Stormwater Management

Many neighborhoods of Philadelphia have a combined storm water and waste water sewer system. In heavy rainfalls, the volume of water exceeds the capacity of the system and untreated waste water flows into the city’s waterways. PHS, in partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department, has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to create a pilot program to determine how vacant land can be used to retain water during excessive rain events. In the past two years, five sites have been created using various techniques of grading to investigate efficient systems of storm water management.