A snapshot of early American water systems, town by town.
This historical reference compiles an alphabetical list of towns with public water supplies, including population figures, year of returns, source of supply, and notes on construction and funding.
See how water works were built and paid for in the late 19th century.Learn the common sources of water—groundwater, springs, rivers, and reservoirs—and how they were used.Discover details on the scale of urban water systems, from small towns to large cities, and how they grew. - Concrete examples of towns and their infrastructure, per the 1883 compilation.
- Variations in sources and methods of supply across states and provinces.
- Context for the development of public water works during that era.
Ideal for readers with an interest in the history of urban infrastructure, public works, and 19th‑century data collections.