Howard Neukrug is responsible for establishing policies and programs for Southeast Pennsylvania’s stream and river network for the protection of water supply for 2 million persons, the propagation and protection of fish and wildlife habitat, and in support of the region’s recreation, ecotourism and sustainable riverfront re-development efforts.
He oversees a “best in nation” source water protection program for the City of Philadelphia which is currently implementing over 65 restoration and protection projects involving abandoned mine drainage reclamation, agricultural buffers, stormwater management, sewage overflows and public education. He is responsible for Philadelphia’s CSO program which is implementing an adaptive watershed management approach to CWA attainment goals using coordinated outreach, education and stakeholder support throughout the planning and implementation stages of watershed programming, comprehensive watershed monitoring, hydrologic/hydraulic engineering, green development and infrastructure and stream enhancements.
Mr. Neukrug has over 25 years experience in utility planning and management and is an expert in drinking water quality and treatment. He is a Professional Engineer, a graduate in Civil and Urban Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Neukrug has often been asked to testify before Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on environmental, financial, infrastructure and other utility management issues, and to speak before hundreds of local, national and international forums.
Best Practice presentation talking point How can we best begin to understand the river and its watershed as a natural system that can be sustained and enhanced through sound planning principles? The Delaware certainly has an interesting history, so a brief look at general waterways and watersheds would be great. However, we would like to also get down to the basement level, literally, as many residents believe recent waterfront development has led to flooding in their homes. We would want to learn about best practices relative to storm water management and natural watershed restoration processes as they relate to large development projects such as casinos, new infrastructure, a working port, and other facets of development along Delaware Avenue in Philadelphia. What national best practices are the Philadelphia Water Department developing that can be shared with the audience?
