Aqua Pennsylvania recently supported the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund in partnership with Schuylkill River Greenways NHA, which provides government agencies and nonprofit organizations with grants to improve water quality for one of southeastern Pennsylvania’s most vital water sources.

The grants focus on three major sources of pollution: stormwater run-off, agricultural pollution, and abandoned mine drainage. And, with major storms on the rise, dealing with stormwater management is increasingly important to the health of the Schuylkill River, the watershed, and drinking water for 1.5 million people in the region.

On Sept. 5., members of the Aqua Pennsylvania team toured past project sites in Philadelphia and attended a press conference that formally announced the 2024 award recipients. Schuylkill River Greenways, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania, PA American Water, and Constellation revealed $500,000 in grant awards for 2024.

“The work of the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund is essential to protect drinking water for our customers across southeastern Pennsylvania, and we are grateful for our partners on the program,” said Todd Duerr, Aqua Pennsylvania’s VP of Operations. “Any projects that can decrease the amount of sediment and excess nutrients running into our waterways will be beneficial to water quality and the operations at our drinking water plants. Another big concern for drinking water providers is pathogens, so when farmers are doing their part to clean up after their animal operations, that’s a win-win.”

The Restoration Fund was created in 2006 through a unique public/private partnership that has funded over $5 million in projects since its inception, thanks to the support of partners. The collaboration between the grant funders and grant recipients has brought and will continue to bring significant changes throughout the watershed, with projects as varied as the communities it encompasses.

That protection aligns closely with the mission of companies like Aqua, which aims to protect and provide water while maintaining its commitment to sustainable business practices; excellent customer service; attracting and developing top talent; investing in technology and infrastructure; and giving back to the communities in which it operates.

Learn more at Aqua.