Education - Urban Environmental Partnership

Four Des Moines area utilities, Des Moines Water Works, Metro Waste Authority, Wastewater Reclamation Authority, and the City of Des Moines Storm Water Utility, recognized that they shared a common customer base as well as the common goal of protecting source water in our community. The four utilities joined together in the spring of 2000 to form the Urban Environmental Partnership (UEP), a partnership committed to educating the public and employees about water treatment, watershed protection, and pollution prevention in the urban environment. A kickoff event was held at McKee Elementary in April 2000.  Since that time, three other cities – Johnston, Norwalk, and Waukee – have joined the UEP as Associate Members.

Urban Environmental Partnership Mission Statement
The Urban Environmental Partnership is dedicated to providing an integrated education program designed to protect water quality in the urban watershed. The primary focus is to assist the community - individuals, businesses, and public utilities - in understanding its roles and responsibilities in water and waste management.

Education curriculum was written to integrate information about each of the partner's roles and responsibilities in our community. This curriculum is now being taught in the Des Moines area by an Education Team made up of several employees of Des Moines Water Works and Metro Waste Authority.