Philadelphia's Waterways Plagued by Billions of Gallons of Sewage Every Year, Report Reveals
A disturbing report from Penn Environment has found that the city's wastewater system is releasing an astonishing 12.7 billion gallons of raw sewage and stormwater runoff into the Delaware River and other waterways each year, making them frequently unusable for recreational activities.
The report highlights five Philadelphia waterways - Cobbs Creek, Delaware River, Frankford Creek, Schuylkill River, and Tacony Creek - that are contaminated with sewage at least 65 times per year between 2016 and 2024. This means that Philly's waterways are often unsafe for swimming, boating, and fishing for up to 72 hours after a sewage overflow, resulting in the water being unusable for recreation for as long as 195 days per year.
The pollution is not just a health risk for humans but also poses a threat to fish and wildlife. The report found that polluted waters can cause infections, diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, fever, and other health issues. Furthermore, contact with polluted waterways less than 24 hours after an overflow increased the risk of acute gastrointestinal illness by 39% to 75%.
In South Jersey, untreated sewage and stormwater flowed into the Delaware River and its tributaries an average of 76 times per year, according to the report.
The researchers from Penn Environment have called on Philadelphia and South Jersey leaders to set a deadline for ending all sewer overflows and accelerate infrastructure upgrades. They also urged the city to lift its ban on swimming in waterways, stating it has "estranged" residents from connecting with their environment.
However, the Philadelphia Water Department disputed this claim, saying that an overhaul would lead to increased rates for consumers and prioritizing other responsibilities and regulations.
The report's findings are alarming, especially considering that 60% of Philadelphia is served by a combined sewer system. The study found that half of the pollution volume came from just 10 overflow spots, with another 154 contributing to the rest.
The sewage largely comes from Philadelphia residents and businesses, but suburban communities can also send up to 128 million gallons of wastewater every day to the city's sewage system. Industrial users also contribute significantly to the pollution.
As climate change worsens, intense rainfall is expected to increase in Philadelphia and South Jersey, exacerbating the issue. Rising sea levels are also likely to cause more sewer backups in streets and basements, further threatening the region's waterways.
The report's conclusions serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to address this environmental crisis.
A disturbing report from Penn Environment has found that the city's wastewater system is releasing an astonishing 12.7 billion gallons of raw sewage and stormwater runoff into the Delaware River and other waterways each year, making them frequently unusable for recreational activities.
The report highlights five Philadelphia waterways - Cobbs Creek, Delaware River, Frankford Creek, Schuylkill River, and Tacony Creek - that are contaminated with sewage at least 65 times per year between 2016 and 2024. This means that Philly's waterways are often unsafe for swimming, boating, and fishing for up to 72 hours after a sewage overflow, resulting in the water being unusable for recreation for as long as 195 days per year.
The pollution is not just a health risk for humans but also poses a threat to fish and wildlife. The report found that polluted waters can cause infections, diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, fever, and other health issues. Furthermore, contact with polluted waterways less than 24 hours after an overflow increased the risk of acute gastrointestinal illness by 39% to 75%.
In South Jersey, untreated sewage and stormwater flowed into the Delaware River and its tributaries an average of 76 times per year, according to the report.
The researchers from Penn Environment have called on Philadelphia and South Jersey leaders to set a deadline for ending all sewer overflows and accelerate infrastructure upgrades. They also urged the city to lift its ban on swimming in waterways, stating it has "estranged" residents from connecting with their environment.
However, the Philadelphia Water Department disputed this claim, saying that an overhaul would lead to increased rates for consumers and prioritizing other responsibilities and regulations.
The report's findings are alarming, especially considering that 60% of Philadelphia is served by a combined sewer system. The study found that half of the pollution volume came from just 10 overflow spots, with another 154 contributing to the rest.
The sewage largely comes from Philadelphia residents and businesses, but suburban communities can also send up to 128 million gallons of wastewater every day to the city's sewage system. Industrial users also contribute significantly to the pollution.
As climate change worsens, intense rainfall is expected to increase in Philadelphia and South Jersey, exacerbating the issue. Rising sea levels are also likely to cause more sewer backups in streets and basements, further threatening the region's waterways.
The report's conclusions serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to address this environmental crisis.
like what even is happening with Philly's infrastructure?! i feel so bad for the residents and wildlife who are affected by this pollution it's not just a health risk but also super toxic to fish and other aquatic life
at least 60% of Philly is served by combined sewer systems, that's like half the city dealing with this issue
let's get this done before we lose our waterways forever
... 12.7 billion gallons of sewage every year? That's crazy! 
I mean, who thought it was okay to just dump that much yucky stuff into our waterways? The fact that people can't even swim in their own river without worrying about getting sick is wild 
. We gotta get our act together and fix this ASAP 
. Climate change is already ruining enough; do we really need more sewage pollution? No way! 
how can anyone ignore that many times of sewage overflow in Philly's waterways? 
intense rainstorms and sea levels rising... its not like we need a report to tell us this already 
but honestly kudos to Penn Environment for speaking up 
those city leaders need to step it up and prioritize infrastructure upgrades over consumer rates 
can we pls just prioritize this over some fancy tax breaks or other stuff? 
12.7 BILLION GALLONS OF SEWAGE EVERY YEAR?! 
Fixing the sewer system: not as easy as it looks... 
I'm literally shocked by these numbers, 12.7 billion gallons is insane! 
! We need to make some serious changes ASAP, but it sounds like the city is more worried about passing the buck than taking responsibility. The ban on swimming in waterways was a great idea btw 
!
my heart goes out to all those poor people who have no choice but to swim in these toxic waters every year... what kinda city lets its residents do that? 
ugh, philly's waterways r literally dying rn...12.7 billion gallons of sewage every year is insane 
. can't believe the pollution is comin from just 10 overflow spots (60% of ppl r servd by combined sewers) and suburban communities are contributin up to 128 million gallons of wastewater daily 
. hope leaders take heed & lift that ban on swimmin in waterways... its been estrangin residents from connectin w/ their environment 
the researchers are right on point though, we need leaders to step up and set a deadline for ending these overflows ASAP. 195 days per year when can't even swim or boat safely because of sewage? it's like they're saying 'no thanks' to nature itself! 
.
. we need to act fast before its too late 
. We need to get our priorities straight and start taking care of our environment, stat! 
we need to get our act together ASAP & invest in better infrastructure so this can be fixed 
.
. It's like we're just waiting for the other shoe to drop, literally 
.