Topics Infrastructure

Black and white photo of a worker with darker skin, wearing protective clothing, gloves, and a hard hat with the number 25 on the front, reaching up out of a sewer manhole, only head, shoulders, and left arm visible.

Manholes like this give access to city’s sewer system, 1961

Black and white photo of a worker with darker skin, wearing protective clothing, gloves, and a hard hat with the number 25 on the front, reaching up out of a sewer manhole, only head, shoulders, and left arm visible.

Sewer Inspections: Vintage Images

Black-and-white photo of industrial tank installation with smokestacks and factories in the background

Emscher Tank Installation at Essen Nord, Germany

State Street pipeline construction

State Street pipeline construction, 1904

Upper Roxborough filter beds

Upper Roxborough filter beds under construction, July 1902

Outhouse over Schuylkill near Pottstown

Outhouse over the Schuylkill near Pottstown

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

Northeast Sewage Plant opening, 1951

Man standing in front of Bingham Street Sewer, 1921

Bingham Street Sewer, East of Tacony Creek, 1921