Philadelphians may think twice about wading in a creek or eating a fish caught in a local river after reading a new report from PennEnvironment.
Fecal matter is present in the city’s waterways at an alarmingly high rate, according to the statewide environmental group’s most recent analysis.
E. coli, a group of bacteria associated with human poop, was found at unhealthy levels at least once in 2024 and 2025 at 37 of the 43 water testing locations along the Delaware River. At a dozen spots, it logged unsafe levels every time it was examined. On more than half the days tested, the report states, the Schuylkill River had dangerous bacteria levels.
Smaller waterways did not fare any better. Pennypack Creek in Northeast Philadelphia exceeded benchmarks for fecal matter 73% of the time, and Frankford Creek tested above acceptable levels on 60% of days.
There are some gaps in the data. PennEnvironment relied on testing results from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and neither government agency analyzes samples from Wissahickon Creek. Not much is included from the Schuylkill River beyond its base, where it converges into the Delaware.
Interacting with contaminated water, through swimming or other recreational activities, can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses and other symptoms, according to PennEnvironment.
“Needless to say, poop in the rivers and creeks is just plain gross,” said Stephanie Wein, the organization’s clean water and conservation advocate. “It puts people at risk of getting sick. It harms the wildlife that call our rivers and streams their home.”
The main culprit, Wein added, is the combined sewer system, which covers 60% of Philadelphia. Untreated wastewater from toilets, sinks and other sources is dumped into rivers and creeks when a significant amount of rain overwhelms the pipes.
A 2025 PennEnvironment report determined that the city’s water department directs 12.7 billion gallons of sewage and stormwater through 164 outfalls every year.
The Philadelphia Water Department, in a statement, noted that it has reduced annual combined sewer overflows by more than 3.08 billion gallons since launching its Green City, Clean Waters initiative 15 years ago.
“PWD takes seriously our role in helping improve the health of the city’s waterways,” the statement continued. “PWD remains committed to watershed-wide regional partnerships and strategic investments to continuously improve water quality and support safe recreational use.”
Lucia Osborne, of the American Littoral Society, said other cities have done more by constructing storage tunnels, combining outfalls and separating sewage.
“The technology exists. There is a path forward,” Osborne said. “What we feel is missing is a sense of urgency and a willingness to act on the water department.”
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, chair of the environmental committee, vowed to “keep pressing the Philadelphia Water Department to expand access to safe swimming and recreation.”
“But the city can't do this alone,” she added. “Federal rollbacks on environmental protection and investment make this work so much harder, and we need that support restored.”
Philadelphia and other localities need more state and federal funding to address sewer challenges, Wein agreed. The city, she suggested, could also create an alert system to warn residents when there are unsafe levels of bacteria.
Swimming is forbidden in any city waterway; however, the rule has not stopped some from taking a dip, particularly on hot weekends.
PennEnvironment announced the results of its study Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the gazebo beside the Fairmount Water Works, overlooking the Schuylkill. On a platform below, a man fished, and rowers trained in front of the nearby boathouses.
“We have a right to enjoy our waterways,” Wein said. “That's why our nation came together over 50 years ago to pass the Clean Water Act, which declared that all of our waterways should be clean enough for swimming and fishing.”
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