Neighborhoods Northwest Philadelphia

Roxborough Water Works – A Brief History

History of Water in Roxborough: A talk by Adam Levine

Photograph of Roberts Mill on Wingohocking Creek in Germantown, built in the late 17th century. (Photograph by J. C. Browne, 1871. Castner Collection/Free Library of Philadelphia)

Roberts Mill, Wingohocking Creek, 1871

Queen Lane Reservoir pumping station

Queen Lane Pumping Station, proposed design

Queen Lane Water Works (1894)

Roxborough Works (1869)

Germantown Works (1851) and Mt. Airy Works (1882)

The Chestnut Hill Works (1859-1911)

men standing around a trench with pipes seen crossing through it. there is a steam engine on wheels behind them to the left, and a building in the background on the right with a sign they says Hotel Abbey, T G Schmidt & Sons, Pilsner & Puritan Beer.

Pipeline being laid in Wissahickon Avenue

Upper Roxborough filter beds

Upper Roxborough filter beds under construction, July 1902

Two bottles of water from a river, one dark with pollution and one clear after filtration

Water Before and After Roxborough

1902 photo of Upper Roxborough Filter beds under construction

Upper Roxborough Filter Bed Construction, 1902