Documentary History of American Water-works

Susquehanna

Susquehanna, Pennsylvania

Susquehanna Depot, commonly referred to as Susquehanna, was incorporated as a borough in 1853.

The Susquehanna Water Company was incorporated on August 17, 1874 and built a gravity system that probably began operating that same year.

The Canawacta Water Supply Company was incorporated on November 24, 1899 to supply water to Susquehanna County. This firm took control of the Susquehanna Water Company in 1900 and secured a twenty-year franchise from the borough of Susquehanna in 1902.

The Pennsylvania State Water Corporation bought the Canawacta Water Supply Company in 1928, making it part of the Community Water Service Corporation. This holding company was in turn bought by the American Water Works and Electric Company in 1936.

Water is provided by Pennsylvania American Water.

References
1881 Susquehanna, from Engineering News, 8:434 (October 29, 1881)

1882 Susquehanna from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.

1888 "Susquehanna," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.

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

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

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

1899 The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 15, 1899, Page 4.
Susquehanna. The Canawacta Water Supply Company, recently organized in Susquehanna by local and Lakcwanna county capitalists, is negotiating for the purchase of the stock of the Susquehanna Water Company, the Oakland Water Company and the Lanesboro Water Company.

1899 The Scranton Tribune, November 16, 1899, Page 2.
Susquehanna. In the matter of the sale of the stock of the water companies in this place and vicinity, A.A. Holbrook of Wilkes-Barre, who is in town as the representative of capitalists in that city, states that an effort is being made to purchase the stock of the Susquehanna Water Company, owned by non-residents, which includes half of the stock.

1900 The Scranton Tribune, January 5, 1900, Page 2.
Wilkes-Barre capitalists have purchased the stock of the Susquehanna Water Company, paying therefor a good price.

1902 The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania), August 16, 1902, Page 8.
The borough of Susquehanna has made a twenty-year contract with the Canawacta Water Supply Company.

1920 Water Resources Inventory Report
Pages 341-342: Susquehanna and Lanesboro Boroughs, Susquehanna County

1923 "Water Supply of Susquehanna Pure," Fire and Water Engineering 74(12) (September 19, 1923) | also here |
After an inspection of the water supply maintained by the Canawacta Water Supply Company supplying the city of Susquehanna, Pa., I. M. Glace, district engineer of the State Department of Health of Pennsylvania, endorsed the water furnished by the company as pure and of excellent quality. Incidentally, he spoke very positively of the benefits of water purification through the use of liquid chlorine. In a letter addressed to F. M. Wright, secretary of the company. Mr. Glace writes:
“In order to confirm the statements made on August 16. following an inspection of the chlorinating apparatus maintained by the Canawacta Water Supply Company for the disinfection of the public water supply taken from Comforts Run, please be advised that I found the apparatus to be in an entirely satisfactory condition both from the standpoint of equipment and operation. I am glad to say moreover, that in the several years in which we have been engaged in the investigation of public water supplies and in the inspection of water purification apparatus, I have not seen a disinfection apparatus at any water works more carefully equipped and operated than is the Susquehanna plant and tinwater company is to he congratulated for its successful elTorts.
“While in Susquehanna. I was informed that some objection to the use of chlorine obtained among the residents of the borough hreause of the belief that the use of chlorine as a disinfectant for public water supplies is injurious to the health. This fear can he said to be without foundation inasmuch as the use of chlorine either in the form of liquid chlorine, or of hypochlorite of lime, is now being used by practically every town of any size in the United States taking water from surface sources, and is universally accepted by public health authorities as a safe and satisfactory method for destroying disease breeding bacteria and rendering the water harmless. It is estimated that, of the 60,000,000 in the United States in urban districts, approximately 50,000,000 artserved with chlorinated water. In your own district, all of the supplies of the cities of New York, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre. Williamsport, Elmira and Binghamton, are using this chemical, as are many of the smaller communities. The method is, of course, not a substitute for filtration hut, when a water is reasonably free of turbidity and the chlorination apparatus is carefully operated, it is uniformly satisfactory.”

1928 "Buys Water Company," The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 29, 1928, Page 23.
Reeves J. Newsom, vice president, announces that Pennsylvania State Water Corporation had contracted to purchase the Canawacta Water Supply Company, serving Canawacta, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Water Corporation is a subsidiary of Community Water Service Company.

1933 "Freedom of Press," Tunkhannock New Age, June 29, 1933, Page 2.