History of The York Water Company
The York Water Company was
founded in 1816 and is the oldest investor owned utility in the nation.
Company History
In the late 1700s and early 1800's the greatest fear
in many colonial towns was: fire. During this period before
electricity and central heating, homes and businesses were heated and
lit with flames: oil lamps, candles, and fire places were part of
everyday life. On numerous occasions fire had almost destroyed York.
Bucket brigades from the nearest well were often inadequate protection
for the risks presented by fires. A public water supply could provide
the necessary volume of water and even enough pressure to help feed the
hand pumps that the local fire companies operated.
1816. Incorporation. On
February 23, 1816 The York Water Company was incorporated. A group of
local businessmen met at the Indian King Tavern, issued stock, and
formed the company. During the first year of operation the Company
contracted for 16,000 feet of logs for pipes with a diameter of 14-20
inches and a length of 12-13 feet. The logs were bored out with a hole
3-4 inches in diameter. The logs were floated down the Susquehanna
River and transported over land from Wrightsville.
The first source was a spring on Rathton Road in an area called
Baumgartner's Woods (site of the present Penn State York campus). Water
was conveyed from the springs to a reservoir that was constructed on
Queen Street . The water was then piped into the area of the town
square. By the end of 1816 35 homes had water on the premises.
1840. Cast Iron Pipe. A
new piping material was introduced to York: cast iron. The old wooden
water mains had served their purpose, but they leaked and they couldn't
maintain very much water pressure.
1849.
Steam Pumping Station. The growing community outgrew the springs in
Baumgartner's Woods and decided to augment the supply by pumping water
from the Codorus Creek.The land was purchased from George King (at the
intersection of Kings Mill Road and Penn Street). A new pumping station
was constructed and used steam power to pump the water. According to
York Water legend, the fire in the first boiler was started from the
pipe of a workman and burned continuously for 107 years until
1956 when the Company converted to electric pumps.
1851. Expand west
of the Codorus. On July 4, 1851 the first water main was
constructed under the Codorus Creek. According to Philip Smyser: "The
great, the perplexing difficulty - the doubtful operation - the
tremendous undertaking with all its fearful threatenings is overcome,
the bold enterprise is accomplished."
1896. New Threats,
New Supply. York was a booming industrial community. The
increasing industrial discharge of waste into the West Branch of the
Codorus was polluting the water to such an extent that it was becoming
unfit to drink. The only solution at the time was to find a purer
source and in 1896 the Company constructed a larger pumping station at
Brillhart Station. This ideal location was upstream of the confluence
of the West and South Branches and was located along a railroad track
that was capable of providing coal for the steam operated pumps.
1897. Typhoid! Many
industrial towns were discovering that their unprotected water supplies
were spreading typhoid fever. The recently discovered use of filters
was found to greatly reduce the outbreak of typhoid. York constructed
its first Filtration Plant on Grantley Hill in 1899. This was the first
successfully operated water treatment plant in Pennsylvania. Shortly
after the new treatment plant was completed, chlorine was added to the
purified water to further kill any harmful bacteria. This original
filtration facility was operated until the 1930's when it was replaced
by the new filtration plant. This building burned down in 1973.
1903. A Park is
Born. Reservoir Park, bounded by Grantley Road and Country Club Road
was completed and made available to the public as " a public breathing
spot" to relieve the stress and strain of modern life.
1910. Drought! The
natural flow of the South and East Branches of the Codorus Creek proved
inadequate to supply a growing industrial community. The Company
purchased land in York and Springfield Townships for the purpose of
building a dam to impound the water supply for periods of drought.
1913. First Dam
Constructed. On January 7, 1913 the dam was completed. By
February 4, 1913 the new dam was full and overflowing. The lake was
later named Lake Williams in honor of the Company's General Manager.
1925. Completion of
the "Best Reforesting in the World." In 1925, The Engineering Society
of York decided to make conservation conscious President Coolidge aware
of York's exemplary reforestation efforts. The message was sent via 13
carrier pigeons! President Coolidge's reply congratulated York and
noted that "the planting of evergreens throughout the York Water Shed
area was conceded to be the best reforesting of evergreens in the
world."
1929. A Remarkable
Office Building. The headquarters of York Water is located at 130 East
Market Street. It is the former site of the home of Samuel Small and
was purchased in 1928. Because the building is dedicated to the
distribution of water, the architect, William B. Billmeyer, thought it
fitting to incorporate into the scheme of the decoration many elements
relating to the "gift of water" to mankind. Artist Gustav Ketterer was
commissioned to paint and decorate the ceiling in an appropriate
manner.
1932. New Filter
Building. As the community continued to grow, the need for an expanded
water filtration facility was also required. The new facility was
initially built with a capacity of 15 million gallons per day and
then expanded to 30 million gallons per day. After many upgrades,
this facility is still in service today.
1954. Expansion of
Dam. Due to the need to store more water for the post-war industrial
community of York, an expanded supply was needed. Four foot tall
bascule gates were ordered from the York factory of S. Morgan Smith
(now Voith Siemens). These gates increased the capacity of Lake
Williams from 600 million gallons to 800 million gallons.
1967. Completion of
the Second Dam. In the midst of the "drought of record" York Water was
building a second dam, now known as Lake Redman, just upstream of Lake
Williams. When it was completed, the total capacity of both lakes
increased to 2.3 billion gallons!
1996. 180th
Anniversary and Restoration of the Magnificent Ceiling. The great
ceiling was restored by James Vallano, a conservator who had extensive
experience including ceilings in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.
2004. Completion of
the Susquehanna River Pumping Station. Due to continued growth of the
community, an additional supply was developed that took advantage of
the greatest source of water in the eastern United States: The
Susquehanna River. The pump station and 15 mile pipeline can deliver up
to 12 million gallons of water per day.
2006. 190th
Anniversary. In celebration of the Company's 190th anniversary and the
5th anniversary of its stock being traded on NASDAQ, the Company was
invited to "ring the closing bell" at NASDAQ's Marketplace in Times
Square, New York City.
The Future. As you
can see, The York Water Company has been committed to the community it
serves for almost 200 years. This same commitment will continue well
into the future. There is a simple reason that York Water is the oldest
investor owned utility in the nation: A commitment to its customers and
its community. If customers are provided a high quality, plentiful
supply of water at a reasonable price, then shareholders, employees,
and regulators will also benefit from this exceptional relationship.
Main Office at 130 E. Market Street