The History of Philadelphia's Watersheds and Sewers
Compiled
by
Adam Levine
Historical Consultant, Philadelphia Water Department
It has been my pleasurable challenge, as a consultant to the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) since 1998, to try to piece together the fascinating history of the city's many lost streams. PWD has preserved its own collection of historical material, which is a rich source of information, and I have supplemented that base with research in local libraries, historical societies, archives and relevant departments of the city government.
Besides many useful written records, I have uncovered a wide range of graphic material including paintings and drawings, maps and plans, photographs and surveys. This material stretches across the breadth of the city's long history, since changes were made in the landscape almost as soon as William Penn began building his new city along the Delaware River in 1682. The bottom line is that, over the course of several centuries, most of the city's surface streams have been channeled underground and incorporated into the city's 3,000 mile sewer system.
Enter keywords in box below to search Philly
H20
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LINKS TO:
Latest PhillyH2O Updates
ADAM
LEVINE's Hidden City BLOG posts on ODD subjects
***Online Exhibit: 100th Anniversary of Water
Filtration in Philadelphia***
***PWD
HISTORICAL COLLECTION ONLINE CATALOGUE***
***List
of lectures and tours by Adam Levine***
***Hints
on researching your own Philadelphia-area watershed***
The main theme of Philly H2O can be found at
where I explore the many ways that the topography of the city has been transformed over the years to facilitate drainage,
to improve public health, and to promote real estate development.
Navigating
Philly H2O
including some of the earliest reports of the Philadelphia Water Department, dating to 1799, and a collection of 19th century documents on the pollution of the Schuylkill River, then as now a major water source.
including maps of the past and present water
and sewer system, maps and plans of Philadelphia, and other material that will reveal some of the aspects of the City that have been transformed over the past 300 years.
Information about me, Webmaster and Sewermeister, can be found at
where I also describe in an informal resume some of my related activities, including a variety of lectures, archives management, historical consulting and research, and guided tours of PWD facilities.
The story that got me started down the drain, so to speak, is told at
I hope you take time to read this story and explore the entire site, to delve deep under its surface as I have delved under the surface of the city during my three walks in the city's underground sewers.
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provides detailed descriptions of all material on the site.
offers thumbnails and brief descriptions of many, but not all, maps
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of what makes this my work on this site worthwhile is knowing that
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to improve the site, material I might want to add,
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PHOTO CAPTIONS AND CREDITS
Click links for larger versions
LEFT: Construction of Rock Run Sewer, 1922. This pipe obliterated
Rock Run, once a tributary of Tacony Creek. (City Archives of Philadelphia)
[101 kb]
CENTER: Mill Creek Sewer, West Philadelphia, ca. 1883.
This large sewer, built over a 25-year period, ran for five
miles and obliterated
the West Philadelphia stream for which it is named. (PWD) [244
kb]
RIGHT: Sandy Run Sewer, 1942. Once finished, this pipe
obliterated most of Sandy Run,
a Pennypack Creek tributary. (City Archives of Phildelphia)
[127 kb]
Website by Adam
Levine
Page last updated November 3, 2012