See the page for your watershed's team,
above left, for contact information.
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