Toronto's First Drinking Water System Commemorative Plaque, 2020.
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Resource ID
8211
Access
Open
Address
75 Rosehill Ave, Toronto, ON M4T 1G4
Date of Creation
2020
Historical Themes
Food and Drink, Health Care, Public Works
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Time Period
1794-1834, 1835-1899, 1900-1953
Caption
Toronto's First Drinking Water System Commemorative Plaque, 2020.
Description
Toronto’s first piped drinking water system was established by the Toronto Gas Light and Water Company, a private business. Albert Furniss, a partner in the Montreal Gas Light Company, founded it in 1842. The system consisted of a pumping station at the foot of Peter Street that drew water from the Toronto Harbour through hollowed wooden logs. Complaints about inadequate supply and poor water quality soon emerged. The company struggled to expand and never improved its waterworks. In 1873, after the death of Furniss, the City purchased his system, aiming to popularize piped water and improve public health. The City made many upgrades to the original system, rebuilding and extending it to reach more people. By 1875, the City had moved the intake pipe south of Toronto Island and built a sand filtration basin on Centre Island. Over the years, the intake pipe was moved further into the lake. However, it broke several times, resulting in typhoid outbreaks caused by sewage-contaminated lake water entering the system. The City continued to improve its water infrastructure, building the Rosehill Reservoir for an emergency water supply, as well as additional filtration plants and a sewage treatment plant.
Marker lat / long: 43.685184, -79.388593 (WGS84)