Old Conduit Overhaul

Photo By Christopher Fincham | Built in 1901 as an expansion onto the Washington Aqueduct’s receiving reservoir, the Castle Gatehouse is a rare example of architecture based on a government logo, the castle that appears on the 1839 insignia of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The intentional resemblance of the gatehouse to the Army Corps of Engineers insignia allows the building to serve as a symbol of the USACE contributions to the city’s public health. (USACE photo by Christopher Fincham)  

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES

08.16.2024

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District   

Washington Aqueduct crews have been conducting repairs and updates to sections of the utility's first conduit - commonly referred to as the "Old Conduit," — since November 2023.
The Old Conduit is a 12-mile-long circular tube structure carrying water from the Potomac River near Great Falls to the Dalecarlia Reservoir.

Located under MacArthur Boulevard, the conduit was placed in regular service in July 1864 and — thanks to the qualified professionals that have overseen its operations and maintenance throughout the past 160 years — remains a vital component to providing drinking water for approximately 1 million citizens living, working, or visiting in the District of Columbia, Arlington County, Virginia, and other areas in northern Virginia.

Aqueduct staff conducted a visual inspection of the Old Conduit in March 2022 and determined that repairs and maintenance work were required to address compromises to the conduit's structural integrity caused by violations of imposed vehicle weight restrictions on MacArthur Boulevard.

Originally appropriated by Congress in 1853, the conduit was built of brick, stone, and mortar and is 9 feet in diameter. It was the largest single structure involved in the construction of the Washington Aqueduct. The conduit design was based upon the early New York and Boston aqueducts, completed a decade earlier in the 1840’s.

Construction broke ground for the conduit in November 1853, with a force of 300 to 400 men at any given time. Labor was intensive but plentiful. The only machine available for construction purposes during that time was the steam-driven hoist. Aqueduct historical reports include mention of a steam-operated rock drill trial, which led to a determination that drilling by hand was far superior and faster.

Water from the Potomac River was first introduced into the conduit in December 1863.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2024
• Date Posted: 08.19.2024 09:58
• Story ID: 478855
• Location: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, US