Water Watchers

Protecting Your Local Water

We're All in this Together

Delaware Health and Social Services 

Division of Public Health 

Office of Drinking Water 
Blue Hen Corporate Center 
655 Bay Road, Suite 203 
Dover, DE 19901 
(302) 741-8630 

WATER SECURITY:



Tips To Remember:

After calling the local 
emergency number, call the appropriate local water system contact.

When reporting an incident: 

• 	State the nature of the incident. 

•	Identify yourself and your location. 

• 	Identify location of activity. 

•	Describe any vehicle involved– (color, make model, plate #). 

•	Describe the participants (how many, sex, race, hair color, 
	height, weight, clothing).

For emergencies dial 911 or other local emergency response numbers: 

•	State your business immediately (police, fire, ambulance). 

•	Give the most accurate description. 

•	Stay on the line until the 911 operator disconnects you. 


CONTACTS

NAME & TELEPHONE

Local Emergency Response		911 or others

Police:

Fire:

State Drinking Water Program Contact:

Edward Hallock
DPH Office of Drinking Water
302-741-8630
After Hours: 302-744-4700

Drinking Water Utility:

Citizens Watch Contacts: 

Others: 

Tampering with public water supplies is a serious offense. Violators will 
be punished to the fullest extent of the law. 

For more information about water security, visit EPA’s website: 

www.epa.gov/safewater/security 

Doc. #35-05-20/07/12/03

WATER SECURITY:
Water security is a shared responsibility involving water suppliers, 
wastewater utilities, government, law enforcement and citizens. We all 
play an important role in protecting our critical water resources. 

PROBLEM:
Local drinking water and wastewater systems may be targets for terrorist 
and other criminals wishing to disrupt and cause harm to community water 
supplies or wastewater facilities and their customers.
 
CHALLENGES:  Water utilities are often located in  isolated areas. 
Drinking water sources and wastewater collection  systems may cover large 
areas that are difficult to secure and patrol.

EXAMPLES OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY MIGHT INCLUDE:
 
-	People dumping or discharging material into a water reservoir.

-	People climbing or cutting a utility fence.

-	Unidentified vehicles parked or loitering near waterways or 
	facilities for no apparent reason.

-	Suspicious opening or tampering of manhole covers, building or 
	equipment. 

One action step may be to form and operate a citizens watch network 
within your neighborhood to communicate regularly with law enforcement, 
your public water supplier and your wastewater operator. Communication 
is key to a safe community!

Another idea is to organize an open house with the utility. Operators can 
brief the citizens  watch network about their operations, routines, 
personnel and vehicles. Get to know your water utility, their 
vehicles, routines and their personnel. 

WHO SHOULD GET INVOLVED? 
Interested and dedicated citizens are essential to increase the security 
eyes and ears in your community. Delawareans should report any suspicious 
activity, in and around local water utilities. 

Any resident interested in protecting their water resources and community 
can join together with law enforcement, neighborhood watch groups, water 
suppliers, wastewater operators and other local public health officials. 

As a first step, you should consider introduce yourself to the local 
drinking water supplier or wastewater operator. Provide them with your 
phone number and address, and find out how you can help them.