Dalecarlia Reservoir, reservoir in Bethesda, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., United States
Dalecarlia Reservoir is a body of water covering about 50 acres in Montgomery County that stores drinking water for Washington D.C. Water arrives through two pipelines from the Potomac River, one from Little Falls Dam and another from Great Falls Dam via a pipeline over 12 miles long.
The reservoir was built in 1858 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and water began flowing to the city in 1859. It was part of the Washington Aqueduct, one of the nation's first major aqueduct projects, created to address poor water quality in the growing city.
The reservoir reflects how the city manages one of its most essential resources and connects people to their water supply. The area shows the relationship between urban infrastructure and the natural landscape that supports it.
The area around the reservoir has quiet paths for walking and biking and is easily accessible from nearby neighborhoods. The water is not open for swimming or boating, but the space provides a peaceful setting for a stroll among trees and open areas.
A water treatment plant built in the 1920s with a sand filter system still operates at the site. A specialized waste handling facility was added in 2012 to meet modern environmental standards, showing how the system has evolved over time.
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