July 23, 2014 - Today, DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins, Ward 3 DC Councilmember Mary Cheh, DC Greenworks Program Director Neil Qusba and other DC leaders celebrated significant Green Infrastructure (GI) projects installed at DC Water facilities. The event took place atop DC Waters Ft. Reno Reservoir, where a new one- acre green roof tops the covered reservoir. The site has also been used for a unique job training program in GI maintenance for local residents. Called Growing Futures, the training program prepares its graduates for jobs maintaining green projects.

General Manager Hawkins, commented, "Growing Futures is providing a sustainable career path for local residents while also keeping green infrastructure working properly to infiltrate stormwater, an important function in keeping our waterways healthy while providing additional environmental benefits."

In addition to DC Waters Ft. Reno Reservoir green roof, the Authority retrofitted several of its water and sewer facilities. DC Water covered the East Side Pumping Station, a wastewater pumping station near RFK Stadium, with a 6,600 square foot green roof. At the Anacostia Water Pumping Station, DC Water created green projects to capture and treat runoff, including pervious pavers and a bioretention area (or rain garden) with native plantings. Ft. Renos retrofit includes pervious pavers in addition to the green roof.

DC Water provided funding to DC Greenworks to create the Growing Futures Program, which provided local residents training in all aspects of green roof maintenance including topics such as planting and weeding, irrigation system operation, pest and invasive species control, and plant identification. The program included both classroom and hands-on learning opportunities with the green roof at Ft. Reno used as one of the training sites.

Leon Green, a graduate of the program, attended the celebration and said, "This program has given me the skills to secure a job working as a green roof maintenance technician with Furbish Company. This program gives prospective employers the confidence that graduates have learned best practices in green infrastructure maintenance. I am proud to be serving such an important function for DC and the environment."

DC Water is also collaborating with neighboring Alice Deal Middle School to provide educational materials for a curriculum in stormwater management.

For more information about Growing Futures or the collaboration with Alice Deal Middle School, please contact: Bethany Bezak at 202-787-4466 or visit dcwater.com/giatdcwater.