Boston’s Need For Water
In 1939 the reservoir began to fill. It was the beginning of the Quabbin. Yet the need for the Quabbin began some 352 years ago when Boston’s population began to climb. In 1673 there were 18,000 people and they needed more water. Many people simply wanted to get their water from the sea, but most did not want to spend the time and money on a water cleaning plant that they didn’t know how to build. Soon a Water Works company was incorporated and in 1795 20,000 people were waiting for water in Boston. Now many lakes had been created to serve Boston’s need for water, these however were mostly just alternatives in case the reservoir they were planning on building (the Quabbin) didn’t work out. Finally the Quabbin began to fill, and just in the nick of time, for Boston’s population in 1939 was now 1,000,000 and thirsty!
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