BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Col. Francis G. Ward Pumping Station at the foot of Porter Avenue near Lasalle Park is an engineering marvel. It opened in 1915 and pumps water to 75,000 customers in the Queen City through 800 miles of underground pipes.
It's also where Buffalo's drinking water is treated and tested. The city spends $40 million dollars a year on its water system to maintain both quality and safety. Some 100 million gallons of treated water are delivered from this pumping station to homes, businesses and 8,000 fire hydrants.
The original, massive steam powered pumps are still standing. Manufactured in Lockport, the five giant pumps weigh 1,000 tons each and attract 10,000 visitors annually. They have since been replaced by electric pumps.
Buffalo's Commissioner of Public Works, Steve Stepniak, said this is the single most important part of his job - more than garbage removal and snow plowing. And city employees take it seriously.
"The testing that we do here is very stringent very dedicated. It's a long-lasting system. They have a great water quality that comes into the building which is very important. It's easily treatable, non-corrosive, we actually add things to combat corrosion. Anyone who has questions about their water can call 311 we are very confident about our system are testing and are good quality source," Stepniak said.
Corrosion is one of the major problems in Flint. Stepniak said it's not an issue here in Buffalo. Buffalo's water system still contains elements built in the late 1800s - essential components that deliver water to your tap. Stepniak said despite their age, those components are in fine working order and monitored.