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Delaware
Coast-A-Syst
Environmental Stewardship for Homeowners
by Kimberly
Cole, Delaware Coastal Programs
 What Is Delaware Coast-A-Syst?
Coast-A-Syst,
the Coastal Homestead Assessment System, is a program that
helps you protect the quality of surface and ground water near
your home and throughout your community. The Delaware
Coast-A-Syst booklet ( 697kb
PDF document) consists
of information and a series of confidential self-assessments
that help you identify and correct pollution sources
and health risks in your home and around your yard.
Coast-A-Syst
is a spin-off of the highly successful South
Carolina Coast-A-Syst ( 5.54
MB PDF document) and
the nationwide programs, Farm-A-Syst and Home-A-Syst. This
program is being singled out and developed in recognition of
the special significance of Delaware’s
coastal water resources and the role they play in the state’s economy,
environmental health and overall quality of life. Common practices
in every home — large or small, new or old, rural or urban — can
contaminate water and affect the health of your family, your community,
or the environment.
Coast-A-Syst
is particularly focused on what you can do to avoid polluting
local water sources, such as reservoirs, neighborhood ponds, tidal creeks,
rivers, estuaries, or private wells. Your drinking water may come
from any of these sources. Simple changes in your household routine
can reduce pollution and protect the health of your family and the environment.
Who
Should Use Coast-A-Syst?
The
Coast-A-Syst program can be used by residents of rural, urban,
and suburban homes — from Claymont to Hartly to Fenwick
Island — whether you rent a room or own a house anywhere in Delaware,
your actions affect coastal water quality. The booklet
is a valuable reference for anyone who is concerned about their
health and the environment and who is willing to make changes
to improve home management.
The
information in Coast-A-Syst can help you protect your investment
in your home and your community by identifying pollution risks on
your property before expensive problems occur.
Coast-A-Syst will help you accomplish three important objectives:
- Identify environmental risks, concerns, or problems in and
around your home.
- Learn
how to manage your home and property better.
- Take
preventive actions to safeguard your health and the health
of the coastal environment.
For more information please contact Crystal
Nagyiski from the
Pollution
Prevention Program at (302) 739- 6400 or Kim
Cole from Delaware
Coastal Programs at (302) 739-3451.
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