It’s been a little over a year since the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green City, Clean Waters (GCCW) plan. Then, on April 10, 2012, the City of Philadelphia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed a partnership agreement to recognize the plan and its approach to stormwater management.
The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) is proud to be a Green City Clean Waters partner. TTF staff recently learned about plan progress and programs at a GCCW Advisory Board meeting.
Now that the plan is completely official, here are some of the programs that are helping Philadelphia become a national leader for improving water quality in urban streams and rivers:
Soak It Up Adoption Program: Engages residents, schools and businesses in caring for and maintaining green stormwater infrastructure throughout the city.
Community Input: Allows residents and neighborhood groups to use their expertise to identify potential stormwater management sites in their community and submit them to PWD for review.
Rain Check: Promotes residential stormwater management and defrays the cost of installing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) on residential properties.
Green City, Clean Waters Information Sessions: Join PWD every third Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Municipal Services Building, 16th Floor, Room Y to learn general information about Green City, Clean Waters and detailed information about specific projects in your community. Please RSVP to questions@phillywatershed.org so site specific information can be provided.
The GSI Design Challenge: An 18-month program that challenges teams of national and local professionals (designers, engineers, planners, etc.) to create innovative green designs for challenging GSI sites in Philadelphia.
Stormwater Management Incentives Program: Provides grants and low-interest loans to encourage stormwater management (rain gardens, green roofs, detention and retention basins) on nonresidential properties.
Rate Changes: PWD is a “cost of service utility” which means that rates cover costs, but PWD does not earn a profit. Effective October 2012, rates will gradually increase as PWD funding requirements rise. PWD uses this funding not only to make sure you are provided with clean drinking water, but also to keep our sewer systems functioning, protect our water quality and minimize combined sewer overflows. To learn more about Water Rate Changes, you can attend one of the following community presentations:
When: Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Roxborough Memorial Hospital, Wolcoff Auditorium
5800 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
When: Thursday, July 12, 2012, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Holy Family University, Campus Center Conference Room 115
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
When: Monday, July 16, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: YMCA North Philadelphia
1400 N. Broad Street (Broad and Master Sts)
Philadelphia, PA 19121
When: Tuesday, July 17, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: White Rock Baptist Church
5240 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
We are looking forward to your participation in the Green City, Clean Waters program!
