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John,

According to the most recent update from the Philadelphia Water Department and City officials, tap water from the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment Plant will be safe through 11:59 PM on Monday, March 27, leaving hundreds of thousands of Philadelphians left to wonder: what happens after that?

On Friday, the City learned that a massive chemical spill had potentially impacted the Baxter Drinking Water Treatment plant, which provides tap water to more than half of Philadelphia. On Sunday, City officials haphazardly communicated that the tap water for thousands of households may be unsafe and suggested that residents drink bottled water. This map shows which regions of our city are impacted. [[link removed]]

Subsequent messages were unclear and contradictory, inciting panic and confusion in neighborhoods across the city. By the time the City announced that drinking bottled water was not necessary, shelves were already empty, leaving residents left to worry if their family would have access to safe drinking water in the days, weeks, and months to come.

There is no circumstance under which the City should announce that tap water may be unsafe two full days after they learned of possible contamination without a plan to provide safe water to every resident.

The Mayor, in particular, sets the tone for the way the City handles emergencies and must ensure that in uncertain times, there are contingency plans, clear messages, and reliable communication channels. He must reassure families that the City, no matter what, will guarantee access to something as fundamental as safe drinking water. Delayed, mixed messages don’t just risk inciting panic, they risk undermining public trust.

Every family deserves to know that in times of crisis, their local government has a plan to protect the safety and wellbeing of every resident. Every person deserves to feel confident that the air that they breathe, the building they send their kid to school in, and the water they drink is safe.

It’s why as a City Councilmember, I passed legislation to ensure safe, lead-free drinking water in every public school in Philadelphia. It’s why as Mayor, I will fully modernize every public school building and rid our classrooms of mold, lead, and asbestos once and for all. And it's why I will lead a City government that is organized, reliable, and responsive when it matters most.

Should future water samples at the treatment plant show contamination, the City must provide clear guidance to residents on what to do, where to access safe water, and when to expect safe water access to return. And they must ensure that everyone, especially our most vulnerable community members — seniors, children, and people with health conditions — are prioritized.

Far too often, corporate polluters evade the consequences for their failure to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public. That can't happen this time. There must be real accountability for the company responsible for the spill.

I am calling on the Mayor, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Water Department to present a unified, clear path forward and lead this city with the confidence, diligence, and urgency that this moment demands.

Effective and timely management of emergencies is one of our government’s most essential roles. In times of crisis, families deserve to know that they are in good hands.

– Helen
Helen Gym is a Philly mom, a school teacher, a community organizer, and former City Councilmember. She has been fighting for Philly families and communities for decades — winning more resources for our schools, safer communities, and a more affordable Philadelphia. Our efforts are supported by everyday people like you who give what they can, whenever they can, because they want to see a safer, more prosperous, equitable Philadelphia that works for all of us. If you’d like to donate to Helen and help elect her as Philadelphia’s next Mayor, click here:
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