Hidden beneath the bustling city of Montreal lies a secret. It whispers tales of ingenuity and innovation. It is Parc de l’Aqueduc. Let’s unveil this hidden gem together. Parc de l’Aqueduc may seem like an ordinary park at first glance. But it holds a piece of Montreal’s fascinating history. This park wasn’t always a place for leisurely strolls and enjoying nature. It once served a much more vital purpose.
In 1852, two devastating fires exposed a critical flaw in Montreal’s infrastructure. The city desperately needed a reliable water supply. Engineer Thomas C. Keefer proposed a daring solution: an open canal, an aqueduct, to draw water from the river upstream. The aqueduct, almost 8 km long, would traverse the Parish of Lachine, ending at the Pavillon des roues. Here, two massive hydraulic wheels would power six pumps. This system would provide millions of litres of water per day. Construction of the first aqueduct at Parc de l’Aqueduc began in 1853.
Completed in 1856, the aqueduct, now part of Parc de l’Aqueduc, faced immediate challenges. Ice accumulation and backflow from the Rivière Saint-Pierre hampered its efficiency. By 1858, frazil ice at the aqueduct’s entrance, near today’s Boulevard Champlain and Boulevard LaSalle, further reduced its capacity. Despite ongoing corrective measures, the problems persisted. Finally, around 1877, a new entrance was constructed near 75th Avenue and Boulevard LaSalle. This increased the aqueduct’s output significantly. The canal itself was widened and deepened to accommodate the increased flow. Improvements at Parc de l’Aqueduc continued into the 20th century. In 1912, a new water intake was built further from the shore to minimize pollution from the Ottawa River. Between 1912 and 1918, the Atwater water treatment plant replaced the Pavillon des roues. This increased production and enabled water filtration. While the aqueduct no longer serves as Montreal’s primary water source, its legacy lives on at Parc de l’Aqueduc. The park’s open spaces and recreational areas now offer a tranquil escape. Yet, they also whisper the story of a city’s struggle for clean water and the innovative solutions that shaped its future. As you stroll through Parc de l’Aqueduc, remember the ingenuity of Thomas C. Keefer. Imagine the rushing water of the aqueduct, the whirring of the hydraulic wheels. And appreciate the vital role this seemingly simple park played in Montreal’s development.