On Oct. 8, Prince George’s County announced the completion of the county’s first stormwater retrofit project under the Clean Water Partnership (CWP). The project at Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church includes installation of pervious pavers, three rain gardens, an infiltration trench, and a bioswale.

The project will filter runoff from approximately 1 ha (2.35 ac) and is one of several CWP stormwater infrastructure projects to be unveiled throughout the county within the next year.

The CWP is a community-based public-private partnership between Prince George’s County government and Corvias Solutions to manage $100 million of green infrastructure projects, which provide cost savings, create local jobs, and boost economic development in the county.

“This partnership benefits all Prince Georgians by working with us to not only improve our local water quality and removing pollution from our water reserves, but also by creating and beautifying public common spaces with the use of rain gardens, permeable pavers, and other stormwater best management practices that provide aesthetic value to our communities and beyond,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.

The project is the first of many that will help to treat and reduce polluted runoff that would otherwise reach the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay.

A key component of the CWP requires Corvias to boost local economic development by using local small and minority businesses. Corvias must meet a 30% target for the first year, a 35% target for the second year, and a 40% target for the third year in order to be paid in full. The project at Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church employed three minority-based enterprises local to the county. The CWP business model is expected to help stimulate and expand the county’s tax base and increase the number of green infrastructure employment opportunities in the county.

Forestville New Redeemer Baptist Church is the first faith-based organization selected to participate in the CWP program through the county’s Alternative Compliance Program, which is a unique partnership created for religious and 501(c) nonprofit organizations to assist in treating stormwater runoff by using best management practices.