Students from a Philadelphia elementary school, a Kutztown middle school, and a community college were honored this week for their efforts to protect the Schuylkill River.

 

The Schuylkill Action Network presented its annual Source Water Protection awards to the students at a ceremony in Ambler, Pa., highlighting National Drinking Water Week (May 3-9).

 

The Anna L. Lingelbach Elementary School in Philadelphia, Kutztown Area Middle School, and Reading Area Community College won awards for educating students and their communities about protecting rivers and streams that are the sources of drinking water. (Photo: Students from Kutztown Middle School describe their projects to DEP Deputy Secretary Michael Sherman)

 

The Schuylkill River is the source of drinking water for 1.5 million people in the Philadelphia area. Students at the schools conducted water quality tests, planted native vegetation along walking trails, and promoted environmental awareness.

 

SAN presented a special award for excellence in local environmental journalism to reporters Darrin Youker and Ben Hasty of the Reading Eagle newspaper for their series of articles highlighting the Schuylkill River.

 

SAN was formed in 2003 to create a team approach to cleaning up and protecting the Schuylkill River and its tributaries. Members include EPA, Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia Water Department, Delaware River Basin Commission, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, conservation districts, and other government agencies, non-profits and private partners.

 

Source water is untreated water from streams, rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers which is used to supply private wells and public drinking water. The Schuylkill River and its tributaries are an important source of drinking water and fish habitat.

 

For more information, visit the Schuylkill Action Network webpage.