Documentary History of American Water-works

Reading

Reading, Massachusetts

Reading was incorporated as a town in 1644.

The Reading Water Company was incorporated in 1885 by Charles F. Brown, Fred W. Hatch and Albert D. Bosson. This company did not build anything.

The town of Reading was authorized to build water works in 1889 and they began operating February 22, 1891, pumping water from the Ipswich River into a standpipe using steam engines. A second standpipe was added in 1930 on Bear Hill, and a water tower was built next to the original standpipe in 1953. The 1891 standpipe, known as "The Rocket," was demolished in 1999. A new composite water tower is under construction and should be completed in 2023.


1891 Standpipe Demolished in 1999	1953 Water Tank and 1891 Standpipe	Example of proposed new water tower.

The town of Reading joined the Metropolitan Water Resources Authority in 2005 to supply water for town needs.

Water is supplied by the Massachusetts Water Resourcea Authority and distributed by the Town of Reading.

References
1883 Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report for the year ending March 1, 1883
Page 86: Art 16. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to investigate the subject of the introduction of a water supply for Reading, or what they will do in relation thereto.

1885 An act to incorporate the Reading Water Company. June 19, 1885.

1888 Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report for the year ending March 1, 1888
Pages 51-64: Report of the Committee on Water Supply

1889 Twenty-First Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts
Pages 12-13: Reading water supply, March 4, 1889

1889 An Act To Supply The Town Of Reading With Water. June 4, 1889.

1890 An Act To Authorize The Town Of Reading To Make An Additional Water Loan. April 26, 1890.

1890 "Reading," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.

1891 First Annual Report of the Water Commissioners for the Financial Year Ending March 1, 1891, includes schedule of water rates.

1891 "Reading," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.

1892 An Act To Authorize The Town Of Reading To Make An Additional Water Loan. April 13, 1892.

1896 "Removal of iron from water from a filter gallery at Reading, Mass.," Engineering News 36:348-351 (November 26, 1896)

1896 Proceedings of the 250th Anniversary of the Ancient Town of Redding, Once Including the Territory Now Comprising the Towns of Reading, Wakefield, and North Reading: With Historical Chapters, by Chester Williams Eaton and Warren E. Eaton
Pages 336-337: Reading Water Works

1897 "Reading," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.