May 10th was an historic day in climate change history. CO2 at Mauna Loa, location of the longest unbroken records of CO2 levels, hit 400ppm. Scientist can look back up to 800,000 years, in air bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice, to determine how carbon dioxide levels have changed from 180 during the ice ages and 280 during warmer periods. Fossil fuels have caused a 41% increase in carbon since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. What does this mean for Philadelphia? It means more extreme temperatures in the summers, with fewer moderate days. This will cause problems for farmers growing crops that rely on consistent summer temperatures. For example, you may not find lettuce and broccoli in markets past July. But there is hope! The Climate and Urban Systems Partnership is helping Philadelphians learn about and combat climate change.

Also known as CUSP, the Climate and Urban Systems Partnership is an east coast movement with established networks in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Queens, NY and Washington D.C. Working with local partners ( community groups, city government and policy makers) the members strive to create and disseminate learner-focused climate education programs and resources for an urban audience. CUSP hopes to create lasting collaborations to improve public understanding of the science of climate change. The Philadelphia Water Department is a proud member and supporter of CUSP! Keep an eye out for different education materials cropping up around the city, like these posters at the Clark Park Farmers’ Market. 

 Photo credit: Stacey Levy

Join the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and the Philadelphia Water Department on Saturday May 18th from 10:00am-3:30pm for a design workshop with renowned environmental artist, Stacy Levy, at the Shot Tower Playground in Queen Village.

During the workshop, we'll brainstorm ways to depict the passage of water through our City and explore the hidden streams of Philadelphia.  We'll look into questions like: Where does the rain go? Where are the historic creeks that once flowed through the neighborhood? Where does the water flow under our streets? Using unconventional art-making materials we'll visualize how water flows beneath our streets, and generate ideas for an upcoming temporary RAIN ART installation. The RAIN ART installation will be made during a Community Art-Making Day on Saturday, June 1.
 
Registration is required. Refreshments will be provided. Children 14 years of age or older are welcome and must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Some customers in Roxborough and East Falls have been noticing an earthy odor in their drinking water. This is not uncommon in spring and summer when warmer water temperatures and abundant nutrients encourage blue-green algae to grow. While the algae are removed by water treatment, the earthy odor remains in trace levels of geosmin - a naturally occurring product of microorganisms found worldwide in soil and water. This compound has no reported health concerns and so it does not affect the safety of the tap water. 

If you notice any unusual odors, call our customer information line at (215) 685-6300. This allows PWD to track customer concerns and make necessary adjustments in treatment to control the odor. As a resident, there are a number of clean stormwater tips you can use to help keep these nuisance algae down in the watersheds. And if you’re thirsty for more information on your drinking water, check out the 2013 Water Quality Report. Previous Water Quality Reports can be found here.