"On March 28, 1927, a special committee was appointed by Town Moderator Theodore Eaton to study the feasibility of a filtration plant at Crystal Lake to eliminate bacteria and organic matter (algae) from the water. A report was presented to the Town on April 23, 1927, after four weeks of consultation of records, conferences with recognized authorities and investigation of various information which concluded that odors, objectionable taste (of chlorine) and suspended matter could be eliminated though the use of a slow-sand filtration plant. The report recommended that such a plant be constructed and maintained by the Water and Sewerage Board, as well as a storage basin for filtered water (with a capacity of 250,000 gallons), all at a proposed cost of $145,000. To provide this additional capacity, the report also recommended the construction of a new standpipe or storage reservoir (with a capacity of 500,000 gallons) at Harts Hill or at a similar elevation as the engineers deemed suitable. This recommended method was also favored by the Board's engineering firm, Weston and Sampson. The contract for the filtration plant was awarded in July, 1927, to A.P. Rounds of Stoneham. The filtration system was in use by February, 1928." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio. Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 1996 Photo courtesy of Wakefield Item Company.
