McMillan Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McMillan Reservoir |
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 McMillan Reservoir
Location in the District of Columbia
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| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°55′30″N 77°01′02″W / 38.9251°N 77.0173°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Washington Aqueduct |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
The McMillan Reservoir is a large reservoir in Washington, D.C.. It provides most of the city's municipal water, which means the water used by homes and businesses. It was finished in 1902 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The reservoir was built where Smith Spring used to be. This spring was one of the natural water sources for Washington's first residents. As the city grew, these natural springs were not enough. In 1850, the U.S. Congress decided that the Potomac River should be the main water source for the city.
Contents
Building the Reservoir
Washington Aqueduct History
The U.S. Congress paid for a study to find the best way to bring water to the city. Lieutenant Montgomery C. Meigs led this study. His work led to the creation of the Washington Aqueduct. This system started working on January 3, 1859.
At first, the system brought water from the Little Falls Branch in Maryland. This was before the aqueduct was fully built. Regular water service from the Potomac River began in 1864.
Washington City Tunnel
In the early years, water flowed through two older reservoirs: Dalecarlia and Georgetown. These reservoirs were designed to let sediment (dirt and particles) settle out of the water. In 1873, the Army started building a new water supply tunnel. Major Garrett Lydecker led this project.
This new tunnel was called the Washington City Tunnel. It was meant to hold more water, allow more settling, and help distribute water better. Building the tunnel stopped in the 1880s because of various problems. Work on the tunnel finally started again in 1898. The tunnel was completed in 1901. The McMillan Reservoir then began operating in 1902.
Water Cleaning Plant
By 1902, it was clear that the aqueduct system alone was not enough for the city's growing population. To meet the needs for more water and better sanitation, officials added the McMillan Sand Filtration Site in 1905. This facility used a new way to clean water. It used sand instead of chemicals to filter 75 million gallons (280 million liters) of water every day.
This new system helped stop typhoid outbreaks and other diseases in the city. In 1907, the reservoir and the filtration plant were named after Senator James McMillan from Michigan. He supported building these water facilities. The U.S. Congress officially made the site a park in March 1911.
Later, more improvements were made to the city's water system. In 1923, they started using chlorine regularly as a disinfectant at the McMillan plant. Another water treatment plant was finished in 1928, next to the Dalecarlia Reservoir. As the city grew, the Dalecarlia site was expanded further in the 1950s.
McMillan Fountain
The McMillan Fountain is a public artwork found on the Reservoir grounds. It was created by American artist Herbert Adams. The fountain was finished in 1912 and officially opened in October 1919. It features three bronze statues called The Three Graces. These statues stand on a pink granite base.
The fountain was a tribute to James McMillan. Citizens of Michigan paid for it by raising $25,000. This money came from pennies, nickels, and dimes donated by public school children. Congress also gave $15,000 to help finish the fountain.
Recent Changes
In 1941, the entire McMillan site was permanently closed and fenced off. This was done for security reasons, due to fears of sabotage during wartime. The property stayed closed to the public. However, it continued to supply the city with filtered water until the 1980s.
In 1986, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stopped using the site. They declared it "surplus," meaning it was no longer needed. The old water treatment site was bought by the District of Columbia in 1987 for $9.3 million. Since then, it has become run down because it hasn't been maintained. What to do with the property is still being discussed.
The 25-acre (100,000 m²) McMillan Reservoir is located between Michigan Avenue, North Capitol Street, and First Street in Northwest Washington, D.C. It was named a D.C. Historic Landmark in 1991. In 2000 and again in 2005, it was put on the "List of Most Endangered Properties."
In 2006, the D.C. government asked for ideas to redevelop the McMillan site. Five groups responded. In 2007, Vision McMillan Partners was chosen. This group included Trammell Crow Company, Jair Lynch Development Partners, and EYA.
Community groups like Friends of McMillan Park and Save McMillan Action Coalition opposed the plans. This led to court actions, which delayed the project. In 2016, courts agreed with the community groups. They rejected the D.C. Zoning Commission's approval of a $720 million project. This project aimed to turn the site into shops, offices, and homes.
However, the D.C. Court of Appeals allowed the $720 million project to start in July 2019. Early demolition work began in September 2019. This work was strongly opposed by protest groups. In December 2019, a court order was filed to try and stop work on the site.
Images for kids
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McMillan Reservoir
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The site will be redeveloped starting in 2020. This project is expected to be finished by 2025.
