![Thomas Meehan](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/C.5d_FINAL_Thomas-Meehan_edit.jpg?w=300)
![Thomas Meehan](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/C.5d_FINAL_Thomas-Meehan_edit.jpg?w=300)
![Cartoon depicting William Penn toasting the Devil with a glass of filtered water](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/2004.012.0131_Typhoid_SpeedPartingGuest_1909_rev.jpg?w=300)
“Speeding the Parting Guest,” Feb. 25, 1909
![William Penn balks at drinking the "mixed drink" offered him: Schuylkill water, mixed with pollution from the upstream sources named. Editorial cartoon by Fred Morgan, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 6, 1899. One of a series of cartoons drawn by Morgan protesting the state of the city's drinking water and trying to encourage the passage of legislation authorizing the construction of a water filtration system.](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/MixedDrink_Inq_1899-04-06_Morgan_crop2.jpg?w=300)
“A Decidedly Mixed Drink,” April 6, 1899
![](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/Birch_20.jpg?w=300)
Goal (jail) in Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 1800
![](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/Birch_17.jpg?w=300)
Congress Hall and New Theatre in Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
![](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/Birch_16.jpg?w=300)
Library and Surgeon’s Hall in Fifth Street, Philadelphia, 1800
![Gillette Schuylkill mud cartoon](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/D.6c_FINAL_2004.012.0027R_Typhoid_1906_edit-scaled.jpg?w=300)
‘Gillette, All By Himself, Gets Fine New Idea On Germ Slaying’
![Samuel H. Ashbridge, former Mayor of Philadelphia](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/C.5e_FINAL_Samuel-h-Ashbridge_edit.jpg?w=300)
Portrait of Samuel H. Ashbridge, Mayor
![State Sen James P. McNichol, 1905-1916](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/C.5c_FINAL_James-McNichol_edit.jpg?w=300)
State Sen. James P. McNichol
![Picture of John Trautwine, Jr.](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/C.5a_FINAL_1986.002.0047_JohnTrautwine.jpg?w=300)
Philadelphia Water Department chief engineer John Trautwine Jr., 1890s
![Black and white image of Philadelphia civic and business leaders watching the start of operations at the new Northeast Sewage Treatment Plant, April 6, 1951](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/DR_NESTWOpeningBrochurep5.jpg?w=300)
Northeast Sewage Plant opening, 1951
![](https://waterhistoryphl.org/wp-content/uploads/Interceptor-Tour-2004.087.0010_reduced.jpg?w=300)