American Water Environmental Grant Program

ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT PROGRAM

Our commitment to protecting the environment runs deep and we’re proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision. Established in 2005, our annual Environmental Grant Program offers funding for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and groundwater supplies in our local communities. To date, we have donated more than $650,000 to fund more than 135 projects to protect and improve the environment across the Commonwealth. 

For more information, please see our 2023 Program Brochure and Grant Application Form. Completed applications should be emailed to pa.communityrelations@amwater.com or sent to: Pennsylvania American Water, 852 Wesley Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA  17055, Attention: Lorrie Page.  

In 2022, 13 Environmental Grant recipients, listed below, received a share of grant funds totaling nearly $75,000 for their community-based projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds.  You can learn more about the impact of projects on local watersheds by visiting our Environmental Stewardship Map.

The 2022 grant projects are:

  • Berks Nature, Berks County – Papermill Dam Removal on the Cacoosing Creek ($6,476)

Funding will be used to restore the riparian zone along Cacoosing Creek by planting native trees and plants.  Additionally, a youth fishing program will be offered following the removal of the dam.

  • Dormont Stormwater Authority, Allegheny County – West Liberty Avenue Parking Lot Rain Garden ($10,000)

The Authority plans to install a rain garden at the West Liberty Avenue parking lot to provide a natural, pervious area for stormwater runoff.  The garden will also help prevent flooding and debris from entering the collection system as a best management practice.

  • Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Luzerne County (EPCAMR) – Millcreek Watershed Cleanups ($3,435)

The project involves stream cleanups of unnamed tributaries along Mill and Gardner Creeks, along with the installation of dataloggers to monitor flow and pollution from nearby abandoned mines.

  • Ellwood City Borough – Phase II Five Points Community Garden ($2,000)

Funding will be used to install garden beds, walking paths, benches and signage as part of the Five Points Community Garden Project.

  • Indiana Borough – Storm Drain Art Project ($362)

This project involves placing art installations around public storm drains in order to educate the community along the new Watershed Trail.

  • East Pikeland Township, Chester County – Hidden River Park & Preserve Riparian Corridor Revitalization ($10,000)

Funding will go toward a riparian revitalization project with native shrubs, trees, and 95 acres of meadow grasses to reduce erosion and restore the native habitat.

  • Ellwood City, Lawrence County – Phase III Five Points Community Garden ($6,300)

With the grant, the borough will install additional garden beds, complete walking paths, and install signage at the Five Points Community Garden.

  • Fairview Township, York County – Lawn to Meadow Conversion ($3,863)

The project involves using native plants and grasses, including pollinators, to improve water quality by creating a meadow within the township to reduce runoff into local waterways.

  • Indiana County Conservation District – First Waves Indiana ($6,390)

First Waves Indiana plans to engage underserved youth in meaningful outdoor experiences, including tree planting, stream biology, paddleboarding, and fly fishing, with a resulting video of the program.

  • Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, Lackawanna County – Restoration Plantings ($5,200)

With this funding, volunteers will re-establish a native and biodiverse ecosystem as part of a riparian buffer zone restoration planting program along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.

  • Lackawanna River Corridor Association, Lackawanna County – Managing Stormwater/Rain Barrel Workshop ($2,500)

Funding will go toward three rain barrel workshops for residents to educate them on stormwater management and demonstrate rain barrel construction.

  • Three Rivers Waterkeeper, Allegheny County – 3 Rivers Watch Expanding Water Quality Monitoring ($9,850)

Funding will go toward expanding the organization’s volunteer program, including training for volunteers to assess water quality, as well as increased monitoring, patrolling, and water quality sampling.

  • Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County – Water Sampling and Analysis Project ($950)

The project involves investigating the origin of pollution sources impairing tributaries to Conodoguinet Creek through water and soil testing.  The goal is to reduce pollutants in the streams.

  • Warren County Conservation District – Where Would Our Streams Be Without Trees ($690)

The Conservation District plans to study the impact riparian buffer restoration has on water quality on Barton Run.

  • Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, Northampton County – Restoration and Outreach Projects for Master Watershed Stewards ($9,240)

The Coalition and its partners will install four native shrub nurseries for future sources for live stakes that can be used for stream bank stabilization to reduce pollution and erosion.

A panel of judges selected the grant recipients from more than 50 applications, which were evaluated on such criteria as environmental need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability.

LHVA Grant 2022 (6).JPG

2022 Grant Recipient Lackawanna Heritage Valley will use funds for riparian zone restoration along the Lackanna Heritage Valley.  Pictured are Owen Worozbyt, LHVA, and Susan Turcmanovich, Pennsylvania American Water