Photo Credits: EPA

Hooray! Tuesday, the 21st, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a substantial grant of $4 million to four colleges in the Philadelphia area to study Green City, Clean Waters. Temple University, Swathmore College, Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania each received $1 million. Plus, the University of New Hampshire received $993,000 to assess various green infrastructure projects and aspects of the plan, quantify performance and to conduct surveys in a 40,000 acre combined sewage area.

The colleges plan to use the grant money towards diverse areas of research. For example, Temple plans to analyze many green projects on its Philadelphia campus and will investigate socio-economic issues, including the impact of real estate values as a result of green infrastructure. Villanova will evaluate the performance of completed green infrastructure projects in order to develop and design next-generation versions. Penn researchers will look into how to motivate residents and businesses to invest in green infrastructure projects. Investments in these projects will go a long way to developing innovation solutions to stormwater management, wet weather pollution, and building more resilient, safer water systems for all.

Students, it's your turn to leave your mark on Philadelphia! Help the Water Department raise awareness about the new tools in our neighborhoods and inspire residents to uncover the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure.

The Philadelphia Water Department is hosting a design competition, Uncover the Green, for undergraduate and graduate students. The goal of the competition is to create an eye-catching medallion that helps mark Philadelphia’s new green stormwater tools, which soak up rainwater as it runs off of streets and sidewalks throughout the City. Furthermore, Uncover the Green also focuses on Philadelphia’s traditional water infrastructure (such as sewers); the vast network of pipes underground is critical in ensuring the success of the above ground green stormwater tools. So while we’re uncovering designs for the green tools above ground, we are challenging competition participants to delve deeper by producing a second design for new manhole covers too!

The winning designs for a green tool medallion and accompanying manhole cover will be placed on sidewalks and streets throughout the City for decades!

Uncover the Green is open exclusively to graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at Philadelphia based colleges & universities.

All entries must be submitted by March 28, 2014 by 5:00pm!

Find more information on the Uncover the Green: Medallions and Manholes competition.

Did you receive our exciting December newsletter? If not, here is a version for download. For those of you who missed it, we highlighted some of our exciting events, including our newest Spokesdog winners, Sophie and Josie, and PWD’s involvement in Greenbuild – one of the biggest, greenest conventions to have ever hit Philadelphia.

Our newsletter also details some of our upcoming events in 2014, like our Medallion Design Competition, and the next Green City, Clean Waters information session.

To sign up for future newsletters click here and be sure to check off “Green City Clean Waters.”

Trying to find something exciting for the family during the holidays? Look no further! The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center will have family holiday pop-up activities starting this weekend!

Participants will explore the different properties of water, including the states of matter, and participate in an activity to make their own snow globes to take home.

The Holiday Pop-Up Activities will take place on December 21, 24, 26, and 27 from 10am to noon and from 2pm-4pm.

Times are subject to change. Please call 215-685-0723 to confirm the timing.