The Nature of Water: Reform and the Antebellum Crusade for Municipal Water in Boston

Water resources and the urban environment, lower Charles River watershed, Massachusetts, 1630-2005

“…In 1999, the Charles River Conservancy was organized to educate the public about the built environment of the lower Charles River, and to advocate for the restoration of its parks, parkways, and bridges (Haglund, 2003;Charles River Conservancy, 2004). The history of metropolitan Boston's water-supply system-another critical aspect of the built environment-has been well documented (Nesson, 1983;French, 1986;Elkind, 1998;Rawson, 2004), and the development of its wastewater infrastructure has also been described (Clarke, 1888;Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, 2004a).…”

“…An aqueduct was built to convey the water from Natick to the Brookline Reservoir (figs. 3 and 5); water was then distributed from this reservoir to all parts of the city, through a 60-mi network of iron pipe (Rawson, 2004). On October 28, 1848, a public celebration of the new water system was held on the Boston Common ( fig.…”

“…On October 28, 1848, a public celebration of the new water system was held on the Boston Common ( fig. 17), complete with public orations and a gushing fountain at the Frog Pond (Spirn, 1984, Rawson, 2004.…”