PHILADELPHIA – Based on updated water sampling results received overnight, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) remains confident that tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant remains safe to drink and use at least through 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, 2023. PWD will provide further updates based on the latest sampling data as it becomes available.
This update is informed by water sampling and updated hydraulic modeling that estimates the time it will take river water that entered the Baxter intakes to move through treatment and water mains before reaching customers. PWD has analyzed a variety of samples from the river and through the treatment process. Of the city’s three plants, Baxter is the only plant that treats water from the Delaware River.
Contaminants related to the Bristol Township discharge have never been found in PWD’s water system at any point. Customers can fill bottles or pitchers with tap water with no risk.
PWD will continue to monitor water quality closely. The City is working with partners to develop a water distribution plan in the unlikely event that such a plan is needed. Residents can find out if they live in a potentially impacted area here.
PWD expects that there will continue to be no detectable levels of the spill at Philadelphia’s Delaware River intake by Wednesday or Thursday this week. PWD continues to test the water to assure that no contaminated water will be brought into our water treatment system. PWD anticipates that this event will be resolved by next week.
For planning purposes, there will be a media briefing following the latest sampling results expected this evening, Tuesday, March 28. Details will be issued in a separate advisory.
Stay Informed
- Any drinking water quality incident requiring public notification would be announced through ReadyPhiladelphia notifications and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. PWD has been monitoring the incident since being alerted and is using computer models to monitor the flow of the spill.
- To get alerts about drinking water quality, sign up for ReadyPhiladelphia by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 for free phone alerts or customize free text and email alerts by visiting the Office of Emergency Management’s website at phila.gov/ready.
- For official updates from the City, follow @PhilaOEM on Twitter or Facebook.
- Other City Twitter accounts to follow for information: @PhiladelphiaGov and @PhillyH2O.