Philadelphia Water Department and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide water quality forecasts for the Schuylkill River through Philly RiverCast, which informs the public about water quality in the Schuylkill River between Flat Rock Dam (Manayunk) and Fairmount Dam (Boathouse Row). Philly RiverCast predicts potential pathogen levels in the river to help the public make decisions about recreation.
Water quality forecasts are communicated through a qualitative red, yellow, and green rating scale. Learn more about the ratings here.
Why was the RiverCast created?
The Philadelphia portion of the Schuylkill River is located at the very bottom of the Schuylkill River Watershed and is subject to contamination from many upstream sources and activities that either discharge directly or enter the river during rain events. Because rivers are vulnerable to such contamination, there is risk of illness or infection when using any river for recreation.
For more information about the RiverCast, email RiverCastInfo@phila.gov.