This is the seventh in a series of entries celebrating infrastructure achievements in the United States.
What: The Delaware Aqueduct, the world’s largest contiguous tunnel, runs from the Wawarsing, NY and Neversink, NY in the Catskill Mountains, to New York City.
When: Construction began in 1939 and was completed in 1944.
Why: The Delaware Aqueduct supplies New York City with drinking water from upstate New York.
Stats:
– Length: 85 miles
– Width: 13.5 ft
– Daily throughput: 500 million gallons
– Daily leakage: 15-35 million gallons
Interesting facts: The Delaware Aqueduct is one of two waterways supplying New York City with 1.3 billion gallons of water per day. The other is the Catskill system.
Leaks were discovered in the tunnel in 1988. Construction on a partial bypass is planned to begin in 2013, at a cost of $1.2 billion.
Tags: Catskill Mountains, Delaware Aqueduct, Great American Infrastructure, Neversink, New York, New York City, NY, Tunnel, Wawarsing
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Another great example of the “hidden” infrastruture that keeps this country running.
corrected name: Anthony Puntin