Kimberly Paynter / WHYY
The crew on the Drillboat Apache brings in lines tied to explosives used to break up rocks at the bottom of the Delaware River near Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. It’s one of the final stages of a controversial project to deepen the river’s shipping channel.
StateImpact Pennsylvania, Newsworks.org, WHYY and NJ Spotlight are collaborating on a series of stories about the Delaware River Watershed.
The watershed stretches from upstate New York through Pennsylvania and New Jersey, emptying out in the Delaware Bay. It supplies water to more than 15 million people, or about 5% of the nation’s population. Its natural lands both protect clean water and provide a habitat of regional and hemispheric importance.
The story of the river includes stories of its people and wildlife that depend on it for survival; the threats to continued sources of clean water; and the river as an economic engine.
The project is funded by The William Penn Foundation. Below are contributions from StateImpact Pennsylvania.
As much as 90 percent of the water in the Wissahickon is treated sewage that comes from four wastewater-treatment plants upstream. Apparently, most people just shrug it off.
By
Catalina Jaramillo 
Organophosphates drain off farms and make their way to the ocean, where they could be harming sea creatures like whales, dolphins and manatees.
Six creeks recently gained special protection from the state. But some local businesses and landowners say the rules go too far.
By
Catalina Jaramillo 
The agency agreed to have Sunoco continue construction at eight of 12 locations, where a judge halted work due to public safety and environmental concerns.
The agency held a public event north of Philadelphia in a community where elevated levels of the toxic chemical have been found. Several people said the federal government needs to take more action than it has so far.
As more plastic trash makes its way from city and town storm water drains to the ocean, a movement grows to focus on where the garbage is coming from.
By
Catalina Jaramillo 
