NEW Water used a $28,900 grant from the Fund for Lake Michigan to develop a Green Infrastructure Implementation Plan, identifying green initiative projects to pursue on its properties, including:
A permeable parking lot that was installed at its Green Bay Facility. Environmental benefits include reduction in runoff; filtering of pollutants; replenishment of local groundwater supplies.
A prairie restoration being established at its Green Bay Facility. NEW Water is converting a 1.2 acre-grassed area into a native prairie. The project is partially funded by a $1,200 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for native seed purchase. Turf is replaced with low-maintenance, high ecological value plants.
NEW Water planted 85 trees at its Green Bay and De Pere Facility sites as well as in the watersheds of Ashwaubenon and Dutchman Creeks, supported by $16,250 in U.S. Forest Service grants. Trees increase canopy cover for stormwater absorption and cooling.
NEW Water has identified both short-term and long-term green infrastructure projects at its Green Bay and De Pere facilities, as well as at meter stations in the service area.
Additional identified projects include: bioswales to capture and treat runoff; riparian restoration to stabilize shorelines with vegetation and improve fish/wildlife habitat; green roofs to reduce runoff and extend roof life; rain harvesting to store roof runoff for reuse.