PWD Catalogue No. 1986.002.2546

This group of workmen filling a crack in the Torresdale Conduit. They are using slurry of concrete, sometimes called grout, which is being pumped into a crack from the metal basin in the foreground through the nozzle held by the man in the background.

The Torresdale Conduit was built along the Delaware River front in the first decade of the 20th century. It carries filtered water from the Torresdale Filters (now the Baxter Water Treatment Plant) to the Lardner’s Point Pumping Station, which pumps the water into the city’s system of distribution pipes. When they were completed, both the filter plant (covering about 75 acres) and the pumping station (with a capacity of 200 million gallons a day) were each the largest of its kind in the world.

The conduit is about 2.5 miles long and about 10.5 feet in diameter. Constructed of bricks and mortar, it lies about 100 feet underground, and was built completely “in tunnel”, like an underground mining operation, rather than in an open excavation from the surface. To do this, eleven shafts were built along the length of the conduit, connecting the surface with the work area underground. As the construction progressed, excavated material was raised up and removed through these shafts, and construction material was lowered down.

Fourteen people died in the construction of this pipeline, which is still in use and an integral part of the City’s water distribution system.

For more information on the history of the city’s water filtration system, click here.

This Saturday, September 7th, you can explore the green garden oases of South Philadelphia with the South Philadelphia Food Co-op. The Co-op is hosting their 3rd annual South Philly Self-Guided Garden Tour from 1 to 5pm. This past month they’ve been counting down the days with all of the different ways gardens save the city dollars and benefit our well-being. Their latest post featured an aspect that is near and dear to our hearts here at the Water Department…stormwater management! Gardens help absorb rainwater that would typically flow into our sewer inlets and streams. By absorbing the water, gardens help filter and mitigate stormwater pollution and combined sewer overflows. Read more about how South Philly gardens are helping to manage stormwater here and view the rest of the South Philly Garden Tour Countdown here. If you’re interested in attending the tour, be sure to grab your tickets now, this is the South Philly Co-op’s biggest fundraiser of the year!

And if you don’t have enough to do already, between your garden tour and the Fish Fest, make sure you check out Coast Day down at Penn’s Landing!

The Water Department will hold the monthly Green City, Clean Water Information Session next Wednesday, September 11th, from 6pm to 7pm in the Municipal Services Building, 16th Floor, Room C. The Municipal Services Building is located at 1401 JFK Blvd, near City Hall. The goal of the meeting is  provide background information on the City’s plan to clean our rivers and streams as well as to share  resources  about how your community can get involved. Come learn more about managing stormwater runoff on Philadelphia’s streets, in our neighborhoods  and at your home. These meetings are open to the public and occur quarterly, on the second Wednesday of the month. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP online.