Norumbega Reservoir Dikes Number 2

Amidst the tranquil waters of Norumbega Reservoir, a silent guardian stands watch: Norumbega Reservoir Dikes Number 2. This unassuming earthen barrier, completed in 1940, plays a vital role in the intricate water supply system serving Boston and its surrounding communities. Norumbega Reservoir itself is a key component of the Hultman Aqueduct, a crucial bypass around the older Sudbury Reservoir and Aqueduct. This aqueduct, built between 1938 and 1940, forms a pressurized network channeling water from the distant Wachusett Reservoir into the heart of Boston. The Norumbega Reservoir Dikes Number 2, along with its companion dikes, cradles a substantial body of water. The reservoir spans approximately 38 acres, with a capacity to hold 500 acre-feet of water. This stored water plays a critical role in ensuring a consistent flow within the Hultman Aqueduct, maintaining a steady supply to the urban centers it serves. The reservoir’s strategic location establishes it as the central hub for water chlorination in the supply system. Within a gatehouse nestled between the main reservoir basin and Schenck’s Pond, a smaller basin functioning as a trim weir, lies a sophisticated system of screens. These screens diligently filter out debris and any stray fish that might have journeyed through the aqueduct from Wachusett Reservoir. The gatehouse itself is a testament to architectural ingenuity, designed by the esteemed Boston firm of Densmore, LeClear, and Robbins. Constructed from granite, concrete, and steel, it stands as a functional and aesthetic landmark. Norumbega Reservoir Dikes Number 2, while often overlooked, serves as a crucial linchpin in the complex network that delivers fresh water to a bustling metropolis. It silently performs its duty, ensuring the steady flow of life’s essential element.