Philadelphia residents:
Please see the important updates below regarding our ongoing response to the COVID-19 emergency.
If you have questions, please call (215) 685 6300 or email waterinfo@phila.gov
Thank you,
Philadelphia Water Department
Philadelphia Water Department COVID-19 Statement and Updates
Drinking water is safe and customers will not lose water services.
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is taking all necessary measures to ensure staff can continue to deliver of safe, clean drinking water and treat wastewater as City officials respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
"The safety of our customers and our employees is, as always, our highest priority," says Commissioner Randy Hayman. "As we face this challenge as a city, the Water Department wants Philadelphians to know that losing access to water is one thing they won't have to worry about. We will not shutoff customers who fall behind on payments through May 15, and we will continue to provide the critical core services that are our mission."
Commissioner Hayman and PWD's Bureau of Laboratory Services also want to assure customers that the virus will not impact the safety of the city's water supply. Philadelphia’s drinking water is high-quality and safe to drink and customers do not need to purchase bottled water. International experts inform health officials that the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water.
Conventional water treatment methods, including filtration and disinfection used at all of Philadelphia’s drinking water plants, removes or inactivates the virus that causes COVID-19.
We continue to test and monitor our drinking water supplies 24/7 to ensure the highest quality water for the citizens of Philadelphia.
Water Shutoffs Postponed
Beginning Monday, March 16, PWD and the Water Revenue Bureau (WRB) will work together to restore water service to all delinquent residential and commercial customers through Friday, May 15 and the restoration fee will be waived.
In addition, we will not shut off water service for delinquent residential and commercial accounts through May 15.
Residential customers who have been shut off for meter non-compliance will also have their water service restored until May 15.
Customers that have been shut off for not repairing defects in their private plumbing will still need to make the necessary repairs to have their water restored.
We will provide updates as necessary on our website, www.phila.gov/water.
Continued Service
Water Department leadership is coordinating closely with City, state and federal authorities as needed.
Should the Water Department be required to be staffed by essential personnel only, all necessary operations will continue uninterrupted.
If the essential personnel policy is enacted, we will work to minimize potential impacts, including longer call wait times and delayed response to water emergencies such as water main breaks.
Events Canceled or Postponed
Based on the most recent guidance from Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health regarding COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution for residents, PWD and the Pa. Horticultural Society are canceling Rain Check workshops, which were scheduled to take place on March 18, 19, 21, 23 and 24. We apologize for any inconvenience. Register for future workshops at the Rain Check site.
Community meetings to provide updates about Green City, Clean Waters construction projects for stormwater management are also being postponed for the time being.
Watershed cleanups planned with partners for later this spring are also likely to be impacted. Please use the information below for the latest information about these events.
Updates
Residents are encouraged to follow the Philadelphia Water Department on Twitter (@PhillyH2O) and Facebook (Philadelphia Water Department), where emergency information from the Philadelphia Water Department will also be shared.
For the latest about the COVID-19 response in Philadelphia:
- Text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to receive free text alerts with COVID-19 information and updates from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Office of Emergency Management.
- For more updates go to http://phila.gov/covid-19.
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