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For Immediate Release: July 22, 2021
Contact: Brian.Rademaekers@phila.gov | 215.380.9327
New Report Shows How Safe Philadelphia Water Is
Free report features data on local drinking water quality, treatment process.
PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia Water Department’s latest Drinking Water Quality Report is now available and can be accessed in five ways:
Based on data collected by the department’s Bureau of Laboratory Services throughout 2020, the annual report details results showing Philadelphia’s drinking water meets, or is better than, all state and federal water quality standards.
Nearly 1.6 million Philadelphians rely on this water each day.
“It is my pleasure to present our 2020 Water Quality Report, created to ensure Philadelphians know what the science shows: our drinking water is safe, clean, and top-quality,” said Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Randy E. Hayman, Esq. “During a year when the pandemic made it critically clear that having clean water at home is essential, we met many challenges and delivered on our daily pledge to protect the health and safety of those we serve.”
Customers will find information about where their water comes from and how the utility protects and treats water as it moves from the rivers, through plants and pipes, and into homes and buildings.
New Look Informed by 'Water Data Prize' Work
The 2021 report uses a newly developed and more accessible approach that shows customers how the Water Department maintains quality at every step.
The Public Affairs unit collaborated on the updates with the Water Department’s Bureau of Laboratory Services, which is responsible for the testing and sampling behind the data featured in the annual reports.
The new look of the report was informed by Philadelphia's winning submission for the national 2020 Water Data Prize, which challenges the water industry to create more accessible water quality reports. Philadelphia's submission was the only one from a utility recognized. Known as “Consumer Confidence Reports,” the documents are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state governments overseeing public water systems.
"Our Drinking Water Quality report is one of the most important communication tools we provide," said Glen Abrams, Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs. "We designed the new report to make sure the science behind our safe water is accessible to as many customers as possible. Now, the report is organized to follow water's journey from its source in our rivers, treatment at our plants, right through delivery to your home. And we included new photos and graphics to show the story as well as tell it."
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