Human Uses of the Watershed

Humans use the resources of the watershed in many ways. The history of the Schuylkill valley can be seen as "exploration followed by exploitation". It began with the harvesting of trees, moved on to the mining of coal and the smelting of iron, and today is still seen in the diversion of river water for industrial and agricultural use.

One human use of the river has continued from pre-Columbian times until today - the use of the river for drinking water. Indeed, one spot on the Schuylkill was known to the Lenni-Lenape Indians as "Manayunk", or "where we drink". Today the Schuylkill is still an important source of water for the city of Philadelphia. The story of the city and the river intertwine in an interesting way.

Here are links to additional information about the ways in which we use (and abuse?) water:

• Agriculture
• Drinking Water
• The history of Philadelphia's drinking water
• The Schuylkill as a source of drinking water today
• Transportation
• Industry
• Recreation
• Take a river tour of the Schuylkill Watershed

Back to: The Watershed

Back to: The Schuylkill River