Billerica Town Water Supply Pumping Station
Billerica Town Water Supply Pumping Station
The Billerica Pumping Station stands as a testament to a pivotal decision made by the Town of Billerica on September 16, 1897. In a landmark move during a special town meeting, the town voted in accordance with Act 471 of the Massachusetts State Legislature of 1897, signaling the commencement of efforts to secure a permanent water supply for domestic and fire purposes, thereby enhancing the general welfare of the community.
Upon the town's resolution, three water commissioners were appointed to represent the collective interests of the townspeople. Their mandate encompassed a spectrum of responsibilities, including land acquisition, utilization of water sources, securing necessary easements, issuance of bonds, borrowing of funds, and the establishment of a sinking fund. Mr. Percy M. Blake, hailing from Hyde Park, assumed the crucial role of the chief engineer overseeing the project.
Under the joint supervision of Mr. Blake and E. Worthington, a comprehensive exploration was undertaken. Twenty test wells were strategically drilled, with thirteen situated near the banks of the Concord River and five in the meadowlands of Content Brook. Hutchins Meadow, positioned 400 feet from the river, emerged as the prime location capable of producing water of optimal quality and quantity.
Over the subsequent eighteen months, significant infrastructural developments took shape. A network of pipes was laid to serve portions of the Center and North Billerica, a standpipe was erected on Crosby Hill, 94 hydrants were strategically installed, and the Billerica Pumping Station was erected in Hutchins Meadow. The Pumping Station housed two pumping engines and two boilers, representing the technological prowess of its era.