HISTORY OF KLAIPEDA WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEM

In 1902 the newspaper Lietuviška Ceitunga published an article City Festival. It told about the festivity in the City Hall on the occasion of 650th anniversary of foundation that was honoured by participation of  'the President in power', the state councillor, the county governor and other guests. Inauguration of the city water-supply system  took place on the same day.

At that time the company was located in the neighbourhood of Liepų Street, next to the gas plant built in the middle of the 19th century. In that way the zone of municipal services expanded. The municipal water-supply complex consisted of a tower, a pump station, aeration and filtering buildings and transformer station. The beautiful structure towering over the building ensemble became the focal point of the northern part of the city.

The resolution of the magistrate of 1901 had pointed out that water consumption would not be restricted; however, the citizens had been warned not to waste it in vain. Household owners were held responsible for instalment of mandatory devices and gadgets in the house. Water consumers were invoiced on a quarterly basis.  All consumers were obliged to provide access to the premises where water pipes and other devices were installed for inspection of them. Water supply could be stopped only in case of a system breakdown. The consumers were invoiced according to the readings of the water meters. The price was established by the magistrate. The owner of the house had the right to require that the plumbing company checked the meter at any time. If the meter readings were accurate, the checking was on the owner's account, otherwise the company covered all the expenses. The invoices were to be paid at the city treasury within 14 days from receipt ‘in order to avoid notifications and other means'. In case of disputes the payment term was not extended. Documents show that municipal water-supply system was introduced by both administrative and forced measures. The water supply system was continuously developed, new water wells were drilled.

The first water well drilled in the neighbourhood of Liepų Street was 277.85 m deep, it supplied 1700 litres of water per minute with artesian pressure of 3.8 atmospheres, the water spout reaching 38 metres, its temperature about 15o C. The water was pure, without any bacteria, however, it had a smell of sulphur, therefore the company had to install gradation and filtering chambers for elimination of this smell and also to erect a water tower for pressure control. There were 1095 consumers of municipal water, and during the first five months the company supplied to them 94,000 m3 of water.

In spite of outbreak of World War I in 1914, the demand for water supply increased. It was related to installation of a sewerage system in the city. The initial project of the water-supply network provided for 26 km of pipes, however, by the end of 1926 the city already had 41 km of water lines serving 1352 households with 1438 water meters.

With development of the water-supply network new water intakes were bored. Already before World War II Klaipeda water-supply system supplied water not only to the centre of the city, but also the nearest suburbs.

Introduction and development of the sewerage system was related to the growth of the city, increasing sanitary and hygiene requirements and with general development of human culture.

Commissioning of the municipal water-supply system in 1902 created a necessity to build a modern sewerage network as well.  The project for the sewerage system was prepared by city architect Hug Peech, and the magistrate presented it to a plumbing research and testing company in Berlin for assessment, conclusions and practical suggestions.

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