New Croton Aqueduct, Water supply canal in Westchester County, United States
The New Croton Aqueduct is a water pipeline that runs through underground tunnels and above-ground structures across Westchester County. It carries water from Croton Reservoir to New York City using a combination of granite and cement conduits that handle large volumes of flow.
Construction of this water infrastructure began in 1885 and was completed in 1906 to meet the city's growing demand for water. The project replaced an older system and used newer techniques to make delivery more reliable and handle larger amounts of flow.
The aqueduct marked a turning point in how the city grew, allowing millions of residents to get water piped directly to their homes. This shifted how people lived and worked, as reliable water access became something they could depend on every day.
The system requires regular maintenance and inspections to keep water flowing to the city. Parts of it are visible from public areas, though access to the underground tunnels is restricted for safety reasons.
The system combines underground passages with above-ground structures and moves three times more water than the older system it replaced. This dual approach shows how engineers solved the challenge of moving enormous amounts of water through a developed landscape.
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