On July 1, 2025, AFSCME District Council 33 initiated an open-ended strike, resulting in reduced workforce and impacting many job functions across the City of Philadelphia, including the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD).

There are DC 33 members who are instrumental in maintaining the PWD system work at a high-quality level. We are prepared to continue to provide essential water and wastewater services during a strike or any crisis. However, the Department will modify some services to balance priority needs with reduced staffing.

How PWD will continue to provide core services during the strike:

The Water Department provides drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services through an extensive network of treatment plants, pumping stations, valves, and thousands of miles of pipes. During the strike, customers could experience service impacts, including longer response and repair times for water main breaks, street cave-ins, open hydrants, clogged inlets, and other service issues. PWD will prioritize repairs based on the severity of the impact and the availability of resources.

In preparation for this workforce reduction, PWD provided cross-training to non-DC33 staff to perform essential operational functions at the City’s three drinking water treatment plants, three sewage treatment plants, and other key facilities. To ensure continuity of operations, staff are now housed at these facilities 24-hours a day and are assigned to work 12-hour shifts. Furthermore, the Department has been monitoring sites to ensure that chemical deliveries and other services continue. Staff from PWD’s Water Treatment Plants and Bureau of Laboratory Services have continued water quality monitoring within the drinking water treatment plants and throughout the distribution system.

Customer Contact Center 

PWD’s customer contact line remains open during a strike. Call 215-685-6300 to report emergency issues. Due to limited staffing, wait times for non-emergency calls will be longer than usual, and we thank you for your patience. Customers should use self-service options for bill payment and general account information.  Representatives will prioritize emergency calls and will have limited ability to address billing issues or account information. Non-emergency service inquiries should be held until we have resumed full staffing. 

Revenue Department satellite locations for bill payment are closed. Please visit phila.gov for information about the status of the Municipal Services Building.  

Go to MyPhillywaterBill to view account information and make payments. Self-service account information and payment options are also available by calling 215-685-6300 and following the prompts in the main menu.  

Permitting  

Water and sewer connection permit requests should follow the instructions posted on the Water Department website’s Water & Sewer Connection Permits page.

The permit desk at the Municipal Services Building (MSB) may be impacted by reduced staff levels. Please visit phila.gov for the current status of MSB. 

Construction projects in neighborhoods 

Construction projects will continue but may encounter delays until staffing levels return to normal.

Meter appointments 

During a strike or any emergency, only urgent meter work will be performed, such as repairing or replacing damaged or leaking meters.  No new meter appointments will be made during a reduced staffing situation. Customers with existing appointments may receive cancelation calls and an option to reschedule.  

Development Services meetings and Plan Review 

Project meetings and reviews will continue as scheduled. Any delays or interruptions will be communicated directly to impacted applicants.