Pennsylvania American Water Announces 2017 Environmental Grants for Local Watershed Projects

Approximately $30,000 to support watershed projects across the
commonwealth

HERSHEY, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#EnvironmentalGrant–Pennsylvania American Water announced today that eight watershed-related
projects across the commonwealth will receive financial support through
the company’s 2017 Environmental Grant Program. The recipients will
receive a share of grant funds totaling nearly $30,000 for their
community-based projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds.

A panel of judges selected the grant recipients from nearly 40
applications, which were evaluated on such criteria as environmental
need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability.

Pennsylvania American Water awarded its 2017 Environmental Grants to
Allegheny Land Trust (Allegheny County); California University of
Pennsylvania (Washington County); Delaware River Basin Commission (Bucks
and Northampton counties); Misericordia University (Luzerne County);
River Alert Information Network (Washington County); South Fayette
Conservation Group (Allegheny County); Upper Allen Township (Cumberland
County); and West Norriton Township (Montgomery County).

“Each year, we receive an impressive list of applicants who are working
to protect watersheds and sustain our environment,” said President
Jeffrey McIntyre of Pennsylvania American Water. “Partnerships are the
key to achieving goals, and we’re proud to partner with these
organizations and their many volunteers to help achieve their goals of
protecting our natural resources now and in the future.”

The 2017 Environmental Grant recipients are:

• Allegheny Land Trust
  The grant will be used for dumpsite
  cleanups at Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area, a protected green
  space with several tributaries to the Youghiogheny River. The cleanups
  will allow further habitat restoration and stream water monitoring.

• California University of Pennsylvania
  Funding will support
  a fish and macroinvertebrate survey of the Youghiogheny River that
  will enhance water quality management, along with existing survey
  information. The information will also be used for continued
  monitoring by local school groups within the watershed.

• Delaware River Basin Commission
  The funds will be used to
  purchase markers and equipment that the Boy Scouts will apply on storm
  drains in the Yardley and Nazareth areas, alerting residents about
  their impact on the Delaware River Watershed.

• Misericordia University
  Partnering with Lehman Sanctuary,
  the university will install and utilize advanced telemetry equipment
  to monitor water quality on the sanctuary’s property. The project will
  advance understanding of the biodiversity and allow remote monitoring
  of environmental conditions for school groups at the location.

• River Alert Information Network
  With the funding, the
  organization will coordinate watershed groups along with the Allegheny
  Watershed Alliance to identify local source water protection issues.
  Additionally, informational literature will be developed to educate
  community groups on source water protection.

• South Fayette Conservation Group
  The organization will
  purchase a groundwater and rainmaker model to be used as a hands-on
  educational tool to help students better understand point source and
  non-point pollution.

• Upper Allen Township
  The grant will support a riparian
  buffer project in Simpson Park along the Yellow Breeches Creek.
  Volunteers will plant new trees and shrubs to help stabilize the
  streambank as part of an ongoing riparian project.

• West Norriton Township
  Funding will support the Schuylkill
  River Invasive Weeds project, aimed at removing invasive plant species
  from the Norristown Basin, improving water quality along the river and
  habitats for wildlife.

Pennsylvania American Water is a subsidiary of American Water, which
initiated the Environmental Grant Program in 2005 in Pennsylvania to
support projects that protect or restore drinking water sources and
surrounding watersheds. Since then, American Water has expanded the
annual program to many of its state subsidiaries across the nation.

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK),
is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing
high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to
approximately 2.3 million people. With a history dating back to 1886,
American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S.
publicly-traded water and wastewater utility company. The company
employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated
and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services
to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More
information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com

Contacts

Pennsylvania American Water
Eastern/Central Pennsylvania:
Terry
Maenza
T: 610-670-7789 ext. 1009
M:610-849-6484
[email protected]
or
Western
Pennsylvania:
Gary Lobaugh
T: 724-873-3674
M: 724-944-5148
[email protected]