For the very first two centuries of European settlement in Manhattan, it was the main supply of water system for the growing city. Later, the city understood its shabby water quality, owing to its quick population growth (60,000 to 200,000 from 1800 to 1830), which had a substantial threat of causing epidemics.
It consisted of a well and tank on 13th Street between Bowery (today fourth Opportunity) and Third Avenue, which was then at the northern fringes of the city. The well was immense16 feet throughout and 112 feet deepblasted mostly through rock, resulting in a quarry of over 175,000 gallons of water.
An octagonal iron tank, 43 feet in diameter and 20 feet high was installed atop a 27-foot-high stone tower. Mains under Broadway and the Bowery delivered the water to hydrants on Pearl, William, Hudson, and a lots other major streets, in 6-, ten-, and twelve-inch pipelines, providing water to a height of 60 feet above the greatest streets.
In the late 1800s, additional aqueducts were methodically installed in to satisfy the increasing demand. This Website and New Croton Aqueducts [modify] The city's first aqueduct, the Croton Aqueduct, was developed during 1837 to 1842, from the Croton River in Westchester County, down to Manhattan, a range of 41 miles (66 km).
To fulfill the city's growing requirements, the city started building of the New Croton Aqueduct in 1885. The brand-new aqueduct opened for operation in 1890 with a capability of 300 million gallons each day. Catskill Aqueduct [edit] In 1905, the city's recently developed Board of Supply of water launched the Catskill Aqueduct project, which would play an additional role in supplying the city's ever-growing population of locals and visitors.
Portions of the Catskill system began operation in 1916, and the general system of dams, tanks and tunnels was total by 1924. The Schoharie Tank was included to the system and started operation in 1926. The Catskill system has a functional capability of approximately 850 million gallons per day. Within the city's total water system, the Catskill Aqueduct is the furthest away from the city, approximately 125 miles (201 km).