UPDATED: After Weeks, Water Is Headed Back To Delaware Canal

UPDATED: 2:49 p.m., Wednesday:

The Friends of the Delaware Canal released more details on the work to get water back in the canal.

From the nonprofit group:

“On April 23, 2026, it was discovered that the pump at Centre Bridge that feeds the canal with water flowing down to New Hope, had been knocked over by debris. The situation was complicated but with great cooperation, a solution has been created, and water is flowing once again. FODC worked with the Delaware Canal State Park and spoke with the maintenance company for the pump, and it was agreed that the river water level would need to be at least a foot and a half lower for park staff to safely access and inspect the pump. After three weeks, the water in New Hope had all drained out.

“Once the water level in the Delaware River dropped low enough that they could access the pump, it was determined the pump would need to be repaired. FODC worked with the Department of Conservation and Resources (DNCR) and the pump company to install a temporary pump during this process”

“This pump was installed on Monday and the water is flowing!” said Michael Ginder, executive director of Friends of the Delaware Canal. “It will arrive in New Hope a day or two prior to expectations, but will take some time to reach normal levels.”

The Friends of the Delaware Canal said the group paid $17,000 for repairs and for a temporary pump rental, which was not budgeted.

Original Story:

After more than a month of an empty Delaware Canal in part of Solebury Township and New Hope Borough, state officials expect water to begin flowing again over the coming days.

In early May, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said the Center Bridge pump, which supplies water to the New Hope section of the Delaware Canal State Park from the Delaware River, was found knocked over. It was not able to pump water into the canal.

As of this week, that issue has been fixed.

Wesley Robinson, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said a pump is back in place and “water levels are expected to be satisfactory by the weekend.”

As of Tuesday evening, water had begun filling the canal in Solebury Township. However, the section in New Hope Borough remained dry.

The pump outage led to a drop in water levels and left the canal bed exposed. Rotting fish attracted bugs and birds.

State officials will look at the broken pump to try to find out what caused the issue, Robinson said.

Crews had to wait for the right river levels to put a pump in place to begin refilling the canal.