DV Journal

(From a press release)

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers (POWR) to celebrate the Delaware River’s selection as Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year. The announcement was marked with a community festival at Minisink Park in Monroe County, held alongside the 30th annual Delaware River Sojourn.

The celebration welcomed both paddling participants and the general public for an afternoon of river-themed activities — including a River of the Year Paddle — live music, educational exhibits, and outdoor recreation.

“The River of the Year Festival is a powerful example of how we can bring communities together to celebrate and appreciate Pennsylvania’s incredible waterways,” said DCNR Secretary Dunn. “With 28 designated water trails spanning more than 2,100 miles, our rivers are vital natural resources that connect people to nature, history, and recreation. The Delaware River, with its Wild and Scenic designation and role as a major trail corridor — a symbol of ecological restoration and regional pride.”

Once one of the most polluted rivers in the nation — so contaminated it blackened ship hulls — the Delaware River has undergone a dramatic recovery. It now boasts more National Wild and Scenic designations than any other river in the country and supplies drinking water to over 14 million people. It also holds deep historical significance, from George Washington’s iconic crossing during the Revolutionary War to its role in powering the Industrial Revolution.

The Shapiro Administration remains committed to protecting Pennsylvania’s natural resources — especially clean water. Administered by DCNR, Pennsylvania’s Rivers Conservation Program supports river restoration, water trail management, scenic river designations, and community engagement initiatives like River of the Year.

This is the third time the Delaware River has received the honor, following wins in 2002 and 2011. The designation is based on public voting — this year’s contest garnered 8,037 total votes, with the Delaware River earning 2,962. The Youghiogheny River and Perkiomen Creek followed with 2,784 and 2,291 votes, respectively. POWR, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, administers the vote annually in partnership with DCNR.

“The Delaware River is more than just a waterway, it’s a place where paddlers, families, and communities come together to celebrate the outdoors,” said Mark Zakutansky of the Appalachian Mountain Club and Chair of the Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee. “The River of the Year designation adds an extra splash of excitement to this year’s Delaware River Sojourn, welcoming everyone to experience the joy, beauty, and adventure that make the Delaware River a truly unforgettable place.”

The river is home to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, one of the top 20 most-visited national park areas in the country. Additionally, many of its tributaries are currently under study for national protection under the Wild & Scenic Rivers program.

“POWR would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to everyone who rallied behind the Delaware River, we commend the overwhelming support shown for the river,” said Janet Sweeney of POWR. “The River of the Year program continues to be a powerful way to connect people to their local waterways and to celebrate the unique stories each river has to tell. This recognition not only highlights the Delaware River’s breathtaking natural beauty, ecological and historical significance, but also shines a light on the passionate individuals and organizations working tirelessly to protect and enhance this vital resource. As Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year, the Delaware River will celebrate throughout the year with various events and gatherings.”

The Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, which nominated the river, will receive a $15,000 Leadership Grant from DCNR and POWR to support public events and outreach. A commemorative poster was also created to mark the honor.

In 2024, the Shapiro Administration invested a total of $419 million in clean water infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) — including $274 million for projects in 22 counties and another $216 million across 21 counties. These investments reflect the Administration’s ongoing commitment to ensuring all Pennsylvanians have access to clean, safe water.

Since taking office, Governor Josh Shapiro has made strategic investments to elevate outdoor recreation as a key driver of Pennsylvania’s economy and quality of life. In 2023 alone, the state’s outdoor recreation industry contributed $19 billion to the economy — a 10 percent increase from the year prior — supporting over 168,000 jobs and generating $9 billion in wages, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

As DCNR marks its 30th anniversary in 2025, so does the annual Delaware River Sojourn — a testament to Pennsylvania’s enduring commitment to conservation, recreation, and community.

For more details on Pennsylvania’s River of the Year program and upcoming events, visit DCNR’s website and check the DCNR Calendar of Events.

After a chemical spill into the Delaware River Friday forced Philadelphians to turn off their taps and buy bottled water, Aqua PA assured its suburban customers that their water was safe. However, documents from the Public Utility Commission show Aqua has been buying water from the Philadelphia Water Department’s supply for years.

An Aqua spokesperson confirmed Monday its water system purchased Philadelphia water “periodically” through direct “channels” connecting the systems But, she said, those channels were closed when the spill was discovered.

In its most recent annual report filed with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Aqua stated it bought 559 million gallons of water for resale from Philadelphia in 2021. In 2020, Aqua purchased 492,574 million gallons of water from Philadelphia. And in 2019, it purchased 475,491 million gallons.

Dave Hixon, a spokesperson for the PUC, confirmed the filing. He also said Aqua told the PUC it closed those interconnections with the Philadelphia Water Department after the latest spill.

A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Water Department said, “Aqua Pennsylvania purchases water from the Philadelphia Water Department through a wholesale contract and distributes it to their customers outside of the city.”

Aqua has been at the center of multiple controversies over the past few years as it has tried to implement an ambitious program of buying publicly-held sewer and water systems across the region. The company is currently embroiled in legal action over its attempted purchase of the Chester Water Authority. Last year the state’s Consumer Advocate office sued to stop Aqua’s takeover of the wastewater system in Willistown Township.

AQUA PENNSYLVANIA, INC. 2021 WATER A/R

Aqua insisted Friday’s chemical spill wasn’t an issue for its customers and downplayed the millions of gallons of water they buy every month from the Philly system.

“We access water from the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) periodically as part of a diversified water-source strategy,” said Aqua spokesperson Sarah Courtright. “Aqua PA closed that channel the minute we knew about the spill. And we’ll only resume accessing PWD water when we’re confident there is no danger.

“Diversifying water sources is a best practice because it increases our water-quality integrity and our systems’ resiliency,” Courtright added.

Aqua bought between 20 million and 60 million gallons each month in 2021, according to their filing. With that volume of water so high, questions are being raised about where Aqua got the water it needed to serve customers during the Delaware River shutdown if it didn’t come from Philadelphia Water.

On its website, Auqa said it acted immediately to protect its water supply from the spill on the Delaware River tributary in Bristol and will continue to monitor the situation. It did not mention its “interconnections” to the Philadelphia Water Department.

“The safety of our customers and employees is Aqua’s top priority,” the company said. “Our operations team immediately shut down the intake to our Bristol water system as soon as we learned of the chemical spill, preventing customer exposure to hazardous materials. As a result of their fast action, we are not seeing any of the chemicals from the spill in our drinking water.

“We will reopen our intake only when we are confident that the source water is safe for our customers and meets our stringent quality standards,” the statement added.

In Bucks County, where the accident occurred, the county released a statement Monday that said the county’s emergency management agency “remains on scene and in close contact with state, federal and local partners, as well as the water providers in the affected area.

“There continues to be no known adverse impacts to drinking water in Bucks County,” the agency said, adding that “water suppliers in the area reported this morning that contaminants from this weekend’s spill are not being detected near the intakes for their plants along the river. They say contaminants also have not been detected in the drinking water supply.

“Multiple samples collected Sunday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Coast Guard also have shown no contamination near the water intakes. Sampling is expected to continue (Monday).”

The Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority said it had not been affected by the chemical release because its intake valves are upstream from where the accident occurred.

The Chester Water Authority also released a statement saying none of its water comes from the Delaware River. Its sources are the Octoraro Reservoir and the Susquehanna River, and its customers “should feel confident that their drinking water continues to be of high quality and meets or exceeds all federal and state regulations.”

According to Bucks County officials, the leak occurred at the Trinseo Altuglas chemical facility in Bristol Township and spilled between 8,100 and 12,000 gallons of hazardous materials into the Delaware River.

The material spilled is a water-based latex finishing solution and is non-toxic to humans.

Michael Carroll, Philadelphia’s deputy managing director for transportation, infrastructure, and sustainability, told reporters Sunday that one chemical released into the river was butyl acrylate.

“It is a chemical that was identified in the spill in East Palestine,” he said. “So, we understand there are some known health effects, and their established thresholds in terms of the parts per billion that the EPA feels are safe.”

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