Topics Water Supply

Philadelphia drinking water 90+ years ago

Map Lovers’ Monday: Water for City Hall

Pipe Aqueduct across Wissahickon Valley, 1868 (2004.057.0074.004)

Wissahickon Pipe Aqueduct, Roxborough to Mt. Airy, 1868

A man in glasses listening to the street through stethoscopes (2012.002.0043)

Listening for leaks

Wooden Pipes in Philadelphia

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

Cumberland Street pipeline, 1907

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

Oak Lane Reservoir pipeline, 1904

Oak Lane Reservoir pipeline, 1904

State Street pipeline construction

State Street pipeline construction, 1904

Showing method of sinking the pipe on the bed of the River (2004.057.0074.006)

Showing the method of sinking the pipe on the bed of the river

Stand Pipe of Philadelphia Water Works

Water Works Standpipe, 1853

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

Pipe Test, 1914