Public Water Independence Day 2026
All are welcome! Celebrate with us at a Free Family Fun Day on the Lake. We are proud of our efforts to save our public water. It has been NINE years since the CWA’s board voted unanimously to reject Aqua’s unsolicited offer to buy the Authority. The board has been fighting tirelessly against a hostile takeover ever since, and has saved its customers hundreds of millions of dollars over Aqua’s prices in the meantime.
Big Celebration this Year: PA SUPREME COURT SIDED WITH US!
A Free Family Fun Day on the Lake!
- Free Busing from Chester City and Delco
- Free Food: Pretzels, Food Trucks, Ice Cream Truck
- Free Pontoon Boat Tours
- Free Kayak Lessons & Guided Paddle
- Free Tour of the Dam and Treatment Plant
- Free CWA Swag & Giveaways
- Rowing Demonstration by Unionville Crew
- Education and Environmental Awareness Fair, including the Stroud Water Research Center Mobile Lab!
Learn about where your water comes from!
Saturday, June 6
12-5
Octoraro Reservoir
Fishing Headquarters/Boat Launch:
212 Spruce Grove Rd, Kirkwood, PA, 17536
You may drive to the event. Parking is free. The buses are for our ratepayers in Delaware County.
What is Lancaster Water Week?
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Lancaster Water Week, seeks to educate and empower our community to care for the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County. Join us for over 60 events as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action for the streams and rivers of Lancaster County!
Learn more: www.lancasterwaterweek.org
Schedule of Events
Please note: There is no advance sign-up for the kayak lessons. You must sign up in person at the event. First come, first served. The age requirement for the single kayaks is 12 years old. If double kayaks are available, age six and older is allowed with an adult over 18. There is NO age requirement for the pontoon boat rides, all are welcome.
12 PM | Event Start/Buses Arrives from Delco
Pontoon Boat Tours, Kayak Lessons/Guided Paddle, & Food trucks. Sign up for the 3 kayak guided sessions and 4 treatment plant tours. The pontoon boats will leave every 15 minutes for 30 minute rides. No sign up for pontoon boats, just wait and go.
12:45 PM | Kayak Guided Session 1
1 PM | Speakers/Invited Guests
1:40 PM | Nottingham Treatment Plant Tour 1
Take the bus over to the dam and plant to see where your water comes from!
2:00 PM | Nottingham Treatment Plant Tour 2
2:15 PM | Kayak Guided Session 2
2:30 PM | Rowing Demonstration by Unionville Crew
2:30 PM | Nottingham Treatment Plant Tour 3
3:00 PM | Nottingham Treatment Plant Tour 4
3:45 PM | Kayak Guided Session 3
5 PM | Buses leave to return to DelCo
Sign up for the Bus to PWID!
The buses are now full. But we often have availability at the last minute, so add your group to the bus waitlist in case seats open up.
Stop 1 – 11:00AM – Chester Water Authority Headquarters
ARRIVE BY 10:50AM, BUS LEAVES PROMPTLY AT 11:00AM
415 Welsh St, Chester, PA 19013
Park your car for free in CWA’s lot.
Will return to this location approximately 6:00PM
Stop 2 – 11:30AM – Concord Township Building
ARRIVE BY 11:20AM, BUS LEAVES PROMPTLY AT 11:30AM
43 Thornton Rd, Glen Mills, PA 19342
Park your car for free in the township’s lot.
Will return to this location approximately 5:40PM
I would like to be added to the bus waitlist.
Lancaster Water Week Sponsors:
Stay In Touch.
Please sign up to be kept informed of the latest developments and upcoming events. Email with any questions: savecwa@chesterwater.com
from the Pennsylvania Constitution,
Article I, Section 27:
"The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people."