New Britain herald., 1917-02-10
HISTORY 0F WATER
 SUPPLY IS TRACED
Commissioner Egan Speaks to
 Gathering at Smaley School

Water Commissioner P. J. Egan de
 nvered an interesting address on the history of New Britain's water supply before the members of the Parents and Teachers association of the Smalley school last evening" The pa. per traces the history of the water supply from it's inception. The ad, dress follows:
 Running water was first introduced Tn New Britain in 1857, when ar earthen dam was constructed at th6 present location of Shuttle Meadow Lake, making a reservoir with 2 capacity of 7o0,000,00O gallons. The source of supply was springs. The proposition was first mentioned at T meeting of the borough on April II 1857. when report was made on the project by A. Chamberlain, grand, Father of F. s. Cham berlain, showing the feasibility of the plan. After ob- . taininx legislative rights. perfectine the plans. securing rights of way etc. another meeting of the voters war held. June 4th, when vote was taken, 324 voting "yes" and 45 "no." The work was begun and finally finished on October 24th. Water was conveyed through a ten inch cement lined pipe one and one-quartcr miles, then through an eight inch pipe to Walnut Hill, where 1t was distributed through four miles of mains around the village, to 107 families. At tho present time we have sixty miles Of pipe and 11,00O families served by cit,, water.
 In 1869 a second main, a twelve inch cement pipe, was laid to meet the in . crrasing demand for water.
 In 1883 the first addition to the supply was the construction of Pan ther Swamp canal (so-called). Tho First gatehouse (the square one) was erected the same year. Before this the water was admitted through the open p!rn. . .-E.
 In 1891 the west canal was con- ftr"eted. a new concrete dam was uilt, doubling capacity, new gate haure and twenty-four inch cast iron nenln was laid to the center of the city and finished in 1893. For many years previous the cement pipe was being removed and in 1894 saw the complete substitution of cast iron pipe for cement lined all over the city.
 / In 1896 the west canal was ex- tended 5000 feeet., In 1897 Roaring Brook was added by constructing an Intake and double pipe line to Shuttle Meadow lake. In 1901 began the re- laying of larger mains and additional hydrants began, thereby insuing ample protection in case of fire in the center and factory districts. this work requiring four scn~s to complete.
 In 1904 the wolcott reservoir was built. adding 14o,00o,oo0 gallons ot supply In the above year new supply was secured in the town of Burlington. consisting of three brooks and in 1908 a reservoir was built, capacity 75,000,o00 gallons and ten miles of twenty-four inch main was laid to the city, which is connected with the main from Shuttle Meadow, and can be used as an auxiliary supply in case of need. This supply is at present used for furnishing the north. western part of the city, which is too high to be supplied from the Shuttle Meadow system.
 The year of 1910 saw the raising Of the Shuttle Meadow dam four feet. the laying of the high service pipe and the construction of the high service reservoir for distributing water in the elevated district mentioned above. A peculiar hydraulic feature figures in connection with this reservoir, namely, that the same main, sixteen inch used in filling this basin Is used to dis tribute water in turn to the various streets in that locality. The elevation of this reservoir is thirty-nine feet higher than any point In the city.
 Tn 1911 a large additional supply was secured in Burlington, three miles from the present reservoir, which, when fully developed, will double the present supply. Plans are in the wSr<s for construction of a reservoir ahn tunnel to divert water to the brook. which the present reservoir is fed from, thence to the present main pipe leading to New Britain.
 Tn connection with the above history of our plant 1t is gratifying to know that the entire plant is gravity supply, each locality being higher than the parent body, one of them filling want in 2 fast growing locality, which the original system could not supply Another feature Is that the city does not get one drop of water from it's own territory. We are being supplied by Southington, Berlin, Piainville, Wolcott and Burlington Another point in connection with the present position of our ample supply is the opposition the city had to con- tend with in securing what we have, and when we got it every addition secured since original grant had to be fought for in the legislature. Our success Is due to the efforts of our leading citizens and representatives and their influence with their asso- ciates in the legislature. If New Britain waited to obtain those rights until now or when actually needed, they would be absorbed by the cities and towns, which territorially be- longed to them. Our foresight was far superior to the hindsight which some of our neighbors are crying about at the present time.
 Pnrification and Protection.
 1rha m nsf i'm narfa nj elennant in a