The Philadelphia Water Department does not recommend swimming in any river or creek in Philadelphia.
See the Philadelphia Water Department July 2020 Position Statement on Maintaining Secondary Contact Recreational Activities here.
Health and safety concerns exist when swimming or partaking in any recreational activity in rivers and creeks that involves immersion in water. Health risks include exposure to bacteria in water that can cause gastrointestinal illness. Safety risks include strong currents, deep water, and submerged obstacles that can cause potentially fatal injuries and drowning.
PWD supports recreational activities such as fishing and boating when done responsibly and where appropriate. Philly RiverCast and CSOcast are two forecasting tools created by PWD to provide additional guidance about water quality in Philadelphia’s rivers, creeks and streams.