Your Watershed
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What is a Watershed? A watershed is an area of land within which water from rain or snow drains into a body of water, such as a river, lake or ocean. Philadelphia is part of the Delaware River Watershed. Its seven main subwatersheds are the Delaware Direct, Schuylkill, Pennypack, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford, Darby-Cobbs, Poquessing and Wissahickon. The Philadelphia Water Department is committed to protecting and restoring our area's watersheds to ensure a healthy environment and a clean supply of drinking water. |
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Philadelphia Watershed History The historic erasing of Philadelphia's surface creeks and streams by converting them to sewers has transformed hydrological conditions over time. Of the 283 linear miles of streams that once existed in Philadelphia to carry runoff to the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, only 118 miles remain today. Learn how Philadelphia’s rapid growth as an industrial hub informed development patterns and altered the natural hydrology and topography of the city's watersheds. |
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Find Your Watershed Which watershed do you live/work in? Click here, enter your address, and find out.
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Improve Your Watershed Find out what you can do as a homeowner, community group, business, or institution to improve your watershed. more >>
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