SF Recognized For Protecting Drinking Water

The following release was submitted by Joanne Nadovich of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Resource Conservation & Development Council:

PERKASIE (May 4, 2012) The Southeastern PA Resource Conservation and Development Council’s Rainwater Harvesting Project was selected by Schuylkill Action Network (SAN) as one of the winners for the 2011 Schuylkill Scholastic Drinking Water Awards in the Schuylkill River Watershed. Spring-Ford Intermediate School Rainwater Harvesting Project was selected for developing an educational environmental project that helps protect drinking water in the Schuylkill watershed. The award recognizes schools, colleges, and universities that protect drinking water sources through hands-on educational programs, class projects or land management practices.

The Southeastern PA RC&D Council assisted Spring-Ford Intermediate with locating and managing the financial obligations for the project. The project was funded through two grants. Grants for the project came from the Robert L. and Agnes Cook Bard Foundation and Pennsylvania American Water.

“Education plays an enormous part in protecting and restoring the region’s watersheds,” said SEPA RC&D Council Chairman, Dave Thomas. “Schools like Spring-Ford Intermediate School are taking an active role in environmental protection, they are leading by example. Students will learn positive steps they can take to protect the environment and local watershed which they can then share with their families and future generations.”

The 2011 Schuylkill Scholastic Drinking Water Awards will be presented in celebration of National Drinking Water Week, May 7-13, 2012. The students initiated innovative approaches to educating other students and the community about source water protection, such as creating a rainwater harvesting system and monitoring water chemistry in streams. All of the winning projects contribute to protecting the Schuylkill River. The projects were ranked on work content and amount of student engagement in connection with the classroom curriculum. During National Drinking Water Week a small group of Spring-Ford Intermediate students have been asked to attend the Wednesday, May 9, 2012 award ceremony and lunch reception at Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association located in Ambler, PA.

The Schuylkill River and its tributaries provide drinking water to 1.5 million people who live in the 11 counties and 232 municipalities included in the watershed.

SAN was formed in 2003 in an effort to clean up and protect Pennsylvania's Schuylkill River, a source of drinking water for approximately 1.5 million people and its tributaries. It's a coalition of more than 100 organizations.

The Southeastern PA RC&D Council is a 501(c)3 regional nonprofit organization that serves the counties of Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton. Its mission is to promote conservation and enhancement of natural and community resources. SEPA RC&D Council is locally organized, sponsored, and led to improve the quality of life in the region. More information can be found by visiting www.separcd.org.