Clean Water Partnership Cuts the Ribbon on Stormwater Runoff

LARGO, MD – Today, Prince George’s County Council Vice-Chair Derrick Leon Davis (D) – District 6 will join with government and private officials, community leaders and church members to cut the ribbon on stormwater runoff at Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church.  The ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the completion of the County’s first stormwater retrofit project under the Clean Water Partnership (CWP).  The project will filter runoff from approximately 2.35 acres and is one of several stormwater infrastructure projects to be unveiled throughout the County within the next year.

“Today we celebrate the commitment of Prince George’s County in taking an innovative approach in addressing stormwater runoff on private and public property through the creation of the Clean Water Partnership” says Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.  “This partnership benefits all Prince Georgians by working with us to not only improve our local water quality and removing pollution from our water reserves, but also by creating and beautifying public common spaces with the use of rain gardens, permeable pavers and other stormwater best management practices that provide aesthetic value to our communities and beyond.”

Council Vice-Chair Derrick Leon Davis noted that the Council is pleased to support the partnership’s stormwater management efforts. “We are delighted that Prince George’s County is leading the way in finding solutions for stormwater pollution – that help us better prepare for the future.  This project is one of many that will be completed in the County to alleviate polluted runoff from reaching the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay, thereby making our community clean and healthier.”

The CWP is a public-private partnership between Prince George’s County Government and Corvias Solutions to manage $100M of green infrastructure projects to provide cost savings, create local jobs and boost economic development in the County.

“This project is a great example of what can be achieved by a true partnership,” states Tim Toohey, Senior Vice President, Clean Water Partnership Director.  “By working in collaboration with the County, we are able to design and build green infrastructure solutions providing environmental and community benefits.”

A key component of the CWP requires Corvias to boost local economic development by using local small and minority businesses. Corvias must meet a 30 percent target for the first year, 35 percent target for the second year and 40 percent target for the third year in order to be paid in full. The project at Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church employed three County-based minority based enterprises.  Roland L. Jones, Director of the County’s Office of Central Services states that that the CWP business model will help stimulate and expand the County’s tax base and increase the number of green infrastructure employment opportunities in the County.

Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church is the first faith-based organization selected to participate in the CWP program through the County’s Alternative Compliance Program (ACP) because of the strong commitment expressed by its Pastor, Reverend Dr. Nathaniel B. Thomas to the environment.  “We want our church members and residents in our community to be good stewards of the environment,” says Thomas.  “It is not only our duty to do so, but it is God’s word as well.”   The Alternative Compliance Program (ACP) is a unique partnership created for religious and 501(c) nonprofit organizations to assist in treating stormwater runoff by utilizing BMPs.

A few of the retrofit projects installed at Forestville New Redeemer include:

• Installation of pervious pavers to replace concrete walkway that will allow stormwater to soak into the ground slowly;
• Three rain gardens and an infiltration trench that will catch stormwater runoff along the property grounds; and
• A bioswale, a low tract of moist or marshy piece of land that will provide drainage from the north corner of the property to the existing inlet near the west corner.

Prince George’s County Department of the Environment Director Adam Ortiz hopes this project will inspire other religious and nonprofit groups to take notice and sign up.  “We want other groups to look at what we did at Forestville New Redeemer and know that this program is here to assist them too.  It is a true example of what government and private industry can do for the greater good when they work together.”

For more information about the Clean Water Partnership, or the Clean Water Program, visit http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/stormwatermanagement/Pages/default.aspx

For more information about the Alternative Compliance Program, visit http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/StormwaterManagement/CleanWaterActFees/Alternative%20Compliance/Pages/default.aspx