The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has opened a grant programme to control urban storm water and improve local water quality. Municipalities, including cities, boroughs, or incorporated towns within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are eligible to apply. “Urban stormwater runoff has a big role in local water quality, it’s so important to manage that stormwater properly to prevent pollution from reaching our waterways,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley. “These grants will serve as a valuable tool to enable local governments to improve their urban stormwater management and ultimately, their water quality and that of their neighbours downstream.” The grants will fund construction of urban storm water best management practices to reduce the discharge of nutrients and sediments delivered to local waterways, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. The money for the grants is provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency. A total of US$2.3 million is available with the maximum funding amount per applicant being US$200,000.
