Pittsburgh Water partners with "π-Rates" to tackle plastic pollution in storm drains

The team of 5th- and 6th-grade students worked on a solution to protect our waterways from plastic waste.
A group of fifth and sixth grade students stand near an open sewer grate with their 3D printed solution for preventing plastic waste from entering. Education & Outreach Associate Holly Bomba joins the talented eye-patch-equipped π-Rates team for a test of their temporary storm drain solution.

We're always on the lookout for innovative ideas that help protect our waterways, and we know the inventive spirit of our community’s youth can spark such innovation. That’s why we were excited to collaborate with the π-Rates, (pronounced “pirates”), a talented team of 5th- and 6th-grade students working on a solution to reduce plastic pollution entering our sewers. 

The π-Rates train at MySTEM Academy for the FIRST® LEGO® League Robotics championship. As part of this competition, the π-Rates set out to design a low-cost, effective solution to prevent plastic waste from being swept into open, non-grated storm drains. The team reached out to us to learn about our city’s sewer system, which includes thousands of open-faced inlets. Even though these open inlets are being replaced, those that remain allow large debris, like plastic litter, to enter the system, causing problems for sewers and polluting our water.

The π-Rates stepped up and undertook a full research and design process to identify the issue, propose solutions, and create custom 3D-printed grate models to protect these open inlets. With input from Pittsburgh Water and Allegheny CleanWays, the team tested their temporary design on an inlet in Schenley Park, observing its effectiveness in blocking debris while maintaining proper water flow. The team won first place for their project at the PA State Championship and advanced to an International Open Invitational Championship!

While engaging young minds in hands-on problem-solving related to stormwater, we consider the complexities of stormwater management in an old city with legacy infrastructure like ours. In our work, we encourage the next generation of environmental stewards, and we're continually reminded of the value and need for dedicated investment in our infrastructure, so it continues to serve future generations of Pittsburghers and helps protect public health and the environment.

Learn more about stormwater management at pgh2o.com/stormwater, and our Scholastic Outreach Program at pgh2o.com/education.