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From the Archives: Mill Creek Sewer under construction 1883

Oct 18, 2013

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This has become an iconic photograph, used in books, articles and other publications to illustrate both 19th-century sewer building and, more specifically, the process of building a combined sewer in a stream bed. The stream, Mill Creek, rises near Narbeth, in Montgomery County, PA, and once flowed for five miles through West Philadelphia, from the aptly-named Overbrook railroad station near 63rd St. and City Avenue down to the Schuylkill River along the line of 43rd Street. Today, only the section of creek in Montgomery County remain above ground; within the city limits, the main creek and all its tributaries were incorporated into the Philadelphia sewer system, a 30-year project that began in 1869 and ended around 1900.

The bottom half of the sewer, called the invert, was already constructed by the time this photograph was taken, and Mill Creek had already been diverted into this artificial channel. The masons are now constructing the top half of the sewer, called the arch. You can see the circular wooden form on which the bricks are being laid, two bricks thick at the top. The form is about 20 feet long, and once the mortar sets the form will be dismantled and reconstructed to build the next 20 foot section.

Some of the workers have stood still for the camera’s long exposure, while those who moved while the shutter was open appear only as see-through ghosts. Two children look to be on their way to or from (or maybe skipping) school to observe the work. In the upper right is a textile factory building that had used the water of Mill Creek for industrial processes such as washing, bleaching and dyeing; now it will have to use city water for these purposes. On the left a remnant of the natural creek bed is visible, and in the background are houses that have already been built right up to the edge of the work in progress.

After the sewer was completed, the land was filled about 30 feet above the original stream bed, the grid of streets was laid across the valley, and this once-rural area was transformed into part of urbanized Philadelphia by the development that quickly followed. The sewage of these new houses and businesses, carried by a system of tributary pipes, flowed into the Mill Creek Sewer, along with stormwater and the remnant flow of the above-ground portion of the stream. With the creek buried out of sight, it quickly dropped out of mind, and people who lived in the neighborhood called Overbrook, or even one called Mill Creek, could not tell you the source of those names. Meanwhile, forgotten or not, the old mill stream, now conscripted to the dirty job of carrying away a neighborhood’s wastes, still rolls on, beneath the streets.

Coming Soon: Grants for Managing Stormwater on Your Commercial Property

Oct 16, 2013

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PWD is happy to announce the next round of Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP) grants. The Water Department works with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) to provide funding to stimulate investment in stormwater best management practices to mitigate the impacts of stormwater runoff. Only non-residential properties are eligible. Projects are evaluated based on criteria including, but not limited to, the total volume of runoff managed, expected benefits, and the ability of the grantee to leverage other funding sources. Grant requests are limited to $100,000 per impervious acre managed or less. Applications will be available on November 1st on PIDC’s website. Applicationsmust be submitted by noon on January 31st, 2014. Applicants will be notified by July 1, 2014 if their applications have been accepted. To read more, and see if you qualify for the SMIP grant, visit the Water Department’s website here.

Capturing the Transformation

Oct 11, 2013

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During the Industrial Revolution, businesses let waste run directly into the Schuylkill River, polluting the river and killing wildlife. Today, the Schuylkill once again supports a variety of fish and wildlife. Additionally, the river serves as a destination for sports and recreation.Rowers, fishermen, runners and families have rediscovered the Schuylkill as an ideal spot for an afternoon picnic or just a fun place to spend time outdoors. We want to encourage even more people to visit the Schuylkill. Help us show how amazing the Schuylkill River is by submitting pictures to the Schuylkill Shots Photo Contest!

Contest Rules

Individuals can submit up to 6 photos that fall into the following categories:
Wild & Scenic – Highlight the scenic beauty and wildlife thriving in and along the Schuylkill River and its streams
Fun on the Schuylkill – Show us your favorite thing to do on the Schuylkill Tip Top Tap – Show us how you use and rely on fresh water daily

All photos must be submitted by October 30, 2013. Judges will select the top 10 photos that best represent the Schuylkill River, the streams and creeks that flow into it, or the water that we use from the river.

After the judges make a selection, individuals can vote for 1stand 2nd place winners for each category. Judges will also pick three “Judges Choice” winners.

Prizes

1st place winners will receive the following:

Wild & Scenic - $250 Gift Card to Calumet Photographic
Fun on the Schuylkill - $250 Gift Card to REI
Tip Top Tap - $250 Gift Card to Amazon.com

2nd place and “Judge’s Choice” winners for each category will receive $100 gift cards corresponding to their category.

The Legacy of the Spokesdog Continues!

Oct 9, 2013

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When pet waste is left on the ground, rainwater or melted snow washes it into our storm drains and into the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, harming the health of the water. But the Spokesdog is out to change that! Philly Water’s Best Friend is on a mission to keep our waterways clean by encouraging dog owners to pick up after their pets.

Every year, a new dog is chosen to carry on the legacy of the Spokesdog and continue to improve the health of Philadelphia’s waterways. Come see which dog will win this year! Out of our 15 finalists from Fitler Square and University City, only one dog from each neighborhood will be crowned as a 2013 Spokesdog. The crowning of the Fitler Square dog will take place on Saturday, October 19, at the Schuylkill River Park from 11am to 12pm, followed by the University City dog from 1pm to 2pm. Come out to cheer on your favorite dog and win free treats and giveaways for you and your favorite furry friend!

Learn more about the Philly Spokesdog Competition.

One of the 2012 Philly's Best Friend Spokesdogs, Scooter

PWD Tours at Greenbuild!

Oct 7, 2013

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Did you know that the Philadelphia Water Department is leading a tour during Greenbuildon November 23rd from 8am to noon titled, “Revolutionary Civil Engineering: Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Leadership?” The Water Department has been recognized internationally for its leadership in implementing green stormwater infrastructure and in developing innovative stormwater management and energy solutions at its treatment plants. This is your chance to visit our projects with us! Please join us as we highlight our projects at several sites around the city and reveal the collaborations, expertise and spirit vital to urban sustainability.

Tour stops include a visit to the PWD biogas cogeneration water treatment facility and a recreation center that manages 1.2 acres of runoff and has helped to revitalize a neighborhood and a garden and playground located on a former brownfield site. Water Department leaders will provide details and context for each site as well as a description of the policies, strategies and incentives that impact Philadelphia city-wide. One of the tour goals is to give participants insight into the power of partnership, demonstrating how - government/municipal agencies can partner with communities and the private sector to implement green stormwater infrastructure together. If you’re interested in attending the Water Department’s Tour, you can get tickets online here, where you can also view other tours hosted by the Delaware Valley Greenbuild Council.

We hope to see you there!

Greenbuild 2013 is coming to Philadelphia

Oct 4, 2013

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The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is more than excited to be a part of the 2013 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Activities around Greenbuild will go on for almost a week and expect to draw up to 30,000 attendees. The theme, “Greenbuild Nation”, draws on Philadelphia’s roots as the birthplace of the nation.

Greenbuild activities begin on Monday, November 18th with tours of Philadelphia’s sustainable buildings and neighborhoods, including PWD’s own facilities that produce energy from wastewater and the sun. The Conference and Expo run from November 20-22nd showcasing the latest in green building innovative products and services, as well as educational sessions and special seminars. On November 21st at 3:30, PWD will be leading a session called “Reinventing Philadelphia Through Green Infrastructure”. Participants will learn about Green City, Clean Waters, PWD’s plan to invest $2 billion over 25 years in green stormwater infrastructure to create a more sustainable, healthier and livable city. As the first city to receive approval from the EPA to implement this type of program, its success has implications for government officials, product suppliers, and a variety of building professionals. Register for the conference.

If you aren’t up to buying full conference and expo tickets, you can also catch PWD at the half and full day tours on Monday the 18th, Friday the 22nd and Saturday the 23rd. These tours are a great low price options for those who want to explore Greenbuild and experience great projects! Check out the full list of featured tours. Be sure to register ASAP, space is limited!

China and Japan Visit Philadelphia's Green Infrastructure

Oct 2, 2013

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Philadelphia’s stormwater management and stream restoration projects reached international ears this month! On September 17th government representatives from Beijing toured the Big Green Block in the Kensington/Fishtown area and two days later members of the Japanese Ecosystem Conservation Society visited Wises Mill in Andorra and the Bells Mill tributary to Wissahickon Park.

Beijing Delegation

The Beijing delegation included 20 officials representing ten of the sixteen Beijing provinces, led by the mayor of the Pinggu district in Beijing. Officials from the China Association of Mayors and the China Center for International Economic Exchange accompanied the group. Following a presentation by the Philadelphia Water Department about Green City, Clean Waters, the delegation set off to the Big Green Block to learn about the projects from community partners. PWD engineer, Evan Wilbert, also explained how stormwater tree trenches, rain gardens, porous pavement and the green roofs on Kensington CAPA high-school help manage stormwater runoff. This project embodies the spirit of public-private partnerships and helped provide the Beijing delegation with ideas on how multiple entities can come together to create a high-impact, sustainable project.

Ecosystem Conservation Society

On Thursday, September 19th, members of the Japanese Ecosystem Conservation Society toured Wises Mill and Bells Mill. The Japanese representatives were on a national tour of inspiring environmental programs and they made Philadelphia their first stop! Both sites are major projects for PWD as Wises Mill is a model stormwater wetland and Bells Mill exemplifies natural stream restoration. After a presentation by PWD staff, the Friends of Wissahickon staff shared insight on the importance of non-profits, fund-raising and public-private partnerships and the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation staff provided information about the local flora and the history of Fairmount Park.

Both groups enjoyed their tours and learned a lot about our green infrastructure projects. To see more pictures from these events, check out the slideshow below!

Join Us for the Soak it Up! Exhibition

Sep 30, 2013

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The Green City, Clean Waters program is bringing green stormwater infrastructure to neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. Have you wondered what these projects will look like or how they work? The Philadelphia Water Department, the Community Design Collaborative and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)have partnered to host Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up! a national competition to design stormwater management tools for Philadelphia and explore their potential for revitalizing our neighborhoods. The competition concluded in March with the presentation of illustrations and renderings of innovative stormwater infrastructure designs.Now you can see the ideas that resulted from the competition on display at City Hall from October 7th through December 7th on the 2nd and 4th floors.An opening reception to celebrate the exhibit will be held on Tuesday, October 15th from 5pm to 7pm in the Council Caucus Room, 4th floor. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP through Eventbrite. To visit the exhibit any other time, use the visitors’ entrance on the northeast corner Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, starting October 7th.