Pittsburgh is known for its three rivers that snugly frame the city and create a unique and beautiful cityscape. Various local organizations in the Pittsburgh community have dedicated themselves to cleaning up our iconic waterways through volunteerism. On June 16, more than 20 volunteers from various Duquesne Light departments joined that effort by participating in the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Committee (ORSANCO) River Sweep.
DLC volunteers made their way down trails along the Ohio River bank, near Brunot Island, collecting refuse and debris. Several then boarded a boat and traveled to Chartiers Creek to continue their river sweep work. Overall the volunteers managed to collect about 10 cubic yards of garbage from the river, including 27 rubber tires, fast food wrappers, plastic bottles, fallen tree branches, and plant waste.
Duquesne Light’s commitment to Pittsburgh’s waterways is not new; the Company has been participating in the ORSANCO River Sweep for 26 years. Allegheny CleanWays, a non-profit dedicated to eliminating illegal dumping and littering in Allegheny County, as well as Friends of the River Front, a group aimed at raising awareness of and engagement with the region’s rivers and riverfronts through stewardship and expansion of land and trails, also help to facilitate the annual River Sweep.
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