| Introduction | Historical Background | Chronology | Geography | Biography | Technology | Ownership and Financing | General Bibliography |
| New England States | Rhode Island | East Providence |
East Providence was incorporated as a town in 1862 and as a city in 1958.
The Watchemoket Fire District was incorporated in 1878 and built a system that was supplied from the city of Pawtucket.
The East Providence Fire District was incorporated in 1891 and built a system that began operating in August, 1893 pumping water to a standpipe.
The East Providence Water Company was incorporated in 1895 and in October, 1895, the East Providence Fire District, sold and conveyed by its deed all of its property to the East Providence Water Company. The consideration was the payment of $2,100 to the Fire District and the assumption by the Water Company of the bonded indebtedness of the district, amounting to $200,000.
The town of East Providence bought the East Providence Water Company in 1928 and the Watchemoket Fire District in 1951.
Water is provided by the East Providence Water Supply Board.
References
1878 An
act to incorporate the Watchemoket Fire District. June 13,
1878.
1888 "East Providence," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1890 "East Providence," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 An act to incorporate the East Providence Fire District. May 29, 1891.
1891 An act in amendment of and in addition to an act entitled "An act to incorporate the East Providence Fire District," passed at the May session, 1891. July 30, 1891.
1891 "East Providence," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1894 "Collapse of a Standpipe," Buffalo Courier, January 21, 1894, Page 1.
1895 An act to incorporate the East Providence Water Company. May 22, 1895.
1897 "East Providence," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
1899 "Mechanical Filter of the East Providence Water Company," Fire and Water 26:368-389 (November 4, 1899) | also here |
1904 "A
Monster Water Tower," The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor,
Michigan), July 16, 1904, Page 10.
The largest metal structure for the purpose that has ever been
created.
1915 An act in amendment of and in addition to an act, entitled "An act to incorporate the East Providence Water Company," passed at the January session of the General Assembly, A.D. 1895. April 24, 1915.
1925 East Providence Water Co. v. Public Utilities Commission, 46 R.I. 458, Supreme Court of Rhode Island
2007 Water
Governance in Rhode Island: A Guide to Regional Authorities,
Municipal Departments & Special Districts, September, 2007
Page 24: The East Providence Water System was created from 2
systems: the Watchemoket Fire District System and the Municipal System.
The Municipal System started as a Fire District in 1891, and then was
operated by a private company from 1895 to 1928 at which time it was
purchased by the Town of East Providence. The Watchemoket System was
developed in 1878 and was supplied by the City of Pawtucket’s water
system. In 1951, the Town of East Providence purchased all the assets of
the Watchomeket System.
East Providence Water Company Records are held by the Rhode Island Historical Society, Manuscripts Division
© 2018 Morris A. Pierce