Waters from the past and the reservoirs of Guaraú, Engordador and Cabuçu: a study of Industrial Archaeology / As águas do passado e os reservatórios do Guaraú, Engordador e Cabuçu: um estudo de arqueologia industrial

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

For this thesis we used Industrial Archeology methodology to analyze the water supply system for the city of São Paulo in the early 20th century, a period during which population density was growing rapidly and what had been a small nucleus of students was clearly destined to become a major metropolis. The most obvious solution, using water from the Tietê River that crossed the city, was abandoned as it carried with it all sorts of impurities. The health authorities decided to build damns in the Cantareira Mountains using a variety of building techniques. These damns created large reservoirs and, at the time, the fact that these stored stagnant water was a controversial issue among engineers, physicians and health professionals all over the world. However, this was the option selected to provide the population of the city with water, remembering that in 1903 it was experiencing the worst drought in all its history. Contrary to other reservoirs - Engordador and Guaraú, from the start the Cabuçu Reservoir was known for its structure that, to this day, is admired. This Cabuçu Damn was designed by a practical US engineer by the name of Edward Wegmann. Wegmann s techniques were revolutionary for their time. In order to solve the problem of contention damns that often ruptured, he used reinforced concrete for the first time ever in Brazil. To treat the city s drinking water the authorities decided to use sodium hypochlorite for the first time. This would help eradicate a number of water borne diseases and bring treated waters to the masses. Before this treated water had been a privilege of the elite and the working classes were served with water in a volume and of a quality not compatible with their needs, resulting in households that were not only poor but also unhealthy.

ASSUNTO(S)

arqueologia industrial cabuçu industrial archeology abastecimento de água segregation reservoirs segregação cabuçu water supply lagos artificiais

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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