On October 1, Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Aqua Pennsylvania announced applications will soon be accepted for the Protect Your Drinking Water Grant Program. 

The grant application period will be open on PEC’s Grants & Awards webpage starting on October 21. The deadline to apply is January 15.

This second round of Protect Your Drinking Water Grants will award funding 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.

In its inaugural 2024 round, the program awarded nearly $32,000 to four organizations in the Chester/Ridley/Crum Watersheds area.  [Read more here.]

The 2025 grants will not only target the Chester/Ridley/Crum watersheds, but also the Neshaminy Creek and the East Branch of Brandywine Creek, benefitting Aqua customers throughout southeast Pennsylvania.

PEC’s Water Team will continue to administer this grant program in partnership with Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, thanks to a generous $60,000 donation through the company’s Essential Foundation.

“2024 grant awardees are now hard at work protecting riparian buffers, installing green infrastructure, monitoring stream health, and providing public education and outreach programming,” said PEC Senior Program Manager Paul Racette. “We look forward to seeing new source water protection programs developed and delivered in the upcoming 2025 grant round, further protecting source water, restoring stream health, and reducing public health risks and water treatment costs.”

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.

“Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of source water protection and engage new partners in stewardship activities,” said PEC Executive VP Patrick Starr. “Across the Commonwealth, PEC collaborates with partners to protect and restore healthy watersheds. This collaboration with Aqua is a great example of that!”

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.

"Presenting the grantees with checks during our first round of grants was a rewarding experience, and we are excited to be able to expand the program in our next round to engage more partners in our mission to protect and provide our customers with quality drinking water,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “We are proud to partner with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council on this important program.”

Visit PEC’s Grants & Awards webpage starting October 21 for more information and to apply for  Protect Your Drinking Water Grants.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, PEC Bill/Regulation Tracker, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook.  Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts.  Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- NRCS-Pennsylvania Announces Sign-Up For Conservation Easement Programs  [PaEN]

-- USDA NRCS-PA: Farm Conservation Funding Opportunities For FY 2025

-- 200+ Attend Delaware River Watershed Forum In Bethlehem - The Power Of Collaboration  [PaEN]

-- Choose Clean Water Coalition Now Accepting Applications For Young Environmental Professionals Of Color Mentorship Program  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Healthy Waters Newsletter Highlights Funding Opportunities; County Clean Water Projects; Accomplishments  [PaEN]

-- PA American Water Celebrates Source Water Protection Week With Education Program  [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council Will Start Accepting Applications Oct. 21 For Protect Your Drinking Water Grants In Southeast PA Funded By Aqua Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Receives Grant To Rehab De Sale Passive Mine Drainage Treatment System;  Participates In WV Mine Drainage Conference; Learn More About Datashed.org  [PaEN]

-- US Forest Service Watershed Forestry Team Hosts Webinar On Riparian Forest Buffer Success And Innovation Begins Oct. 10  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Hosts Oct. 23 Webinar On Identifying Environmentally Sensitive Areas On The Farm - Wetlands  [PaEN]

-- Public Comments Invited On Draft Juniata River Watershed Conservation Plan By Western PA Conservancy [PaEN]

-- Western PA Conservancy, Partners Invite Residents Of French Creek Watershed To Comment On Conservation Plan At Oct 22 Meeting In Saegertown, Crawford County  [PaEN]

-- Conservation District Invites Pike County Citizen Scientists To Participate In Study Of Microplastics  [PaEN]

-- Watershed Success Spotlight: Allegheny Land Trust + Chalfant Run-Thompson Run Watershed Assn., Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center Receives $141,000 Grant From Green Mountain Energy Sun Club For New 55-Kilowatt Rooftop Solar Energy System  [PaEN]

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Announces Winners Of Confluence: Land, Water, Wildlife Photo Contest; ARTery Gallery Exhibition  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Cleanup At A Crossroads; New Path Or Stay The Course?

-- StateCollege.com: Adam Smith, US Fish & Wildlife Service Biologist, Named Outstanding Coldwater Conservationist Professional By PA Council Of Trout Unlimited

-- Episcopal News Service: Lancaster Clean Water Partners Grant Will Help Manheim Church Do Its Part To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay 

-- Altoona Mirror: Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, PA Interfaith Power & Light  Volunteers Prepare To Give Away 4,500+ Native Plants Requested By Individuals

-- Pottsville Republican Herald Guest Essay: Riparian Buffers Necessary In Age Of Stronger Storms - By Alliance for The Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

-- Susquehanna University: Grant From Richard King Mellon Foundation To Support Freshwater Research Institute

-- The Daily Item: Susquehanna University Receives $600,000 Mellon Foundation Grant To Fund Freshwater Research

-- KYW: Philadelphia Water Dept. Rebukes Report Claiming Stormwater Management System Is Overwhelmed By Climate Change

-- Rep. Owlett Introduces Stream Cleaning Bill To Help Protect Against Flooding [But Do These Bills Make The Problem Worse?  Read real story here]

-- WNEP: Schuylkill County Conservancy Hosts 100 5th Graders For Outdoor Learning Day

-- KYW: Delaware RiverKeeper Files Lawsuit Against EPA for Failing To Protect Atlantic Sturgeon

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Oct. 4 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Aquatic Plant Survey [Video]

-- AP: Push To Map Great Lakes Bottom Gains Momentum Amid Promises Effort Will Help Fishing, Shipping

[Posted: October 1, 2024]

10/7/2024