PRESS RELEASE: Councilwoman Shané Darby Calls on City Council to Override Mayor Carney’s July 22 Veto of Water Shutoff Protection Ordinance

July 29, 2026

Councilwoman Shané Darby Calls on City Council to Override Mayor Carney’s July 22 Veto of Water Shutoff Protection Ordinance

Wilmington, DE — Councilwoman Shané Darby is calling on Wilmington City Council to override Mayor John Carney’s July 22, 2026, veto of Substitute No. 2 to Ordinance 25-017 during the Council meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The ordinance provides limited protections against water service disconnections for households with seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children under the age of five. It does not forgive utility debt, eliminate a customer’s responsibility to pay for water service, or prevent the City from pursuing lawful collection efforts such as payment plans, liens, repayment agreements, and other available remedies.

“Water is not a luxury; it is a basic human necessity,” said Councilwoman Darby. “Every family deserves access to clean, running water for drinking, cooking, bathing, sanitation, and caring for loved ones. This legislation recognizes that the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents should never be placed at risk because of financial hardship.”

In his July 22 veto statement, Mayor Carney argued that the ordinance could “create an environment that incentivizes individuals not to pay” their water bills. However, the veto provides no evidence that protecting vulnerable households from water shutoffs results in widespread nonpayment or poses a threat to the financial stability of municipal water systems.

The Mayor also noted that Wilmington currently has more than 4,000 delinquent water accounts. However, the veto does not identify how many of those accounts would actually qualify for the ordinance’s narrowly tailored protections or demonstrate that those households are responsible for the City’s collection challenges.

Research on utility shutoff protections has not demonstrated that protecting vulnerable residents leads to widespread intentional nonpayment. Rather, studies have shown that utility shutoff protections can help stabilize financially struggling households while allowing utilities to continue pursuing payment through other lawful means.

“Let’s be clear, this ordinance does not say people should not pay their water bills,” Councilwoman Darby said. “People should pay their bills whenever they are able. What this ordinance says is that the City should not rely on shutting off water to infants, seniors, and residents with disabilities as a collection tool.”

The ordinance also does not eliminate the City’s ability to recover unpaid balances. Customers remain legally responsible for their utility bills, and the City retains multiple collection options beyond water disconnection.

Mayor Carney’s veto further acknowledges the importance of expanding water assistance programs and improving affordability. Councilwoman Darby welcomed that commitment and said those efforts should work alongside protections for vulnerable households, not instead of them.

“I appreciate the Mayor’s recognition that affordability remains a challenge for many Wilmington families,” Councilwoman Darby said. “Expanding assistance programs is important, but assistance alone is not enough. We can maintain a financially responsible utility while ensuring that our youngest children, our seniors, and our neighbors living with disabilities are protected from the devastating consequences of losing access to water.”

Access to clean water is fundamental to public health. Families rely on water every day for hydration, food preparation, bathing, sanitation, administering medications, and preventing the spread of illness. For households with infants, older adults, or individuals managing chronic health conditions, losing water service can quickly become a health emergency.

Councilwoman Darby is encouraging residents, neighborhood leaders, healthcare professionals, faith leaders, disability advocates, senior advocates, and community organizations to attend the Wilmington City Council meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2026, and urge Council members to vote to override the Mayor’s veto.

“This vote is about who we are as a City,” Councilwoman Darby said. “We can protect public health while continuing to collect what is owed. Compassion and fiscal responsibility are not mutually exclusive. I urge my colleagues to stand with Wilmington’s most vulnerable residents and vote to override this veto on August 6.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Yesenia Taveras
Director of Communications
Wilmington City Council | City of Wilmington, DE
Office: (302)576-2585
Mobile: (302)757-5748
Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.gov
City Council’s Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com