The Water Shed wall decal, at the front of the space. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)

When it rains, it pours — and Germantown will always show the evidence. 

Flooding is a common issue among neighbors, leaving pools of rainwater, making it sometimes one of the least glamorous parts of being a Germantowner. But the new resource hub on the corner of Queen Lane and Wayne Avenue seeks to help folks find their footing and wade the waters to come.

The new Water Shed, also known as the Germantown Flood Shop, is a partnership among the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), Mural Arts Philadelphia, and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. It launched in November 2024 and recently established more stable hours for visitors.

With the Academy and often stationed at the Shed, Ryan Strand Greenberg says this is a one-stop shop to “centralize information.”

“We’ve heard over and over again, I don’t know why it floods here, I don’t know what to do about it, and I don’t know how to prepare for it if it’s going to happen here,” Greenberg shared about some findings from past engagements.

Understanding that Germantown is more prone to flooding makes it easy to infer why this Shed is nestled in the neighborhood. But that leaves the question — why does Germantown flood? 

It’s all the infrastructure, as you may learn within the space.

Homes and streets in some of the low-lying parts of Germantown sit on old creeks and sewers. When those sewers become overwhelmed after heavy rain and storms, water returns to the surface, targeting the streets and people’s properties.

And that’s not the only issue, Greenberg stated. He makes the point that Philadelphia has a combined sewer system. When the storm sewers reach capacity, both excess stormwater and untreated sewage get released into our rivers and streams.

“And so if you’re someone who likes to go swimming in the Wissahickon, it’s also a public health concern,” said Greenberg.

The Water Shed has shelves filled with print materials packed with helpful information, tactics, and tools in case of a damp emergency. For example, there’s even a map of what parts of the neighborhood have older homes built before the 1980s, meaning you are more likely to have flooding problems.

The shed is timely, as climate change continuously shifts, which Greenberg said can ensure that we can expect more and more powerful storms.

In addition to information, the structure presents other helpful opportunities to neighbors. One is the soon-to-be bill pay service they’ll offer on Saturdays. They don’t yet have a start date for that service. The other is providing space to community groups that need a meeting spot, like the folks with GREAT.

But that’s not all.

The center aims to provide paid research opportunities, educational programs for all ages, and science projects. On the right side of the inside of the little blue building, you’ll notice that it intersects water resistance with community-driven art.

Greenberg says the Watermark project captures people’s flood stories in areas where water has been a major issue. The project currently includes works by local artists Kaitlin Pomerantz and Naomieh Jovin, which feature neighbors like Roz McKelvey and Reverend Chester Williams.

On the other side of the room, closer to the entrance, a large blue map stands out. It outlines the neighborhood, where those old creeks sit, and flood-prone intersections, like Chew Avenue and Washington Lane. Greenburg gives a visual using the exact coordinates.

“If you look to your right, there’s a big hill. If you look to your left, there’s a big hill. If you look in front of you, there’s a big hill.” he said, driving home the point. “That’s where the river used to run.”

On the outskirts of that intersection is the Awbury Arboretum, which has the last remaining body of water on which the creek used to run.

The Germantown Info Hub asked Greenberg if he had any advice on how folks could prepare for the inevitable rainy days to come. He gave notes like lifting electronics in basements off the floor, storing valuable documents and pictures in more secure spots, knowing your block captain, and keeping a go-bag.

But among those, another emerged, revealing a particularly interesting point for Germantown, given the rapidly changing landscape facing new developments.

“Go to community meetings where they’re talking about building new fifty-unit properties,” Greenberg stated. “Those are important to [focus on] because we know greenspace soaks up this water. And you put gravel over top of that and then apartments, where is [the water] going?”

Starting in February, neighbors can learn other ways to build water resistance by visiting the Shed at 5300 Wayne Avenue on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12-6 p.m. To learn more about the program, visit www.water-shed.org.

NOTE: This story was updated to reflect when the Water Shed opens. Initially, we had it listed as Wednesdays and Thursdays.