Fleet Street Pumping Station, Water pumping station in LeBreton Flats, Ottawa, Canada
Fleet Street Pumping Station is a limestone building in LeBreton Flats that displays tall segmental arch windows with voussoirs and keystones. A second-floor addition was completed in 1899 and the facility continues to play a central role in Ottawa's water distribution network.
The station was built following the Carleton County Fire of 1870, when Thomas Keefer designed Ottawa's first water distribution system. The project also responded to the Chicago Fire of 1871, which underscored the need for improved fire protection across North America.
The station earned recognition from the American Water Works Association in 1981 as a significant water infrastructure landmark in North America.
The location is easily accessible from LeBreton Flats and the exterior facade is visible from the street, making it easy to view the historic architecture. Since it remains an active infrastructure facility, visitors should maintain a respectful distance from the working station.
The building operates using hydraulic power from the Ottawa River through waterwheels coupled to reciprocating pumps, a system that is one of a kind in Canada. This hydraulic-driven method shows an innovative engineering solution from the 1800s that remains functional today.
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