Topics Infrastructure

General view of sewer looking up manhole as other Water Dept. personnel look down.

Sewer crawler Tom Cross, heading down the manhole at 26th and Grays Ferry, 1982

Joe Cerrone, Inspector, Industrial Waste Unit, PWD, enters storm drain to search for source of oil spill, 1989

Sewer worker Anthony Holston enters sewer, 1990

Black and white photo of a worker with darker skin, wearing protective clothing, gloves, and a hard hat with the number 25 on the front, reaching up out of a sewer manhole, only head, shoulders, and left arm visible.

Manholes like this give access to city’s sewer system, 1961

Black and white photo of a worker with darker skin, wearing protective clothing, gloves, and a hard hat with the number 25 on the front, reaching up out of a sewer manhole, only head, shoulders, and left arm visible.

Sewer Inspections: Vintage Images

Black-and-white photo of industrial tank installation with smokestacks and factories in the background

Emscher Tank Installation at Essen Nord, Germany

Philadelphia Underground, Jan. 29, 1961

“Philadelphia Underground,” Jan. 29, 1961

State Street pipeline construction

State Street pipeline construction, 1904

Upper Roxborough filter beds

Upper Roxborough filter beds under construction, July 1902

Outhouse over Schuylkill near Pottstown

Outhouse over the Schuylkill near Pottstown

Standard Philadelphia (B) Hydrant (2004.057.022.1075)

Standard Philadelphia (B) Hydrant