Delaware River Improvement Partnership: Overview

The Delaware River Improvement Partnership is working to improve and preserve source water quality in the Delaware River. 

Initiated in 2003 by the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), the Schuylkill Action Network (SAN) has become a paradigm of effective collaboration, safeguarding the drinking water of the Schuylkill River Watershed. Today, SAN’s legacy of stewardship involves over 100 diverse partners, from local governments to non-profits, all dedicated to preserving water quality through comprehensive watershed management practices.

While SAN’s initiatives have driven significant improvements, the Lehigh Valley and Lower Delaware River Watershed upstream of Philadelphia’s Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant—responsible for delivering about 60% of the city’s water—presents new challenges and opportunities for strategic partnerships. Recognizing this, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) and Philadelphia Water Department are spearheading efforts to form a source water protection collaborative called the Delaware River Improvement Partnership (DRIP).

This new coalition aims to mirror the successes of SAN by uniting water utilities and environmental groups in a common mission to bolster water quality.

This initiative represents a critical step toward safeguarding Philadelphia’s water resources, ensuring a resilient and clean water supply for future generations.

PDE and PWD are working to expand the DRIP to address other areas of impact in this watershed to protect the water supply through proactive and unified efforts. Contact us to learn more and get involved in protecting this watershed!