Green for Green: New Jersey American Water Environmental Grants Announced

Green for Green: New Jersey American Water Environmental Grants Announced

VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- New Jersey American Water will award more than $38,000 to four green projects/organizations to the recipients of the company's 2013 Environmental Grant Program. The grant winners have projects underway that address water source or water shed protection.

A panel of judges from New Jersey American Water chose the following recipients based on criteria such as project goals, project impact, innovation, design, collaboration, sustainability, and community engagement among other requirements.

Ocean City Environmental Commission - Green Streets and Bioswales project. This project will help to design and construct Green Bioswales along the streets in Ocean City to help control stormwater water accumulation and provide filtration for the water, allowing it to recharge the groundwater table and help reduce flooding.

Township of Middletown - Department of Public WorksPoricyPark Rain Garden Project. This project will construct and plant a Rain garden in Poricy Park, to accept rain water run-off from nearby buildings, allow the run-off to flow back into the ground and reduce the loading of nutrients and pollutants in the run-off. The Park Rain garden will also serve as a teaching tool for park visitors on how rain gardens can be employed to improve the environment and help recharge the groundwater table.

Camden County Soil Conservation DistrictCamden Floating Wetland Education and Implementation Project in cooperation with the Rutgers cooperative extension. The project will construct and use floating wetlands to treat storm water, and remove nutrients. As a model of passive wastewater treatment, the floating wetland will prevent nutrients and pollutant laden run-off from entering into the watershed.

Township of Irvington for the 2013 Shade Tree Reforestation Project. The township will plant trees along selected streets where none currently exist. Residents who live at the selected locations will also receive education on the use of Rain barrels and how to care for the trees. The planting of these trees in these selected locations will help to green the city, as well as help to reduce some stormwater runoff from just flowing down city streets into the Elizabeth River.

New Jersey American Water's Environmental Grant Program provides funding to organizations engaged in activities that improve a community's water supply or improve, restore or protect watersheds, or promote water conservation. Such projects may include wildlife habitat improvement, storm water management, wellhead protection initiatives, watershed cleanups, rain garden projects, and water conservation or reforestation efforts. Since it began in 2009, New Jersey American Water's Environmental Grant Program has now provided nearly $110,000 in grants to notable green projects.

New Jersey American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYS: AWK) , is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.5 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 14 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

New Jersey American Water
Richard G. Barnes, 856-782-2371
richard.barnes@amwater.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America New Jersey

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