Projects like the biofilter recently built in Pennsylvania will ultimately lead to better water quality downstream in this area of White Clay Creek in Newark, Del. Newark residents and businesses rely on the creek for clean drinking water. Photo credit: Kelley Dinsmore/City of Newark

Good work all ’round

By Delaware Currents | September 22, 2025

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It’s so great having a freelancer like Maddy Lauria who has tackled a story I’ve been eyeing for years: How downstream water users are happy to foot the bill for upstream improvements.

The reckoning is that the water that comes into the treatment plant will need less treatment if it comes in a little bit cleaner. It’s a really common-sense approach to the huge problem of making sure our drinking water is as clean as we want it to be.

And I’ve been deep in the doings of the Delaware River Basin Commission. Specifically, the Advisory Committee on Water Quality, which was the tip of the spear in the DRBC’s years-long effort to build a model of the intricate workings of the lower river and bay to see where the dissolved oxygen problem was the worst and how best to remedy the problem.

At a meeting this week, the Sept.22 due date for new rules was emphasized, again.

In addition, the WQAC heard about work on new criteria for toxins and setting up a program to tackle the knotty problem of road salt.

The Upper Delaware Council celebrated a gallery of contributors to the Upper Delaware’s quality of life this past Sunday. Thanks to them for what they do and to the UDC for recognizing them.

And lastly on this short list, let me introduce the new-ish executive director of the Friends of the Upper Delaware, Molly Oliver.

She’s a Delaware County, N.Y., native and has been with FUDR for about seven years as policy director. Jeff Skelding, the former executive director, is staying on part time to handle issues surrounding fishing and trout.

I’m so happy to share these stories because they prove that the good work that has been done in the watershed continues because of the people who care.

Enjoy the fall.

Thanks for reading!!