A rolling collection of stories, tips, and news powered by the people of the Philadelphia Water Department.

@Philly H2O Blog

RECENT POSTS:

1,000 Greened Acres (So Far): It Took a City

October 30, 2017  |  Brian Rademaekers

As we’ve seen over the last six years, to really transform Philadelphia’s landscape on a scale that’s big enough to have a real impact on our rivers, it takes more than just Water Department crews and contractors building rain gardens. In fact, it takes a whole city working together, not to mention supportive partners…

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Winter is coming: Watch this cold-weather tips vid and avoid frozen pipes

October 19, 2017  |  Brian Rademaekers

The arrival of chilly nights means it’s time to make sure your pipes are protected from cold winter temps that can cause frozen or burst pipes in your home or on your property. While most plumbing is deep enough underground or insulated well enough within your home to avoid freezing, water meters and water service lines can freeze when the temperature drops below 32 degrees in some cases…

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We owe Philly’s Clean Water Champions 1,000 (Green) Thank Yous

September 25, 2017  |  Brian Rademaekers

You’re invited to celebrate 1,000 Greened Acres. Can you soak that in? Philly has created one thousand Greened Acres. Yes, it’s impressive … but you want to know the best part? YOU did it: One rain garden, one Rain Check workshop and one Soak It Up Adoption cleanup at a time…

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Get a Preview of Germantown’s Greener Future at October Happy Hollow Open House

September 22, 2017  |  Brian Rademaekers

The Philadelphia Water Department is hosting an open house event for residents and community groups interested in learning about dozens of green stormwater projects planned for construction in the Germantown neighborhood in the coming years. A part of the City’s 25-year Green City, Clean Waters program, the projects are currently in the planning and design stage…

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Sneak Peek: Cobbs Creek Oral History Project + Virtual Walking Tour

August 4, 2017  |  Brian Rademaekers

Starting in 2015, the Philadelphia Water Department’s Public Engagement team began recording conversations with members of the Cobbs Creek community. The goal? To better understand how people feel about Cobbs Creek—one of Philadelphia’s seven major watersheds—and what they want to see for the neighborhood, the park, and the stream. You can get a sneak peek…

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CHOP Gets Recognition for Leading with River-Protecting Green Design

July 25, 2017  |  Brian Rademaekers

When leadership at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia decided to create a brand-new, centralized facility for pediatric care, their primary concern was easing the stress young patients and their families often face while undergoing treatment. Today, that vision is recognized at the 12-story Buerger Center, a colorful University City building that opened in 2015…

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So Many Ways to Keep Cool in Philadelphia: Opening Hydrants? Not One of Them

July 13, 2017  |  Brian Rademaekers

In Philadelphia, we’re lucky to have more pools and spray grounds per resident than any other city in the U.S. Because we have all those great, free places to cool off, there’s no reason to open fire hydrants when the weather gets hot or risk swimming in our unpredictable rivers, where drowning is always a risk. Opening hydrants can cause a number of dangerous situations…

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