Editing Fairmount Water Works (section)

== History ==

=== Philadelphia's Water Crisis ===

In the late 18th century, Philadelphia faced a water crisis. The city relied on wells and natural springs that became contaminated as the population grew. Yellow fever epidemics in the 1790s killed thousands and were blamed on polluted water.

In '''1799''', the city commissioned Benjamin Henry Latrobe to design a municipal water system—one of the first in America.

=== Centre Square Waterworks (1801-1815) ===

Latrobe's original system, at Centre Square (now City Hall's location), pumped water from the Schuylkill River using steam engines. However, the system proved expensive to operate and insufficient for the growing city.

=== Fairmount Dam System ===

In '''1812''', the city began constructing a new system at Fairmount (named for the "faire mount" overlooking the river). The key innovation was using the river itself:

* A '''dam''' across the Schuylkill created a reservoir
* '''Waterwheels''' powered by the dam lifted water to a hilltop reservoir
* '''Gravity''' distributed water throughout the city

This system was far more economical than steam power.

=== Peak Era (1820s-1860s) ===

By the 1820s, the Fairmount Water Works was a '''major tourist attraction''':
* Over 100,000 visitors annually
* Praised in travel guides and accounts
* Visited by foreign dignitaries and celebrities
* Subject of countless paintings and prints

The grounds featured formal gardens, promenades, and the elegant Greek Revival pump houses that survive today.

=== Decline ===

By the late 19th century:
* Industrial pollution contaminated the Schuylkill
* The system could not meet growing demand
* Mechanical filtration became necessary

The Water Works ceased operation in '''1909''', replaced by modern filtration plants.

=== Restoration ===

After decades of neglect, the site was restored in the 1970s-1990s. The '''Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center''' opened in 2003 to educate visitors about urban water issues.