Transcript:
In Philadelphia, Withhocking Creek once flowed around Germantown. Today, few people have heard of it.
In the 1800s, Withhocking and other streams in the city were paved and turned into sewers that carried rainwater and wastewater.
Jarvis: “On dry days, all the wastewater goes directly into our treatment facilities, which is OK. But when you introduce rainwater, it can lead to a mess.”
Maura Jarvis of the American Waters Alliance said that when it rains, the system can sometimes be overwhelmed.
Jarvis: “The sewer is full, it floods the streets. It goes into our basement.”
The problem is growing as climate change leads to more extreme storms.
Jarvis serves as community leader for the Waterway Arts Initiative, a project led by the Philadelphia Water Department that helps people teach people about the issue.
Last fall, the initiative opened a community space called “Water Shed.”
It includes exhibitions on why neighborhood floods, art installations featuring residents’ experiences, and resources on how to stay safe.
It can help residents better understand problems, so residents have higher knowledge and engagement as cities work on solutions.
Report Credit: Sarah Kennedy/Chavobart Digital Media
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