Wissahickon Fall, photo credit David Freed
Thirteen municipalities and several wastewater treatment facilities in the Wissahickon Creek watershed are working collaboratively to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) alternative to address water quality issues in the watershed. Several years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a draft TMDL for phosphorus to address challenges to aquatic life habitat in the watershed. Project partners, led by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council with the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association and Montgomery County Planning Commission, worked together to develop a more holistic and adaptive approach to addressing these water quality issues. A draft water quality improvement plan was developed, and representatives from the municipalities accepted the plan and forwarded it to the EPA for review. EFC provided technical assistance to the municipalities focusing on how best to budget and pay for watershed improvements. Several potential areas were identified where collaboration would benefit all parties and reduce costs, including administration, public education, and private landowner engagement. EFC developed rough estimates of potential costs for the implementation of projects to improve water quality and developed sample cost distributions for the municipalities to consider. EFC continues to support the Wissahickon Clean Water Partners as it moves from planning to implementation.
Partners
- Pennsylvania Environmental Council
- Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association
- Montgomery County Planning Commission
- Abington Township, Ambler Borough, Cheltenham Township, Lansdale Borough, Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery Township, North Wales Borough, City of Philadelphia, Springfield Township, Upper Dublin Township, Upper Gwynedd Township, Whitemarsh Township, Whitpain Township
- Philadelphia Water
- Temple University
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
Sponsors
Wissahickon Clean Water Partnership: Abington Township, Ambler Borough, Cheltenham Township, Lansdale Borough, Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery Township, North Wales Borough, City of Philadelphia, Springfield Township, Upper Dublin Township, Upper Gwynedd Township, Whitemarsh Township, Whitpain Township
