For nearly 50 years, the Stroud Water Research Center has been working to protect the health of the world’s fresh water.

On Thursday, March 24, members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce received an overview of that ambitious initiative during “Business After Hours,” a SCCCC networking event that was hosted by the center.

Bernard W. Sweeney, president, director, and senior research scientist at the center, said Stroud owes its genesis in 1967 to the extraordinary vision and foresight of W.B. Dixon Stroud, his wife, Joan M. Stroud, and Ruth Patrick, a water scientist at the Academy of Natural Sciences. They joined forces to establish a location in Avondale that included a branch of the White Clay Creek that could be studied by teams of scientists.

Sweeney noted that the center began during a time when the nation’s waterways were severely imperiled and even predated the existence of the Environmental Protection Agency by five years. Continuing the center’s commitment to environmental advocacy, its Moorhead Environmental Complex received LEED platinum certification in 2013, the highest honor for green buildings.

During the building’s construction, the center had hoped to meet the approximately 60 requirements to achieve gold status, Sweeney said, but when platinum seemed within reach, the resolve to aim higher strengthened, and changes were made. For example, Sweeney said most solar panels come from China; however, platinum certification requires facilities to use local materials, prompting a successful search that led to Delaware.

Following Sweeney’s introduction, David B. Arscott, assistant director and research scientist, provided a tour of the building’s exterior, enthusiastically explaining symbiotic interaction among wastewater, worms, and rainwater. He also highlighted the center’s wetlands, geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, rain gardens, and more.

Steve Kerlin, the center’s director of education, eagerly showed off a classroom set up for a group of fourth-graders who will visit next week. He said more than 2,000 students visit the campus each year for interactive programs, most of which are provided free of charge or at reduced cost. The students perform tasks such as testing pH, identifying bugs and performing water chemistry experiments, he said.

Besides students, the Stroud Water Research Center also provides instruction to assist farmers and landowners to mitigate their impact on freshwater systems.

In addition to the tours, chamber members had a chance to mingle and sample hors d’oeurves, as well as award-winning cheeses from the Farm at Doe Run, which is part of the West Marlborough estate of Dick Hayne, a Stroud board member and founder of Urban Outfitters.

Tempting dessert offerings also had local ties. Chris Curtin, owner of West Chester’s Eclat Chocolate, fondly known as a sustainable splurge, is a longtime supporter of Stroud since he relies on fresh water for his creations. And cookies were provided by Pocopson Township’s Sandra Morlino, who owns Classic Cookies.

Cheryl Kuhn, president of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, deemed the evening a huge – and tasty – success. She said Business After Hours, which is free for members and costs only $10 for guests, typically attracts 35 to 50 attendees.

The Stroud event drew more than 60 local business professionals, who enjoyed networking and complimentary food and beverages. “Director Bern Sweeney and his remarkable staff graciously opened their doors for the event and tours,” Kuhn said, adding that attendees “thoroughly enjoyed learning about this Platinum LEED-certified building.”