Water is a vital resource. It benefits the health, growth, and security of a city. Yet for Syracuse, New York, a post-industrial city, water infrastructure, often a peripheral investment, poses a major concern. Facing approximately one water main break every day, or approximately 300 so far this year, the city faces a major process of renewal. In this decision making process however, one must ask where to start. Which pipes should be replaced first? Where are the priorities?

Primarily a historic endeavor, this research draws heavily on archival research by Emily Barrett and is compiled into a Story Map to walk readers through a brief history of Syracuse’s water system from 1892-1896.