A significant body of applied water research is already completed, underway, or planned by the Water Center.
Water Center Projects
Collectively, Pennsylvania’s drinking, storm and wastewater infrastructure is in poor condition. Municipal leaders face a significant backlog of infrastructure maintenance challenges as well as new challenges due to an increasing number of large storm events, which result in flooding and water quality impacts. Although financing for water infrastructure improvement at low interest rates is available through PENNVEST, the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development programs and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development community block grants, these funding sources largely go… Read More
Offerings students a unique opportunity to work in and with the historically under-resourced community of West Philadelphia to harness and synthesize arts, citizen science, and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education. Students will engage in an extensive literature review, involving communication with university professors and local stakeholders to understand the urban and environmental history of the Cobbs Creek area. This effort will also create a constructive dialogue between the university and its surrounding community regarding environmental and economic justice.… Read More
The Water Center at Penn and Mayors Innovation Project will host and organize a New York-specific Water Affordability Academy. The Academy will provide city and utility leaders with the necessary foundation of water affordability-focused knowledge, as well as the tools and resources to get started on their path towards affordability.
Establishing a cohort of New York cities focused on identifying one impediment to keeping water affordable. This cohort will launch after the Academy, as a natural next step in the implementation process
Providing the necessary direct technical assistance… Read More
Contribute to report for city Mayors on solutions to challenges faced by public water utilities with particular focus on privatization of water systems.
The Water Center at Penn will support American Rivers and other project partners to identify and advocate for improvements to state and federal investment in water infrastructure in the Delaware River watershed for more green infrastructure and improved equity focusing on the State Revolving Fund programs.