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Historical Videos

History of GCWW


This narrated video was created around 1966 and describes the history of Cincinnati Water Works, including the facilities that were in service at that time. Most of the facilities described were built since the “New Works” went online in 1906. These facilities include major processes at the California Water Treatment Plant (today, known as the Richard Miller Treatment Plant) as well as significant transmission mains installed in the1960s to provide water services to most areas of Hamilton County. Additionally, major pump stations, storage tanks, and reservoirs that were in place around 1966 are described along with the major pressure planes where these facilities operate together.


Mt. Washington Water Tower

 

Built in 1939, and located on Beechmont Avenue at Campus Lane, in Mt. Washington, the Mt. Washington Water Tower was put into service on Nov 19, 1940 as a reinforced concrete standpipe design. Owned and operated by Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), the water tower has an Art Deco-style exterior, and stands 198 feet above the ground, at the top of the revolving beacon light. In the early days of Mt. Washington, a schoolhouse stood where the water tower is now. Today, the water tower is a local landmark that sits on one of the highest points on the east side of the Cincinnati. It is an icon in the community, located directly off the business district.


Eden Park / Mirror Lake Construction
 

In this video, we see the construction of Mirror Lake and other landscaping work done in 1965, following the completion of the installation of a roof over the Eden Park Reservoir.  The original 100 MGD (million-gallons per day) reservoir (which primarily served the downtown Cincinnati area) had an open-top since it's construction in the 1870s. However, the public was disappointed at the loss of the open “lake” (reservoir), so a large "reflecting pool" was built over the cover basins to preserve the lake setting in the park. Today we refer to this as “Mirror Lake.” It was filled with water for the first time on September 8, 1965.


Old River Station


Weighing 1,400 tons each, with 1,000 horse-power, and a pump capacity of 30 MGD (million-gallons per day) each, these 104-feet-high, triple-expansion, crank and flywheel water-pumping steam engines are the largest ever built. The four engines reside within the Richard Miller Treatment Plant complex of Greater Cincinnati Water Works (www.myGCWW.org), where the public is invited to take a tour and explore a state-of-the-art, high volume, and high-quality water pumping system for a growing community in the early 1900s. This video shows these steam engines in operation. They ran from 1906 to 1963 (57 years). For more detailed descriptions on these engines or to schedule a tour to visit this site, please see visit: https://cincinnatitriplesteam.org/


Behind Your Faucet


This narrated “Public Service Announcement” video was created to describe Cincinnati Water Works around 1971. The video explains various treatment plant processes and water quality lab work performed at the California Water Treatment Plant (today, known as the Richard Miller Treatment Plant). It also shows pump stations and storage tanks that were in service in 1971, shares some history of Water Works, from the turn of the century (early 1900s), and provides information about mains installed in and around the 1960s, to enhance service to various outlying areas of Hamilton County.  A description of the work done by other Water Works sections is also included, such as:

  • Distribution Division – Water main repair crews and valve operators

  • Commercial Division - billing, meter reading, and customer service

  • Administrative and office functions at the Spring Grove headquarters

  • Modern Technology enhancements like card punch system for bills and control panel wiring shows progressive water utility who take public service very seriously.

Rapid Transit Tunnel


In 1957, Cincinnati Water Works installed a 48" reinforced concrete transmission pipeline in the west tube of the old abandoned rapid transit (subway) tunnels as part of the 2nd phase of the Cross-Town Feeder. These Subway tunnels were originally installed in the location of the Old Erie Canal; however, the project was abandoned in 1928. Water Works utilized approximately two miles of the tunnel. This video shows the contractor installation methods, some specialty equipment, and construction techniques that were used for installation.  

 

Great Miami River Plant


Created in 1974-1975, this video shows early construction work associated with the building of the Great Miami River Plant (today, known as Charles M. Bolton Water Treatment Plant). It shows earthwork,  steelwork, forms, and concrete pours for the lime-soda softening basins, footers for the building, and installation of lime storage bins and piping within the building. The video also shows aerial views of the earthwork around the site while constructing the two lime-residual lagoons.