Herons are back in the Manayunk Canal. Here’s what else Philadelphia Water’s annual water report found.

PLUS: PFAS remains a focus as regulations are coming, and resources to check for lead pipes.

Philadelphia Water reconnected the Manayunk Canal at the Flat Rock Dam to connect the waterways for the past year. With mussels placed in the canal to purify the water and flow returned, wildlife like herons have returned.

Philadelphia Water’s Drinking Water Quality Annual Report for 2025 dropped on Wednesday, sharing that the city’s drinking water meets safety standards.

What else does the report say?

• PFAS (“forever chemicals”) are a major question for customers. The report details ongoing treatment efforts and monitoring, like using Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) as a potential solution to reduce PFAS.
• Lead remains a concern inside older homes – not in the treated water itself. Lead primarily comes from household plumbing and service lines – some of which were installed as long as 75 to 100 years ago. Residents can request a testing kit for lead, are encouraged to use filters, and can consider replacing lead plumbing.
• No violations were reported for regulated contaminants, including bacteria, turbidity (water clarity), lead and copper, and other regulated chemicals.

Philadelphia detected PFOA and PFOS – two of the most closely watched “forever chemicals,” at individual sample levels as high as 6.1 and 4.6 parts per trillion (PPT), respectively. While those two levels exceed the EPA’s new 4 PPT, utilities are judged on annual average concentration. EPA’s ideal goal begins in 2027 with a goal of 0 PPT for PFOA and PFOS.

Want to learn more about your drinking water? Read the full report.