How PWD is preparing for more extreme weather: As extreme weather becomes more common, preparing for it becomes more important
September 18, 2026
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PWD Office of Watersheds
Like other cities around the world, Philadelphia is seeing changes in its weather and climate patterns. According to the Philadelphia Water Department’s Climate-Resilient Planning and Design Guidance engineers, a storm that once had a 1-in-100 chance of happening each year (a “100-year storm”) could have a 1-in-7 chance by the end of the century, assuming […]
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A summer of extremes: Understanding Philadelphia's summer storms and changing weather patterns
September 14, 2026
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PWD Office of Watersheds
This summer has given Philadelphians a glimpse of what scientists say the future may hold. In just a few weeks, Philadelphia faced severe storms, flooding, extreme heat, and smoke from Canadian wildfires. Each event was different, but together they show an important trend: extreme weather is becoming more common.
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2021: A Year in Review: We reflect on a year of achievements, advances, and milestones.
December 27, 2021
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Public Affairs
From pollution praises to community poetry — infrastructure investments to mural unveilings, 2021 offered a plethora of opportunities allowing us to better serve, engage, and communicate our water services to Philadelphia residents.
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Exploring Germantown Waterways through Poetry: Join poet laureate Trapeta B. Mayson, PWD, & US Water Alliance to create community poetry.
August 10, 2021
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Public Affairs
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is collaborating with 2020-2021 Philadelphia Poet Laureate, Trapeta B. Mayson, to curate “Wingo-WHAT?” — an artistic intervention designed to shed light on Germantown waterway concerns through poetry, education, and flooding resources.
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Germantown Flooding: Community Connections to the Past, Present, & Future: A new task force aims to increase flood preparation resources.
July 28, 2021
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Grace Maiorano
Parts of the Germantown neighborhood are particularly prone to the effects of urban flooding due to geography, circumstances of its past, and potential impacts of the future.
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San Juan Explores Philly’s Green Solutions: Our GSI experts met with San Juan’s environmental champions.
February 27, 2020
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Grace Maiorano
Through a learning exchange program hosted by The Nature Conservancy, our Deputy Commissioner of Planning & Environmental Services and Public Engagement Team Manager, recently met with representatives from the San Juan-based Proyecto ENLACE del Caño Martín Peña.
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Philly Climate Change Efforts Get Boost from Global Summit: Engineer leading our climate efforts represented Phila. in Copenhagen
November 21, 2019
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Public Affairs
Like the other City experts representing Philadelphia in Copenhagen, PWD Engineer Julia Rockwell was there because she and her peers are doing crucial work on climate change.
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Customer Service Week Spotlight: Inlet Cleaning Crews: You Call, They Unclog - But That’s Not All.
October 9, 2019
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Public Affairs
You may see these crews providing customer service on your block. Get details on three specialized tasks they perform and tips on getting help with a clogged drain that’s causing flooding.
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The Day Fairmount Dam Vanished: 150 Year-Anniversary of the Schuylkill’s Worst Flood: A new series on Philly water history with Adam Levine
October 4, 2019
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Adam Levine, PWD Historian
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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More Than a Rain Garden in Strawberry Mansion: Green Initiative Cleans Water, Keeps Community in Mind
September 11, 2019
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Public Affairs
The newest Strawberry Mansion green initiative was primarily designed to manage local stormwater and protect the Schuylkill River but also helps the neighborhood in several other ways.
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