ABSTRACT
Prior to the 1830s, many American cities faced poor sanitary conditions and suffered crippling effects of epidemic disease. While some of the earliest city-wide water-supply systems appeared at this time, few communities could boast well-developed technologies on the order of those constructed several decades later. In the mid-nineteenth century, English experiences in particular with sanitation and water-supply systems going back several decades began to influence American cities. The hydrant became the modern symbol for fire protection since it meant that water would be promptly available and abundant to fight a major conflagration. In 1801, Philadelphia became the first to complete a city-wide waterworks and municipal distribution system sophisticated even by European standards. Benjamin Latrobe brought his innovations from Philadelphia to New Orleans, which was on the brink of a major growth spurt.
