The Philadelphia Water Department has received calls from residents in the Kensington neighborhood reporting notes left on doors requesting access to homes to sample tap water. This activity is not associated with the Philadelphia Water Department and customers do not have to grant access.

The Philadelphia Water Department will not request access to homes for water samples without making an appointment with the customer beforehand and employees will be properly identified. Call the Water Department at (215) 685-6300 if you are unsure, or the police at 911 if you believe there is an immediate threat.

Notes shared with the Water Department on September 8 state that samples can be taken from homes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and share a link to a website associated with the private organization “Environmental Working Group” or “EWG.”

Philadelphia’s drinking water meets or exceeds all state and federal water quality regulations. Learn more about how we test and treat water and see results on the Drinking Water Quality page. For information and data about PFAS chemicals, see the Watershed Protection page.