Providing water, wastewater and stormwater services to Philadelphia. Call 215-685-6300 to report emergencies 24/7 or here from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mon - Fri
UPDATE: Based on updated hydraulic modeling and the latest sampling, we are confident tap water from the Baxter plant will remain safe to drink through 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 27.
We're continuing to respond to this incident. Follow for more updates:
We are responding to a spill of a latex product that occurred along a Delaware River tributary. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Follow our account and
@PhilaOEM
for updates:
Based on the latest hydraulic modeling and sampling results, we are confident that tap water from the Baxter plant will remain safe to drink and use at least through 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 28, 2023. Latest updates here:
Philadelphia’s water remains safe to drink and use and will not be impacted by the spill in Bucks County. Based on latest water sampling results, PWD is confident that tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant remains safe:
We are continually testing water from the Delaware River as it comes into our Baxter treatment plant. Based on updated results, we remain confident that tap water from Baxter is safe to drink and use at least through 11:59 p.m., Wed., March 29, 2023:
As you stock up on groceries and household items, remember that you can save room in your cart by drinking safe and delicious Philly tap water rather than bottled.
#DrinkTapPHL
If you love Philly, do the right thing: put used gloves and masks in the trash when you are done using them, not on our sidewalks and streets. Thank you!
More good news:
We're continuing our enhanced water quality testing to ensure that Philadelphia's water remains safe from the Trinseo spill.
Our results from today, March 29, 2023, did not detect contaminants from the spill.
There is no need to buy water at this time. Customers can fill bottles or pitchers with tap water with no risk at this time. We will provide a media update at approximately 5 p.m. today, Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Thank you to all Water +
@PhiladelphiaGov
workers out there on Labor Day weekend helping Philly recover from the damage Ida left behind. Eddie Holsworth and Eric Council from Sewer Maintenance were clearing mud from Main St. in Manayunk this morning.
DRINKING WATER WARNING: Some parts of West Philadelphia are under a Boil Water Notice, which means that the water may be unsafe to drink due to loss of water pressure today.
To learn if you’ve been affected by this, see our map showing the areas affected:
Latest sampling: The accredited, independent labs testing our samples for chemicals related to the March 24 spill continue to show no detection. We look forward to publishing all the results next week, and your water remains safe as we have never detected any of the chemicals.
This spill will potentially affect water treated at the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Residents can find out if they live in an impacted area here:
At this time, no contaminants have been found in our tap water system. Out of an abundance of caution, residents in the impacted areas may want to switch to bottled water. Follow our account and
@PhilaOEM
for updates.
We really shouldn't have to say this, but...things you should NOT do in ☠️💩polluted floodwaters include backflips, tubing, and really anything involving contact. Tips for dealing with floodwater cleanup are in the flood guide in the resources section ⬇️
The Philadelphia Water Department is confident tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant will remain safe to drink and use at least through 11:59 p.m. today. (See additional tweets below)
The earlier advisory that customers receiving water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant may choose to drink bottled water on March 26 was issued out of an abundance of caution. Testing has not shown the presence of water impacted by the spill in the Baxter system.
Philly water is safe to drink and use. We will continue to test and monitor the water in the Delaware River and share the results. A conservative estimate allows us to expect that this event will be completely resolved by next week. More updates:
Just a typical day at work for our rep Michelle, sharing water assistance and service info with residents in West Philly, oh and did we mention she also met Emmy winner, Sheryl Lee Ralph, too?
We are aware of reports of widespread water outages in parts of West Phila. We are working to restore water. Our emergency line is currently experiencing high call volume. Thank you for your patience. Updates will be shared when there is more info:
No further advisory will be needed as models have shown that the potential threat from the March 24, 2023 spill along a tributary of the Delaware River is passing. Our drinking water remains safe to drink and use. No contaminants from the spill have been found in our water.
Latest update: From the time we were alerted about a chemical spill impacting the Delaware River through April 4, our experts collected over 200 samples.
No chemicals from the spill were detected in any of the samples analyzed by independent labs:
At this time, no contaminants have been detected in the Delaware River’s water.
Tap water continues to be safe for residents to use as they normally would–drinking, cooking, bathing, and more.
Our latest round of sampling for contaminants on March 30 related to the Trinseo spill found no detection, and water across the city remains safe. We are continuing to test to be absolutely sure your water isn't impacted.
Water across the city remains safe.
The City will update the public at 5 p.m. today regarding our work to sample water and track the spill in the Delaware River.
Info about watching the briefing and latest updates here:
The boil water advisory announced June 11 for upper West Philadelphia has ended after all samples were tested and showed no evidence of harmful bacteria. More details:
We continue to test and monitor the water in the Delaware River. If at any point the water quality sampling indicates a potential impact to the raw water basin at the Baxter Water Treatment Plant, we will notify the public immediately.
On Labor Day, we thank Philly's water workers. Crawling through sewers, helping customers, fixing water mains, taking lab samples on the river: each job is vital to making sure we all have clean water and healthy rivers. Learn about working with us ➡water,
There is no impact to drinking water quality. Philadelphia Water Department staff are continuing to monitor the situation and working with other agencies in the emergency response. Follow the below link and
@PhilaOEM
for updates.
Updates on COVID-19: We are continuing all operations necessary to ensure safe drinking water and we will not be shutting off water for nonpayment. See updates ⬇️
The City’s other two treatment plants draw water from the Schuylkill River which was not impacted by the spill. The water that is currently available to all residents has been treated and tested to confirm that it is safe to drink and use for bathing, cooking, and washing.
The main break at Juniper and Sansom has been shut down. Customers in Center City and South Philadelphia should begin to see water pressure restored. Please avoid the area from Locust to Chestnut and Broad to 12th. Updates to follow as available.
It's been 2 years since the last sewer 🤡 sighting and the message remains the same: DON'T THROW TRASH IN THE SEWER. Our friends at
@PhillyH2O
would agree. 👍
Cities across America are marking "Imagine A Day Without Water" today. In Philly, we get to imagine what it would be like without our 6800 miles of water mains & sewers during a homegame with the defending Super Bowl champs.
#ValueWater
#ImagineADayWithoutWater
#FlyEaglesFly
See a fire hydrant that's damaged or missing a cap? Leaking? We're always working to make sure you have clean, safe drinking water - but did you know we also maintain Philly's 25,000+ hydrants? If you see a damaged hydrant, give us a call at 215-685-6300.
COVID-19 update: Residents should know that drinking water is safe and that customers will not be shut off as Philadelphia addresses this emergency. Please see our full statement ➡️
Did you know Philly tap only costs about 1/2 penny per gallon? Running the faucet a few minutes before filling a pitcher to keep in the fridge is the smart way to get ice-cold, thirst-quenching H2O!
#DrinkTapPHL
#PhillyH2OTips
#TipTuesday
The votes are in, and Philly has a new clean water Spokesdog! DOLPHINA will be alerting dog owners that poo-llution can make waterways unsafe + harm wildlife. Join us 6/22 for a celebration with activities, nature walks, and more!
Info ➡️
#SpokesdogPHL
Tomorrow =
#ImagineADayWithoutWater
! Get a free crash course on the biggest local pollution sources impacting Philly rivers + be part of the solution by joining the army of
#RainCheckPHL
participants who've greened their homes with our support:
#ValueWater
Contaminants related to the Bristol Township discharge have never been found in PWD’s water system at any point. W expect that there will continue to be no detectable levels of the spill at Philadelphia’s Delaware River intake by Wednesday or Thursday this week.
Residents who want to make sure they have water available can fill bottles or pitchers with tap water with no risk at this time.
Residents can sign up for free alerts from the City by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 or by visiting the signup page:
Over 100 additional samples taken by PWD, regional water utilities,
@uscoastguard
,
@PennsylvaniaDEP
, +
@EPA
. found no detectable levels of chemicals associated with the spill.
This⬇️is a photo of the junk jamming up our sewers/plants— taken BEFORE all the wipes, masks, and gloves started showing up! Please: don't flush anything but toilet paper and don't litter. It's not good for your pipes or ours or our rivers.
#WipesClogPipes
#PhillyH2OTips
#PolarVortex
alert: If no one will be using water at your house all day, letting a faucet drip very slowly can keep water moving help make sure you don't come hope to
#frozenpipes
or burst plumbing. More
#PhillyH20Tips
:
Staying cool with Philly’s pools and spraygrounds is the way to go! Stay hydrated & safe this weekend and report any open hydrants to 215-685-6300!
#StayCoolPHL
#DrinkTapPHL
.
@EWellingtonPHL
"Learning how to swim is a basic life skill...denied to Black Americans through centuries of slavery and discrimination. That legacy is the focus of a daring new exhibit: “POOL: A Social History of Segregation” at
@FairmountWW
. Opens 9/3:
From
@WHYY
: Spill underscores the importance of investing in Philadelphia's 25-year Water Revitalization Plan, which will allow us to supply the whole city from either the Schuylkill or Delaware River. ⬇���
PWD continues to test the water to assure that no contaminated water will be brought into our water treatment system.
We will provide further updates based on the latest sampling data as it becomes available.
❄️
#PHLsnow
reminder! Keep hydrants and storm drains clear when shoveling snow. You can help prevent flooding on your block and ensure a faster response if there is a fire!
#PhillyH2OTips
➡️
The Philadelphia Water Department welcomes the
@Phillies
back to Citizens Bank Park, where the field is watered with Schuylkill River tap and all the baseballs are covered in that magic Delaware River mud.
#GoPhils
We couldn't let
#GalentinesDay
pass without a shout-out to one of our all-time favorite ladies ... Philly's Water Woman! Just like Leslie Knope, she never stops working for her community and is an inspiration to women and girls everywhere. 💙💧
We're excited to introduce
#PhillyWaterBar
at City Hall this Wednesday! Members of
@Phillymayor
’s team will be there pouring free tap to show residents how they can save money + make healthy, sustainable choices when they drink local tap!
#DrinkTapPHL
Philly's Water Woman needs a sidekick to combat a dogged foe: pet waste left where it can wash into our rivers/creeks when it rains🐕💩🚫☔️💧! That can harm wildlife and = unsafe waterway recreation.
#Spokesdog2019
voting ends THIS Friday:
#CleanWatersPHL
Thanks to the teens volunteering with
@phillyseaport
, 73 storm drains in Old City now have Delaware River American Shad markers to remind people that Philly's streets and sewers connect to local watersheds! Get a free kit & mark your block:
#CleanWatersPHL
We’re proud to have
@PHLschools
high school students TJ & Tia as two of our first
#PhillyWaterBar
-tenders! They’re spreading the word:
#DrinkTapPHL
for a healthy way to stay hydrated + reduce litter and pollution from single-use plastic!
Here’s a
#DrinkingWaterWeek
fact: We don’t make a profit, and we don’t get funding from taxes. Your water bill helps pay for all of our drinking water infrastructure + treatment, and we work hard to keep tap affordable at just about half a penny per gallon.
This GIF sums up a big part of why we need to take pressure off
#Philly
sewers w/
#CleanWatersPHL
tools like rain gardens: creeks that carried stormwater are now paved-over sewers. Join us +
@TTFWatershed
on Sat and tour one of our hidden, historic creeks:
Our
#SchuylkillRiverTrail
water stations are officially in hibernation mode, but thanks to waterfront visitors who used refillable bottles/drank from the fountains, we kept +159,000 single-use bottles out of
#Philly
's waste stream! More:
#SeeYouInSpring
From 12-1 pm today, our Philly Water Bar will be serving tap water on the southside of City Hall! We’ll be pouring free water and teaching residents how they save money and make healthy, sustainable choices when they drink Philly tap! More:
#DrinkTapPHL
Wow 😲! We're ONE follower away from our *9,000th!* Retweet this and, if we get to 9K, we will install *free rain barrels* for qualifying Philly residents - they just have to go to 1 of 5 upcoming February
#RainCheckPHL
workshops ➡️
@fhillypino21
No contaminants have ever been detected in all the sampling we've done of the water coming into our Baxter plant, so please do make that coffee.
It's
#311DayPHL
! We have 25000 hydrants, 72000+ stormdrains, 6500+ miles of water mains/sewers to look after - and we couldn't do it without
@philly311
! Don't forget: you can report water emergencies to us with a DM during business hours, or 24/7 at (215) 685-6300!
#PhillyH2OTips
It's March 11! That means its National 3-1-1 Day! Today we celebrate the voice of the City,
@philly311
agents.
📞 Dial 3-1-1 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. to get your questions answered!
#311DayPHL
As we head into the heart of summer, remember that hydrants are there for
@PhillyFireDept
firefighters, not fun! 🚒 Call (215) 685-6300 to report illegal hydrant use.
#PhillyH2OTips
to
#StayCoolPHL
⬇️
Welcome Back, Otters(s)! This short animation tells the story about how 300+ miles of Philly streams became Philly's sewers over centuries of development + how
#CleanWatersPHL
green tools like rain gardens help us reduce pollution created by overflowing sewers.
#WelcomeBackOtter
Did you know there are big fines for opening hydrants? If you see a hydrant being used by anyone other than PWD or
@PhillyFireDept
call us at (215) 685-6300. Why you never open one to cool off ➡️
This update is informed by the results of water sampling conducted this morning, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, and hydraulic modeling that accounts for rainfall received in the Delaware River watershed on March 27 and March 28 as well as the flow and tide of the river.
During national Drinking Water Week, we recognize the dedicated employees at our three plants who work 24/7 to provide hundreds of millions of gallons of clean tap water daily to every home and business in the city—all for under 1 penny a gallon.
#DrinkingWaterWeek
#DrinkTapPHL