Schuylkill River Crossing

Overview

The Schuylkill River Crossing Project is a tunnel connecting the Queen Lane and Belmont Water Treatment Plants.

Below the ground, big pipes called water mains move clean drinking water. The water moves from treatment plants to all the places that need it, like homes and businesses.

There are two kinds of water mains: transmission mains and distribution mains. Transmission mains are the largest pipes. They act like highways for moving water over long distances. This tunnel will act as a transmission main connecting two water treatment plants. We plan to construct the underground tunnel in rock that is over 150 feet below ground.

Design is anticipated to begin in 2026 for:

• Tunneling from the Queen Lane Water Treatment Plant to the Belmont Water Treatment Plant.
• A new pump station – Pump stations house pumps, pipes, valves, and electrical equipment. This pump station will allow two-way water movement between the water treatment plants.
• New water storage – PWD plans to replace water storage at the Monument Road reservoir. We have storage facilities distributed across the city. They hold water until needed for reliable service and pressure.

Why do we need this?

Connecting these water treatment plants will ensure continual safe, reliable drinking water service by improving redundancy. Redundancy means having many ways to deliver water. This ensures that if one part of the system fails, there are other parts that can still provide water. The impacts of this project will be for generations of Philadelphians to come.

Impact

In collaboration with our Water Revitalization Plan Stakeholder Advisory Group, we developed the Schuylkill River Crossing Impact Statement. Explore the Impact Statement for more technical information on the project. It also includes some introductory information on how the project may impact your neighborhood. We’ll be coordinating with our neighbors near the Queen Lane and Belmont Water Treatment Plants directly as the project develops.

We will provide additional information on this project as it nears the design and construction phases. Stay tuned for opportunities to engage with the teams behind the tunnel.

All dates are subject to change.