Advancing local environmental stewardship and urban green infrastructure, the American Water Charitable Foundation—established by nationwide utility provider American Water—alongside New Jersey American Water, has presented an $11,900 grant to the Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA).
The funding is part of the Foundation’s 2026 Water and Environment Grant Program and will be directly utilized to construct a new rain garden while providing hands-on environmental education for approximately 120 fourth- and fifth-grade students at Public School No. 25 in Paterson.
Paterson faces distinct stormwater management hurdles due to widespread impervious surfaces and combined sewer overflows, which frequently exacerbate local flooding and water quality concerns.
Once completed, the newly funded rain garden will naturally capture, redirect, and infiltrate an estimated 25,000 gallons of roof runoff annually, improving groundwater recharge while establishing native pollinator habitats. The project is anticipated to directly benefit roughly 820 students and local community members, serving as a permanent outdoor educational resource.
Students will take an active role throughout the lifecycle of the installation—participating directly in planning, planting, and long-term site stewardship. Through classroom instruction and field activities, students will study practical concepts surrounding stormwater management, water health, and ecological responsibility.
“The American Water Charitable Foundation’s investment in this project will enable us to work with the students at P.S. 25 to install green infrastructure at their school while directly engaging them in hands-on environmental education,” said William S. Kibler, Executive Director of the Great Swamp Watershed Association. “Students will actively participate in the planning, planting, and long-term stewardship of the rain garden…”
The grant is part of the American Water Charitable Foundation’s broader Keep Communities Flowing initiative, which focuses on core pillars of giving: Water, People, and Communities. Across 2026, the Foundation has distributed over $179,000 through Water and Environment grants to ten distinct nonprofit organizations spanning New Jersey American Water’s service footprints.
“Providing safe and reliable water is what we do, but giving back to the communities we serve is part of who we are,” Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water, said. “Through the Foundation’s Water and Environment Grant Program, we’re proud to invest in local organizations that protect our water resources, educate future stewards and strengthen communities across New Jersey.”
