Drops (of Knowledge)

15 Years of Green City, Clean Waters: Transforming Philadelphia’s waterways through innovation and investment

For more than fifteen years, PWD’s Green City, Clean Waters (GCCW) program has been transforming the way the city manages stormwater, protects waterways, and invests in neighborhoods. Since the program began in 2011, the Philadelphia Water Department has implemented one of the nation’s most ambitious green stormwater infrastructure programs while simultaneously advancing major traditional infrastructure improvements […]

2025 Drinking Water Quality Report

We welcome you to the 2026 Drinking Water Quality Report! This annual document demonstrates how we protect Philadelphia’s drinking water from the source to the tap. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring safe, reliable drinking water. We deliver top-quality water to Philadelphia’s homes, businesses, and communities 24 hours a day, every day.

PWD Unveils Upgraded Water Treatment System at Baxter Water Treatment Plant

During National Drinking Water Week, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and City officials held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of an updated zinc orthophosphate system, a treatment that helps protect drinking water from lead plumbing, at the Samuel S. Baxter Water Treatment Plant located in Northeast Philadelphia.

2025 Drinking Water Quality Report Wholesale Customer Excerpt

We share our data tables in this format for industrial/commercial customers and consecutive water systems.

Consecutive water systems are public water systems that obtain their water from another public water system and resell the water, provide treatment, or provide drinking water to an interstate carrier. The term does not include bottled water and bulk water systems.

Response to PennEnvironment Sewage Pollution Report

PWD champions the goal of cleaner, healthier rivers and streams for Philadelphians and visitors alike, and value the advocates who care deeply about protecting our waterways for generations to come. However, some characterizations of PWD’s work in the recent PennEnvironment report “Sewage Pollution in the Philadelphia-Camden Region” do not fully reflect the complexity of managing and upgrading an aging urban sewer system while safeguarding public health and balancing affordability for ratepayers.

Dye testing near Wissahickon Creek

Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) has been conducting routine dye testing in neighborhoods near Henry Avenue and the Wissahickon creek. As a result, a bright green color may be seen in the water. The dye used, Fluorescein, is a fluorescent compound commonly used in water tracing studies. It is non-toxic, safe for humans and wildlife, and […]

Support Available for Federal Workers Affected by Shutdown

Support is available for federal employees affected by the government shutdown. Federal workers who have not received a paycheck during the federal government shutdown can apply to defer residential water bill payments and Real Estate Tax payment agreements until after the federal government reopens, with no late fees or penalties. Learn more and apply online.

Dept. of Revenue Warns of Scam Water Bill Site

Scammers are using a fake website to trick Philadelphia water customers into providing payment information. They’ve created a fraudulent website with a similar domain name to the legitimate City of Philadelphia water bill payment website. The fake website, “myphillywaterbill.com”, mimics the City’s official MyPhillyWaterBill payment website. It appears in regular search engine results when customers attempt to pay […]

Benjamin C. Jewell Appointed Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department 

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced today the appointment of the next leader of the Philadelphia Water Department, Benjamin C. Jewell. Commissioner Jewell’s appointment as Water Commissioner was effective last week. Jewell will take responsibility for managing all units and a staff of approximately 2,200 at the Water Department.

New rate information effective September 2025

Your water bill supports critical infrastructure. We do not profit from rate increases. We ask for the amount needed to cover the cost of services we must provide. On September 1st, 2025, a monthly water bill for a typical residential customer is increasing by 9.4%.