【History of Haichuan Pipelines】Beijing’s first water supply pipeline

Everyone at that time knew that the water quality in the wells of the capital was poor, and they believed that the introduction of tap water would undoubtedly bring profits. As a result, there was great enthusiasm for subscribing to shares; within three days, the full amount of three million shares was raised, and work could begin right away. The project would be completed by the end of the New Year.

In 1908, the Beijing Water Supply Company was established (located outside Dongzhimen in Xiangheyuan, which is now the Beijing Water Supply Museum); it was at this time that Beijing acquired a real water supply pipeline system.

These two large valves were definitely high-tech over 100 years ago.

Fifteen ten thousand taels of silver may sound like a large amount, but it is far from sufficient for building a water supply system. However, since the project was overseen by the government while carried out by private enterprises, there was relative flexibility in raising funds; the approach taken was to have private merchants contribute shares at ten yuan each, for a total of three hundred thousand shares, amounting to three million taels of silver. The fifteen ten thousand taels provided by Empress Dowager Cixi were deposited in banks as a subsidy, to be used to pay dividends in the early stages of the project when no profits could be distributed. At that time, people were moved by the statement in a report submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce that \"the issue of tap water in the capital is of utmost importance for hygiene and fire prevention,\" and thus they believed that this project would benefit both the country and its people; as a result, many people participated, and the funds needed were quickly raised.

In May of the 34th year of the Guangxu era, the water supply company officially began operating at Xichenggen, inside Qianmen. The first issue it had to address was determining the source of water for supply. To this end, Zhou Xuexi led his staff on several inspections and surveys, and ultimately concluded that the water in the Sun River, to the north of Shaziying outside Andingmen, was the best – not only was its quality clear, but its flow rate was also stable. Thus, two water treatment plants were built outside Dongzhimen, with the machinery and equipment ordered from the German company Ruiji Foreign Trade Company. The initial water treatment plant included eighteen tanks, divided into three categories: turbid water, clean water, and sand-filtered water. First, a dam was built across the river to create a small reservoir that could store enough water for over three months; then the water was directed into the tanks in the plant. After being treated and filtered through these three types of tanks, the water was pumped up to water towers, from where it was distributed through main pipes throughout the city, and finally delivered to various households.

In May of the 34th year of the Guangxu era, the water supply company officially began operating at Xichenggen, inside Qianmen. The first issue it had to address was determining the source of water for supply. To this end, Zhou Xuexi led his staff on several inspections and surveys, and ultimately concluded that the water in the Sun River, to the north of Shaziying outside Andingmen, was the best – not only was its quality clear, but its flow rate was also stable. Thus, two water treatment plants were built outside Dongzhimen, with the machinery and equipment ordered from the German company Ruiji Foreign Trade Company. The initial water treatment plant included eighteen tanks, divided into three categories: turbid water, clean water, and sand-filtered water. First, a dam was built across the river to create a small reservoir that could store enough water for over three months; then the water was directed into the tanks in the plant. After being treated and filtered through these three types of tanks, the water was pumped up to water towers, from where it was distributed through main pipes throughout the city, and finally delivered to various households.

It is worth mentioning that the iron water tower, with a volume of 750 cubic meters and a height of 54 meters, was the only structure outside Dongzhimen at that time that was taller than the city walls and towers. Since climbing up to it allowed one to see the entire Forbidden City, outsiders were prohibited from climbing it.