The Protect Your Drinking Water Program will award grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for watershed protection and education projects that address pollutants of concern to public water supplies, such as fertilizer runoff, road salts and bacteria.
In its 2024 and early 2025 rounds, the program awarded over $87,000 to eight organizations in the Chester/Ridley/Crum, East Branch of Brandywine Creek, and Neshaminy Creek Watershed areas.
The 2026 grants will not only focus on the above-noted watershed areas but will also address groundwater sources of drinking water in specific areas of Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester Counties.
The grant program, administered by PEC’s Water Team in partnership with Essential Utilities, is made possible thanks to a generous donation through the company’s Essential Foundation.
“Success stories submitted by our 2024 grant awardees highlight on-the-ground projects such as a rain garden and stream side tree planting, along with a range of public education events such as Stream Learning Days, a STEM Summer Camp, and Back to School Science Days,” said PEC Senior Program Manager Paul Racette. “Our current grantees are hard at work installing a meadow, promoting residential stormwater management practices, launching an ‘adopt-a-buffer’ stream bank planting program, and more.“
The goal of the program is to raise awareness and engage new partners in source water protection. Effective source water protection helps reduce public health risks and water treatment costs, among other benefits to communities and the environment.
Grants will fund projects such as green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), stream bank stabilization, agricultural best management practices, spill prevention planning, groundwater recharge, and educational programming.
Outcomes could include on-the-ground projects, as well as the development and implementation of citizen, municipal, and student educational programs.
PEC is committed to empowering the public to be active, informed stewards. Educating people about where their drinking water comes from is an essential step toward improving the health and function of our local waterways.
“Through this grant program, we are calling on our communities to help us Protect Your Drinking Water,” said Essential’s Corporate Giving and Community Affairs Lead, Krista Seng. “With PEC’s assistance, we have been able to build meaningful partnerships to help safeguard our sources for current customers and future generations. Investing in these projects helps to improve water quality over time and educates more people on the link between waterways and their tap water, as well as the role we all can play in keeping it safe.”
Click Here to apply and for more information.
Click Here for the PEC announcement.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, PEC Bill/Regulation Tracker, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook. Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts. Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.
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[Posted: October 7, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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