WesWorld

Antwerp Water Works
Between 1832 and 1892, Antwerp was struck every ten to fifteen years by a major cholera epidemic which each time claimed a few thousand lives and lasted for about two years. In 1873, mayor Leopold De Wael decided that a concession should be granted to secure the water supply of the city. A concession of 50 years was granted on 25 June 1873 to English engineers, Joseph Quick and John Dick. Due to a lack of funds and a dispute between the partners this venture stalled but in 1879, the English engineering company Easton & Anderson took over the concession and work was completed in 1881. Today water is taken from the Albert Canal and a system of fast and slow sand filtration is used. In 1930, the concession came to an end and no agreement was reached with the English owners concerning new construction to serve the municipalities surrounding Antwerp. Therefore, the city took over the company and founded a mixed intermunicipal company (private and public participation) in English Waterworks kept a minority stake. The remaining shares are in the hands of the city of Antwerp and the surrounding municipalities of Berchem, Boechout, Borgerhout, Deurne, Edegem, Ekeren, Hoboken, Hove, Mortsel, Kontich and Wilrijk.