Categories: Philly

How the Waters of the United States rules (WOTUS) affect Philly – Guest Post

This is a guest post from the TTF Watershed, Friends of the Wissahickon, and the Delaware River Keeper.

Hey Mt. Airy, Fishtown, South Philly and Eastwick residents, what creek or stream flows through your Philadelphia neighborhood?

Most likely it’s the Darby/Cobbs, Tacony/Frankford, Wissahickon, Pennypack or Poquessing. Maybe it’s the Schuylkill or Delaware rivers.

Do you know that much of your drinking water comes from streams that begin upstream in the suburbs, miles from the city? The Wissahickon, for example, begins in Montgomery County and provides 350,000 city residents with their drinking water.

These streams face increasing pressure from urbanization, development and pollution. Without oversight and regulation, these waterways and our drinking water are at risk. You have an opportunity today to help protect that waterway for you, your family and your community.

On May 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released rule changes in the federal Clean Water Act entitled The Waters of the United States rules (WOTUS). These changes will better protect the drinking water of 117 million Americans, including 15 million people throughout the Delaware River Watershed. For more info, review the Philly Water Department’s recent article about how it affects our city.

In the Philadelphia region, we all live near streams and wetlands that this rule will safeguard. It will guard drinking water by restoring Clean Water Act protections that have been in legal limbo – and at increased risk of pollution and destruction -for more than a decade. We know that these creeks provide habitat to countless birds, fish and other wildlife. This rule benefits people across our region and country, but it is facing a tough fight in Congress as polluters and lobbyists spread misinformation about its impact.

Clean water is the backbone of our way of life here in Pennsylvania. Please contact Senator Casey (by calling 215- 405-9660 or online) to let him know you want him to continue to support this rule against any legislative attacks.

Need more info? Contact one of the following advocates:

Maura McCarthy, Executive Director