| Introduction | Historical Background | Chronology | Geography | Biography | Technology | Ownership and Financing | General Bibliography |
| New England States | Connecticut | Middletown |
Middletown was incorporated as a city in 1784 and consolidated with the town of Middletown in 1923.
The city built a gravity system in 1866.
Water is provided by the City of Middletown.
References
1865 An act to Provide for a Supply of Pure
and Wholesome Water for Public and Private Purposes in the City of
Middletown. July 20, 1865
1871 An act in addition to and in amendment of An act to Provide for a Supply of Pure and Wholesome Water for Public and Private Purposes in the City of Middletown. July 5, 1871.
1882 Middletown, from Engineering News 9:84 (March 11, 1882)
1884 History
of Middlesex County, Connecticut: With Biographical Sketches of Its
Prominent Men
Pages 91-92: The Middletown Water Works.
The city water works, which are located on the Laurel Brook, on the
division line between Middletown and Middlefield, were constructed in
1866, under the supervision of George H. Bishop, civil engineer, a native
of Middletown, who was at that time president of the board of water
commissioners. The plans of the works were drawn by Mr. Bishop, Michael H.
Griffin being the contractor for constructing the reservoir, and George H.
Norman contracting for the balance of the work. The reservoir covers about
72 acres and has a capacity of 200,000,000 gallons. The entire inclosure
covers 86 The fall to Main street is 168 feet, and to low water mark on
the river, 220 feet. The water is conducted through 18 miles of main and
distributing pipe, connected with which are 106 gates, 86 fire
hydrants,and 1,100 service pipes. This affords ample protection to the
city against fire and dispenses with the use of fire engines, all except
the remaining hose companies having been disbanded several years since.
Professor W. O. Atwater, who made an analysis of the water in 1883,
reports that “these examinations indicate that, aside from the minute
plants that occur in the sum. 1ner and fall, and the products of their
decay, our city water is as pure and wholesome as we need wish."
The entire cost of the works, as shown by the report of the commissioners
for 1883, was $225,436.82. The first cost was about $168,000, to meet
which,city water bonds, running for ten, twenty, and thirty years, bearing
6 per cent. interest, were issued. The total amount of bonds issued was
$177,000. The annual income for the use of the water by residents of
Middletown has exceeded the annual expenses, and there is at the present
time a surplus in the treasury of $21,437.73.
The first board of water commissioners consisted of Benjamin Douglas,
Charles C. Hubbard, and George H. Bishop. The present officers are: C. R.
Lewis, president; J. C. Broatch, secretary and superintendent.
1888 "Middletown," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1890 "Middletown," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 "Middletown," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1897 "Middletown," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
1901 "Payment by the City for the Public Use of Water," Water and Gas Review 12(9):15-16 (March, 1902)
1995 The
Development of Local Public Services, 1650-1860: Lessons from
Middletown, Connecticut, by Hannah J. McKinney
Pages 129-150: Fire and Water Policies in the City
© 2018 Morris A. Pierce