We have the pleasure of featuring four Philadelphia Water Department employees for Black History Month. We asked them to share their stories about working at PWD, things they have learned during their careers, and what Black History means to them.
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A new art project explores our watershed in a way that acknowledges the original stewards of these rivers and streams – the Lenni-Lenape.
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America’s Black children are nearly six times more likely to drown than white children. As the Water Commissioner here in Philadelphia, when I step back to consider the disparities which can turn water from a source of life into a fatal threat, I see at the core of the problem a theme which ripples out into so many other areas of life where inequities cause harm: a lack of access.
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As we await the re-opening of “POOL: A Social History of Segregation” at the Fairmount Water Works, here is a sample of ‘Surfing in the African Diaspora,’ in which Dr. Kevin Dawson cuts against the standard origin story of surfing to highlight fascinating roots along Africa’s Atlantic coast.
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Commissioner Hayman reflects on a neighborhood role model who broke barriers in Black history – and made his childhood dreams and aspirations feel truly attainable.
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An amazing story about why being Philly’s first black Water Dept. commissioner matters.
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Sewer crawlers face many challenges in their work, including rodent nests.
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We plumbed the past to see if there have been dry days in the Philly’s past.
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A century and a half ago today, the worst Schuylkill River flood ever recorded nearly wiped out Philadelphia’s drinking water infrastructure. Historian Adam Levine has the story.
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In response to the public interest in a giant hole on Baltimore Avenue caused by a sewer issue earlier this month, Philadelphia Water Department in-house historian Adam Levine will offer his Mill Creek: Stream to Sewer presentation on Tuesday, June 25 at the University of the Sciences.
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