PennFuture recently teamed up with our partners from the Chose Clean Water Coalition (CCWC) and the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed (CDRW) to stand side by side to address an issue critical to us all: clean water.

In total, 26 members from our groups came together April 30 during the PA Clean Water Lobby Day to educate lawmakers in a great series of meetings which highlighted the importance of clean water. 

Throughout the day, our discussions with elected officials centered around Pennsylvania’s need for a dedicated clean water fund, proper funding for our state resource agencies like the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and asking that Pennsylvania start doing its fair share of fully funding our state water basin commissions, such as the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Delaware River Basin Commission, Interstate Commission for the Potomac River Basin, and the Ohio River Sanitary Authority Commission.

The day was a huge success, thanks in large part to the phenomenal advocates and professionals we work alongside. But, this time next year, we want to think bigger and better. Our goal is to have environmental advocates from  throughout the Commonwealth unite in the Capitol Main Rotunda with the singular message of protecting life’s most precious natural resource: water. 

We want to thank the speakers who came out and expressed what clean water means to them, including: Marel King of Chesapeake Bay Commission, Rep. Mike Sturla, 96th District, Member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, Delaware - 161st Legislative District, PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo, Mariah Davis, Field Manager – Choose Clean Water Coalition,  Madeline Emde, State Policy Manager – Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Stephanie Wein, Water & Conservation Advocate – PennEnvironment,  and Jackson, Clean Water Supply Associate  – American Rivers. We’ll see you next year!