Mayfair Pumping Station

Last updated

The Mayfair Pumping Station is a historic structure on Northwest side of Chicago, United States. Located at 4850 W. Wilson Avenue, the pumping station has served as the archetype for similar pumping stations worldwide.

Contents

History

Water began to be pumped from the Chicago River as early as 1803. By the late 19th century, it became clear that an organized water distribution system was needed.

In 1918, the Mayfair pumping station was constructed to add pumping capacity to Chicago's water system. The station was constructed on the former farmland of Elsie Budlong, owner of the Budlong pickle factory (see Budlong Woods, Chicago). The station had a rather modest start as single steam-driven pumping station, with a team of horses available to step in with the frequent breakdown of the single steam pump.

The 1920s and early 1930s

Many residents in Chicago's North Side frequently complained of the lack of water. Fearing a repeat of the Great Chicago Fire, the residents nominated a local resident, Arne Ziegler of Chicago's Sauganash neighborhood, to lead a delegation to Springfield, Illinois. Meeting first with Republican governor Len Small and subsequently Republican governor Louis L. Emmerson, the Ziegler delegation made progress in securing funding for upgrading the station.

The Horner administration

Democratic governor Henry Horner, a supporter of Downstate causes, blocked the Mayfair upgrades, famously declaring that the "wealthy Chicagoans can afford their own water." With this, upgrading of the station was stalled. It was only until the administration of Dwight H. Green that the station became upgraded.

The 1950s

Construction of the Northwest Expressway (now known as the Kennedy Expressway) in the mid-1950s required substantial relocation of sewer lines around the new thoroughfare. The Mayfair pumping station presented an additional engineering dilemma since these new sewers needed to go either under or over the large water mains that serve the station. An underground bridge, covered with earth fill, was constructed over the mains to carry the sewer lines. [1]

Many of Chicago's surrounding suburbs, in particular Niles, Illinois and Morton Grove, Illinois, were in a period of rapid growth and required increasing amounts of water. After protracted battles with the City of Chicago Water Department, the Supreme Court of Illinois ruled in 1957 that Chicago was required under the Illinois Constitution and certain intergovernmental contracts to supply water. This ruling paved the way for the development of these municipalities and for the growth of the Chicago metropolitan area generally north of Irving Park Road and west of Harlem Avenue.

The court's decision was vindicated when the 1961 Des Plaines, Illinois fire at Sears, Roebuck was able to be extinguished quickly with available hydrant pressure, thus avoiding loss of life and significant property damage. Mayor Richard J. Daley, recognizing the significance of the station in this respect, commemorated the station in a 1962 Chicago City Council resolution.

1998 survey

The U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory completed a technical survey of water withdrawal from the station, finding the water quality and efficiency of pumping to be significantly above average for all U.S. pumping stations, including much newer facilities.

Today

The station serves most of the northwest side of Chicago and several surrounding suburbs that purchase water from Chicago. Seven steam driven pumps are used to pump water.

The venturis at the station do not have bronze throat-liners, unlike those at other Chicago-area pumping stations, but this is not reported to be a problem (B. Whalin, USDA-ARS Water Conservation Laboratory, written communication, October 11, 2000).

Controversy

Scandal erupted in the late 1990s when a former employee of the Mayfair Pumping Station alleged a failure to be promoted because of his lack of ties to the Democratic party. In an emotional decision, the dismissal of the employee's complaint was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Related Research Articles

Villa Park, Illinois Village in Illinois, United States

Villa Park is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States, within the Chicago metropolitan area. The population is 21,904 at the 2010 Census. The Village of Villa Park is an inner western suburb of Chicago near the hub of eastern DuPage County's busiest transportation corridor, 14 miles from O'Hare International Airport and within 25 miles of Midway International Airport.

Hammond, Indiana City in Indiana, United States

Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. First settled in the mid-19th century, it is one of the oldest cities of northern Lake County. As of the 2010 United States census, it is also the largest in population: the 2010 population was 80,830, replacing Gary as the most populous city in Lake County, although it too has undergone a considerable population loss since the 1960s. From north to south, Hammond runs from Lake Michigan down to the Little Calumet River; from east to west along its southern border, it runs from the Illinois state line to Cline Avenue. The city is traversed by numerous railroads and expressways, including the South Shore Line, Borman Expressway, and Indiana Toll Road.

Albany Park, Chicago Community area in Chicago

Albany Park is one of 77 well-defined community areas of Chicago. Located on the Northwest Side of the City of Chicago with the North Branch of the Chicago River forming its east and north boundaries, it includes the ethnically diverse Albany Park neighborhood, with one of the highest percentages of foreign-born residents of any Chicago neighborhood.

A vacuum ejector, or simply ejector is a type of vacuum pump, which produces vacuum by means of the Venturi effect.

The Western Treatment Plant is a 110 km2 (42 sq mi) sewage treatment plant in Cocoroc, Victoria, Australia, 30 km (19 mi) west of Melbourne's central business district, on the coast of Port Phillip Bay. It was completed in 1897 by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW), and is currently operated by Melbourne Water. The plant's land is bordered by the Werribee River to the east, the Princes Freeway to the north, and Avalon Airport to the west. It forms part of the Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site as a wetland of international importance. The Western Treatment Plant treats around 50% of Melbourne's sewage – about 485 ML per day - and generates almost 40,000 ML of recycled water a year.

Chicago Avenue Pumping Station Pumping station

The Chicago Avenue Pumping Station is a historic district contributing property in the Old Chicago Water Tower District landmark district. It is located on Michigan Avenue along the Magnificent Mile shopping district in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. It is on the east side of Michigan Avenue opposite the Chicago Water Tower.

Cicero Avenue, also known as Skokie Boulevard from Skokie, is a major north-south street in Chicago and its suburbs. It carries Illinois Route 50 from its south end to Skokie, and U.S. Route 41 from Skokie to its north end. It runs north from the Governors Highway in University Park, next to Governors State University, crossing major highways such as Interstate 294, Interstate 55, Interstate 290 and Interstate 94, to Interstate 94 in Wilmette. Cicero Avenue is located 6 miles west of State Street.

Manchester Hydraulic Power

Manchester's Hydraulic Power system was a public hydraulic power network supplying energy across the city of Manchester via a system of high-pressure water pipes from three pumping stations from 1894 until 1972. The system, which provided a cleaner and more compact alternative to steam engines, was used to power workshop machinery, lifts, cranes and a large number of cotton baling presses in warehouses as it was particularly useful for processes that required intermittent power. It was used to wind Manchester Town Hall clock, pump the organ at Manchester Cathedral and raise the safety curtain at Manchester Opera House in Quay Street.

Glenview Creek river in the United States of America

Glenview Creek flows on the eastern side of Glenview, Illinois, in the County of Cook. It now originates just south of Glenview Road and alongside the abandoned Skokie Subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad right of way. Glenview Creek flows in a west by southwest direction for approximately 3/4 of a mile to where it enters the Middle Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River in Harms Woods.

Philadelphia Water Department

The Philadelphia Water Department is the public water utility for the City of Philadelphia. PWD provides integrated potable water, wastewater, and stormwater services for Philadelphia and some communities in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties. PWD is a municipal agency of the City of Philadelphia, and is seated in rented space at the Jefferson Tower in the Market East area of Center City, Philadelphia.

The Calumet Feeder Canal was a short canal in Illinois, operated during the mid-19th century. It connected the Little Calumet River to the Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal, and ran from Blue Island, where the Little Calumet made a hairpin turn toward Lake Michigan, to meet the I&M canal at Sag Bridge. The canal was completed in 1849, and covered 16.75 miles (26.96 km). It was one of four feeder canals built for the I&M, the others being the Du Page Feeder, Fox River Feeder and Kankakee Feeder.

Middle Harbour Syphon

The Middle Harbour Syphon is a heritage-listed sewerage syphon located at Monash Crescent, Clontarf, Northern Beaches Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by E. M. de Burgh, an engineer in the NSW Public Works Department and was built from 1922 to 1925 by the Department. The sewerage syphon is also known as the Middle Harbour Syphon NSOOS and The Spit Syphon. The property is owned by Sydney Water, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 November 2002.

Botany Water Reserves

The Botany Water Reserves are a heritage-listed former water supply system and now parkland and golf course at 1024 Botany Road, Mascot, Bayside Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by City Engineers, W. B. Rider, E. Bell (1856–1871), and Francis Bell (1871–1878). It is also known as Botany Swamps, Botany Wetlands, Mills Stream, Bridge Pond, Lakes Golf Course, Eastlakes Golf Course and Bonnie Doon Golf Course. The property is owned by Sydney Water, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

Guildford West pipehead and water supply canal

The Guildford West pipehead and water supply canal is a heritage-listed sewerage infrastructure and water supply canal located at Frank Street, Guildford in the Cumberland Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Headworks; Industrial Archaeological Site. The property is owned by Sydney Water, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 November 2002.

Double Bay Compressed Air Ejector Station

The Double Bay Compressed Air Ejector Station is a heritage-listed former sewage pumping station (SPS87) and now decommissioned sewerage infrastructure in Jamberoo Lane, Double Bay, adjacent to the rear boundary of 63 William Street, in the Municipality of Woollahra local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The site of the pumping station and the State Heritage Register curtilage is shown on SHR:01324–Plan 2019, reproduced on the internet page referenced here.

Sewage Pumping Station 67 Sewage pumping station in Camellia, Australia

Sewage Pumping Station 67 is a heritage-listed sewage pumping station located on Grand Avenue, in the Sydney suburb of Camellia, in the City of Parramatta local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board from 1929 to 1930. It is also known as SPS 67 and SP0067. The pumping station is owned by Sydney Water. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 November 2002.

Wahroonga Reservoir Heritage listed structure in New South Wales, Australia

The Wahroonga Reservoir is a heritage-listed reservoir located at 1678 Pacific Highway and Woonona Avenue in the Sydney suburb of Wahroonga in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage in 1915. It is also known as Wahroonga Reservoir (Elevated) . The property is owned by Sydney Water, a State-owned statutory corporation of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

Ultimo Sewage Pumping Station sewage pumping station in Ultimo, NSW, Australia

The Ultimo Sewage Pumping Station is a heritage-listed sewerage pumping station located at William Henry Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of Ultimo in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. As a result of the construction of an elevated roadway along William Henry Street, the pumping station now fronts Pyrmont Street, with vehicles being required to enter via Quarry Street, then turning right into Pyrmont Street.

Rushcutters Bay Sewage Pumping Station "Heritage place or item located at Rushcutters Bay Park, Rushcutters Bay New South Wales, Australia"

The Rushcutters Bay Sewage Pumping Station is a heritage-listed sewerage pumping station located at Rushcutters Bay Park in the inner city Sydney suburb of Rushcutters Bay in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by the New South Wales Public Works Department from 1902 to 1904. It is also known as Sewage Pumping Station 18 and SPS 18. The property is owned by Sydney Water, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

Sewage Pumping Station 3

Sewage Pumping Station 3 is a heritage-listed sewerage pumping station located near 1 Booth Street, Annandale, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The building is located adjacent to Johnstons Creek. It was built from 1902 to 1904 by the New South Wales Public Works Department. It is also known as SPS 3, SP0003, Booth Street Sewage Pumping Station and Annandale Sewage Pumping Station. The property is owned by Sydney Water. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

References

  1. Plummer, Andy. "Construction of the Northwest Expressway". History of the Cook County Expressways. Retrieved 2006-06-18.

Coordinates: 41°57′53″N87°44′58″W / 41.96472°N 87.74944°W / 41.96472; -87.74944