FAQs

Funds would be used to protect Delaware County’s water quality, natural areas, and wildlife habitat before they are lost forever to development. Funds can only be used to:protect drinking water sources,protect water quality in rivers and creeks,protect wildlife habitat, conserve trees to protect air quality, conserve wetlands to prevent flooding, providing greenways and parks,protect natural areas from development.

The ballot language requires full public disclosure of all project spending. This includes annual independent audits of all project spending. Funds can only be used for the purposes stated in the proposal and cannot be used for other purposes.Funds raised locally could be matched by funds from the state and federal governments and private sources.

The average homeowner in Delaware County would pay $24 per year if the full amount of the bond is expended. $2.00 a month is a very small price to pay to protect our water quality, preserve natural areas, and protect our remaining natural areas.

Yes. Water quality, natural areas, and wildlife habitat protection funding would leverage two to three times that amount in matching funds from municipal, state, federal, and private sources. For every $1 Delaware County provides we can expect to receive $2 to $3 in additional funds from state, federal, and private sources.

Yes. The Green Ways Grant Program would again be able to provide grants to assist local municipalities and non-profit organizations to protect water quality, natural areas, and wildlife habitat throughout all parts of the county. Projects could include maintaining greenway corridors, parks, and trails that serve both the environment and the community.

Yes, if a project at Delco Woods meets the requirements of Delaware County Water Quality, Natural Areas, and Wildlife Habitat Protection bond. Delco Woods is a county park, and these funds could be used for any Delaware County park.

Preserved open spaces, natural areas, forests, and wildlife habitat provide many benefits for residents of Delaware County. They include: Protecting and improving drinking water quality, keeping our rivers and streams clean;Protecting the county’s last open spaces from new warehouse and data center development, keeping this new development from polluting and using all of our water and destroying our natural areas;Ensuring future generations have access to clean water and natural areas; andReducing flood impacts.

The intent of the Delaware County Water Quality, Natural Areas, and Wildlife Habitat Protection bond is to provide funding for water quality protection, wildlife and natural area conservation, open space, and parks throughout the county. The measure will provide funding for the Green Ways Grant Program, which has awarded grant to municipalities and nonprofit organizations in every part of Delaware County. Projects will be selected by a committee of Delaware County residents based on objective criteria. Final decisions will be up to the County Council.

Yes. Since 1988, over 150 county and municipal ballot measures that support the acquisition of land for water quality, wildlife, natural areas, and open space have been approved by Pennsylvania voters. Twelve county conservation finance measures have been on the ballot since 1988, including nearby Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. Eleven have passed. In Delaware County, Concord, Middletown, Upper Providence, and Radnor Township voters have all approved dedicated funding for open space.

This referendum would give the county authority to borrow up to $120 million for the purposes ofprotecting drinking water sources, protecting water quality in rivers and creeks, protecting wildlife habitat, conserving trees to protect air quality, conserving wetlands to prevent flooding, providing greenways and parks, and protecting natural areas from development. The county will likely not issue all of the bond at once, but rather borrow in smaller amounts as projects are ready.

Delaware County has no dedicated source of funds to help protect water quality, preserve wildlife habitat, or protect natural areas from development. Placing this measure on the ballot gives Delaware County voters a chance to decide whether or not they want to preserve water quality and wildlife habitat.

Delaware County does not have other dedicated funds to protect water quality, preserve wildlife habitat, or protect natural areas from development if the citizens vote no in November. Many of our last remaining natural areas and wildlife habitats would likely be developed without permanent protection. There would be no funding for the Green Ways Grant program. The County would also miss out on millions of dollars in grant funding from local townships, Harrisburg, and Washington, D.C., where matching funds are required.

Much of the land you see as natural area across our county is privately owned and can legally be developed. To save the water, wildlife, and natural areas that we enjoy today, the DELAWARE COUNTY WATER QUALITY, NATURAL AREAS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION measure would invest to protect land forever.Currently, about 12% of the total land area in Delaware County is in permanent protected status. By comparison, Montgomery County has nearly 15% of its land protected and Chester County has over 30% of its land protected.

The DELAWARE COUNTY WATER QUALITY, NATURAL AREAS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION measure is on your November 3 General Election Ballot. Referendums are typically placed at the end of the ballot. Please be sure to vote the entire ballot.Vote YESImportant reminders: Make sure you are registered to vote. The last day to register is October 19, 2026.You can request a mail-in or absentee ballot. The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is Oct. 27, 2026.You can vote at your assigned polling place on November 3. Polls are open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 P.M.

Delco Neighbors for Land and Water is a grassroots committee made up of Delaware County residents who represent a wide variety of community values, geographic areas, political affiliations, and public interests in the county. It is the political committee established to advocate for and inform voters about the DELAWARE COUNTY WATER QUALITY, NATURAL AREAS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION measure.

Vote YES on the DELAWARE COUNTY WATER QUALITY, NATURAL AREAS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION measure on November 3. In addition, you mayTell your friends and family to vote YESDonate funds to Neighbors for Delco Water and Land to help offset the costs of producing informational materials.Learn more about how you can help support the DELAWARE COUNTY WATER QUALITY, NATURAL AREAS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION measure. Please visit our website at: VoteYesDelcoWater.org or contact us at info@VoteYesDelcoWater.org