Philadelphia Water Department

About the Philadelphia Water Department

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is the public utility responsible for ensuring the safety and reliability of the city’s water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. 🚰 Founded in 1801, it holds the distinction of being the first municipal water system in the United States. While the Water Revenue Bureau (WRB) handles billing and collections (typically at the Municipal Services Building), the PWD headquarters at 1101 Market Street (Jefferson Tower) focuses on the engineering, operations, and administrative side of the utility. This department manages three major drinking water treatment plants and three water pollution control plants, maintaining thousands of miles of underground pipes.

Services and Responsibilities

The PWD’s primary mission is to provide high-quality drinking water and protect the region’s watersheds. Key functions managed by the department include:

• Water Quality: Rigorous testing and treatment to meet state and federal safety standards.
• Stormwater Management: The Green City, Clean Waters program uses green infrastructure to reduce pollution entering the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.
• Emergency Repairs: A 24/7 hotline is available to report water main breaks, hydrant issues, and sewer backups.

Security and Access

The PWD headquarters is located within the Jefferson Tower (formerly Aramark Tower), a shared office building. 👮‍♂️ Visitors to administrative offices must check in at the security desk in the lobby. Valid photo identification is required to obtain a visitor badge and access the elevators. Security protocols include bag inspections and passing through optical turnstiles. ⚠️ Note: This location is generally for administrative business, engineering meetings, and industrial waste permits; residents wishing to pay bills in person should visit the WRB at 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.