Topics Water Supply

Fairmount Water Works, by W. H. Bartlett, 1839. This engraving from an 1839 painting by William Bartlett shows the porch added to the Engine House about 1835 and the two gazebos built at the same time, all added to welcome visitors to the Water Works and a new saloon, or restaurant, in the Engine House. The powerful jet of water rising from the fountain in the South Garden, fed by a dedicated pipe under the full pressure of the reservoir, was depicted against the green foliage on the west slope of Faire Mount, near the east end of the Colossus. A barge is making its way downstream through the canal, headed under the Colossus to the busy port city of Philadelphia.

Fairmount Water Works, W.H. Bartlett, 1839

“Fairmount Waterworks. From the forebay.” (From nature & on stone G. Lehman; Published by C.G. Childs & G. Lehman, 1833. Free Library of Philadelphia, Print & Picture Collection)

Fairmount Water Works from the forebay, 1833

A section of wooden water pipe, long out of service, removed from a Philadelphia street in 1901. It had been installed about 1801.

Wooden Water Pipe, removed from Market Street, December 6, 1901

PWD water tech at the Philly Home Show, 1960

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

Torresdale Conduit work gang, 1906

Torresdale Conduit work gang, 12/18/1906

Cumberland Street pipeline, 1907

Bureau of Water, Cumberland, west of 13th Street, pipe line, 1907

State Street pipeline construction

State Street pipeline construction, 1904

Northern Liberties and Spring Garden Water Works

Northern Liberties and Spring Garden Water Works

Stand Pipe of Philadelphia Water Works

Water Works Standpipe, 1853

View of Fairmount Water Works, ca. 1827

Pegg's Run

Pegg’s Run, Northern Liberties (Watson’s Annals)

Six people and dozens of sandbags performing a load test on a concrete pipe, 1914

Pipe Test, 1914