What do Philadelphia’s Waterways Mean to Residents?

Lucia Osborne, Delaware Bayshore Program Director

Over the past few months, we’ve been talking with Philadelphians about what their local waterways mean to them. The answer has been clear: rivers and creeks are deeply valued. As one resident put it, they “are like the blood of the city that runs through it.” These conversations show just how connected people feel to the water that shapes their neighborhoods and daily lives.

Philadelphia’s rivers and creeks are becoming more important than ever as summers grow hotter and longer. From Bartram’s Garden to Pennypack Creek, people across the city rely on these waterways for recreation, shade, and relief from extreme heat. But pollution from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) makes the water unsafe after storms, limiting where people can safely enjoy the outdoors. As the city faces more intense rainfall and rising temperatures, clean rivers are essential for public health, recreation, and climate resilience. 

Philadelphia has an older sewer system that mixes stormwater and sewage in the same pipes. When heavy rain hits, the system overflows and sends untreated wastewater into rivers and creeks. These events cause bacteria levels to spike, making the water unsafe for activities like paddling, wading, or cooling off along the shoreline. At the same time, extreme heat is one of the city’s most dangerous weather hazards, and access to cool water and shaded green space can reduce health risks for thousands of residents. 

This challenge affects families across the city, especially those who depend on local rivers and creeks for recreation and relief. Neighborhoods without easy access to pools or air‑conditioned spaces rely even more on outdoor areas near water. If Philadelphia doesn’t address CSO pollution, residents will have fewer safe places to cool off during heat waves, fewer recreational opportunities, and greater public health risks. Cleaner water would create healthier communities, stronger ecosystems, and more equitable access to nature. ​

Local parks already show what’s possible. Bartram’s Garden offers free boating and fishing programs on the tidal Schuylkill, giving Southwest Philadelphia families a chance to get on the water. Pennypack Creek provides miles of shaded trails and fishing spots that stay cooler than surrounding neighborhoods. These spaces are vital community assets and cleaner water would expand what they can offer.  

Philadelphia is not alone in facing this challenge. Chicago once struggled with severe river pollution and frequent CSO events. Over the past two decades, the city invested heavily in sewer modernization, stormwater tunnels, and water quality improvements. Today, people swim in the Chicago River during organized events, and riverfront recreation has become a major part of city life. Chicago’s progress shows that cleaning up urban waterways is possible—and transformative. 

Philadelphia can follow that example. By supporting efforts to reduce CSO pollution and improve water quality, residents can help shape a future where rivers and creeks are safe, vibrant places to gather, cool off, and connect with nature. 
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This work builds on ongoing efforts to improve stormwater management, expand access to riverfront parks, and strengthen community connections to local waterways. Cleaner rivers support our mission to create healthy communities, protect natural spaces, and ensure everyone has access to safe outdoor recreation especially as the climate continues to change. As one resident said, clean water is “a necessity for life...so it’s up to us to take care of it.” ​

Delaware Bayshore Program Director Lucia Osborne speaks at a news conference about E.coli in the Delaware River