Roland Jones Discusses the Clean Water Partnership’s Commitment to Action at CGI America 2016
June 21, 2016
Interview with End Time Harvest Ministries Summer Wellness Ambassadors
August 15, 2016
Prince George’s County has continued to lead the way in developing innovative, green solutions for managing stormwater pollution. From its commitment to address runoff on private and public property, to delivering functional and sustainable stormwater infrastructure; the county has sustained its focus to implement more green infrastructure in the local communities, as opposed to replacing and expanding upon existing concrete or “gray” structures. Since school sites are considered a major local source of stormwater runoff – surrounded by impervious surfaces such as rooftops, parking lots and asphalt paving – it didn’t take long for the County’s Clean Water Partnership (CWP) to expand their “green” initiatives to local schools in Prince George’s County.
This summer, the CWP launched The CWP Schools Program – a pilot program designed to assist Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) with treating stormwater runoff by utilizing Best Management Practices, or BMPs. The school system has selected 18 schools in Prince George’s County to be evaluated by the CWP, to receive new, green stormwater retrofits to help with managing untreated runoff from impervious areas, and reduce the impact of sediments and pollution that flows into our natural waterways. This collaborative effort between PGCPS and the CWP will guarantee that the County’s federal stormwater standards are met, while also providing an educational legacy of future generations committed to managing the water quality in our communities.
The initial 18 schools identified to participate in the pilot program include a combination of elementary, middle and high schools across Prince George’s County. These schools include:
- Bond Mill Elementary School
- Calverton Elementary School
- Capital Heights Elementary School
- District Heights Elementary School
- Frances Scott Key Elementary School
- Friendly High School
- Gwynn Park High School
- High Point High School
- John Hanson Montessori School
- Laurel Elementary School
- Magnolia Elementary School
- Oxon Hill Middle School
- Parkdale High School
- Potomac High School
- Rosa L. Parks Elementary School
- Scotchtown Hills Elementary School
- Templeton Elementary School
- Walker Mill Middle School
Various types of BMPs, including bio-retention cells, sand filters and bioswales to name a few, will be installed by local workforce on the outdoor grounds of each location – that will capture and treat previously untreated stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. The retrofit needs for each school were pre-identified by the school’s students, faculty and maintenance staff, and customized to fit the unique needs of each facility.
At the end of the summer, students and faculty from the schools will also have an opportunity to participate in a volunteer tree planting session that will support the installed BMP devices. These educational learning sessions will take place during school hours and will give students a hands-on experience in preserving our environment.
In addition to retrofitting the outdoor grounds of each school, the CWP Schools Program includes an educational component that will be used as teaching tools to more than 15,000 Prince George’s County students. Select schools will receive instructive signage, educating students about the benefits of managing stormwater runoff and displaying how installed BMPs will perform at each site. At the end of the summer, students and faculty from the schools will also have an opportunity to participate in a volunteer tree planting session that will support the installed BMP devices. These educational learning sessions will take place during school hours and will give students a hands-on experience in preserving our environment.
Following completion of this summer’s pilot program, the Clean Water Partnership plans to work with the Prince George’s County Public Schools System to measure the program’s benefits and successes; and to determine the prospects of expanding this opportunity to additional local schools that fit the program’s criteria, for potential projects planned for next summer.
To learn more about the Clean Water Partnership Schools Program, please visit www.thecleanwaterpartnership.com or join the #CWPSchools conversation with @PGCCWP.
