Museo Agbar de las Aguas, building in Barcelona Province, Spain
The Museo Agbar de las Aguas is a science museum housed in a restored pumping station from the 1800s in Cornella de Llobregat. The building contains three main sections: the Boiler Room with historic coal-fired boilers, the Electricity Room featuring a large flywheel and dynamo, and the Machine Room with pump systems that once sent water across the region.
The pumping station was established in 1867 as a steam-powered facility to extract water from the Llobregat River and was expanded in the early 1900s. Over the twentieth century, it transitioned from steam engines to electric pumps, and after restoration in 2001, it opened to the public as a museum in 2004.
The museum occupies an old pumping station that once served as a vital link between the region and Barcelona's water supply. This site represents how communities depend on infrastructure and how industrial heritage connects people to their shared urban history.
The site sits within a park with pine trees, citrus plants, and eucalyptus, creating a pleasant environment for exploration. It is easily accessible by public transportation, and the green surroundings provide a nice space to relax after walking through the exhibits.
The oldest well, called Fives Lille, was built over a century ago with glass and iron and supplied water not just to Cornella but also to Barcelona. This historic well demonstrates the engineering skill required to provide water to a rapidly growing city.
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