DRWA Opposes Delaware House Bill 458

On behalf of the Delaware Rural Water Association’s staff, board, and members, we respectfully oppose House Bill 458 as written. The bill conflicts with our commitment to protecting drinking water from source to tap.

Effective backflow prevention depends on a multi-barrier approach. After more than two decades of work, Delaware has only recently implemented meaningful protections via regulations for backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Eliminating any one of these safeguards weakens the system and increases risk.

Documented incidents show the consequences. A 2018 Watts study, titled “Backflow Incidents That Could Have Been Prevented”, identifies 15 cases in which proper backflow protection would have prevented contamination—including pesticides entering dozens of homes, seawater served in a restaurant, and dialysis treatment compromised by antifreeze.

Public awareness remains limited. Common household practices—such as using a garden hose for cleaning or applying chemicals—can unintentionally contaminate shared water sources, affecting entire communities.

House Bill 458 risks undermining critical protections for Delaware’s most vital resource—its drinking water. We urge you to reconsider and preserve these safeguards.