Topics Technology & Engineering

Fairmount Water Works: The Surprising History of an American Landmark

Philadelphia drinking water 90+ years ago

Water Bureau Newspaper Scrapbook, 1942-1952

Laboratory Alkalinity test, ca. 1943

Making It Safe to Drink: Water History Video 2

Oak Lane Reservoir pipeline, 1904

The Water and Drainage History of Philadelphia: A seven-part course

Diagram showing the Philadelphia Water Department's water treatment process

PWD Drinking Water Treatment diagram

PWD water tech at the Philly Home Show, 1960

PWD water tech at the Philly Home Show, 1960 (detail)

Spring Garden Sewage Experiment Station, used to test water filtration methods

Outside Sprinkling Filters, Spring Garden Sewage Experiment Station, 1911

Two black-and-white photographs of pipeline construction on State Road. Depicted are a group of people, trees, buildings, a fire hydrant and a grid of boards over the pipes.

State Road triple pipeline construction, 1904

Black-and-white photograph showing the completed Upper Roxborough Filter system. Vaulted concrete ceiling with beds of filter sand.

Upper Roxborough Filter Beds Complete, 1903

1902 photo of Upper Roxborough Filter beds under construction

Upper Roxborough Filter Bed Construction, 1902