EPA Awards $1.95M Grant to WERF

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $1.95 million grant for the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) of Alexandria, Va., to develop tools to help communities nationwide choose the best ways to control storm water runoff.

Due to aging water infrastructure systems and regulatory requirements, storm water management is an expensive challenge for many communities. WERF’s research will focus on the most cost-effective options. This will include green infrastructure practices to enhance natural ecological functions, such as growing gardens on roofs or building artificial ponds, and to help manage storm water and combined sewer overflows.

“Green Infrastructure is a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing storm water runoff that provides many community benefits,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “This research grant will provide an understanding of the costs and benefits of storm water infrastructure alternatives using tools assessing expense, design and performance.”

Working with multiple universities, WERF will develop tools communities can use to evaluate the costs and benefits for options to manage storm water runoff and combined sewer overflows.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency