The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and Aqua Pennsylvania announced a new grant program aimed at improving the health of waterways that supply drinking water in Pennsylvania. The Protect Your Drinking Water program will award grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for watershed protection and education projects that address pollutants of concern to public water supplies, such as fertilizer runoff, road salts and bacteria. This year’s grants are targeting upstream areas of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek Watersheds in Delaware and Chester Counties, benefitting Aqua customers in those communities. PEC’s Water Team will administer the new grant program in partnership with Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, thanks to a generous $74,000 donation through the company’s Essential Foundation.
The goal of the program is to raise awareness of and engage new partners in source water protection, which is the first barrier against contamination of public water supplies. Effective source water protection helps reduce public health risks and water treatment costs, among other benefits to communities and the environment.
Grants will fund projects such as green stormwater infrastructure, stream bank stabilization, agricultural best management practices, spill prevention planning, water quality monitoring, and educational programming. Outcomes could include on-the-ground projects, as well as the development and implementation of citizen, municipal and student educational programs.
“PEC collaborates with partners across the Commonwealth to protect and restore healthy watersheds,” said Patrick Starr, Executive Vice President of PEC. “Our partnership with Aqua is a great opportunity to ensure clean drinking water for communities who rely on the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watershed.”
PEC is also committed to empowering the public to be active, informed stewards. Educating people about where their drinking water comes from is an essential step toward improving the health and function of our local waterways.
“Our mission is not only to provide our customers with quality drinking water, but to protect earth’s most essential resource,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “It’s an obligation we take very seriously, and this partnership with PEC is an example of our commitment to the health of our local water sources now, and for years to come.”
Organizations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to visit https://pecpa.org/grants-awards/ for more information. Applications are due by April 15, 2024, at 5:00 pm EST and grantees will be announced at an awards ceremony on May 15, 2024.
