Have you ever
wondered exactly were all the water that is provided to Cleveland comes from.
Well along the beautiful shore of Lake Erie about five miles out lies the Cleveland
Water Supply that provides Cleveland with clean sanitized water. Cleveland founded one of the greatest ways to
improve the city. Without the Five Mile
Crib Cleveland would not have evolved to what it has become. Clevelanders depend on the water source to
live and build a life. Lake Erie is a
great water source and why not uses the crib to utilize something great. People ask why the Cleveland crib is such a
great important aspect to Cleveland, I mean by all means it does not look as
near as good for how much it does for the city of Cleveland.
In the first
year of production one hundred and twenty seven gallons of clean purified water
were pumped through the tunnel to the cleaning base. In 1911 Cleveland introduced a way to better
the water. They called this process
purification. This process cleaned and
made healthier water for Cleveland cavitation’s to drink. “In 1916 the intake tunnel from the five mile
crib to the cleaning base was increased to 26,000’ from shore” (Case Western Reserve
University). This named Cleveland to have one of the largest intake tunnels at
the time. This tunnel was completed in
1904. “During the year’s 1940’s new
editions were rising for the Crib such as four lake tunnels, two filtration
plants and three major pumping systems” (Case Western Reserve). All of these additions to the plant were
completed in 1951. This helped the plant
grow to a daily capacity of 50 mill gallons.
“In 1970 the system had over 4,000 miles of water mains” (Encyclopedia
of Cleveland History).
During this time
period people ask what a big metal building in the middle of Lake Erie is doing
for us Clevelanders every day. Well the crib is purifying the water we drink
and use every day for over a billion and a half people. The Crib is purifying each day about one hundred
and sixty five million gallons of water.
When I went to visit the crib I wondered how it was run because I mean
it would definitely be hard to live on It in the middle of the lake. I soon
found out that the Five Mile Crib is strictly run of an automation system.
“This steel structure monitors wind energy for by Green Ohio Energy” (All
Things Cleveland Ohio). The Five Mile
Crib has a camera people refer to as the “crib cam” this camera looks out over
Lake Erie. Today this system is doing a
great deal of work to provide for us with water we use and need every day. This
make the Crib a great asset to
Cleveland. The Crib is also creating
many jobs for Clevelanders. It pumps in
water to the cleaning base and that’s where human beings comes in to help move
along the purification system at the base.
The Crib benefits in more ways then we think.
In the future
the Five Mile Crib is going to have more ways to purify and supply more water
to Cleveland. The Crib is going to also become
more “green” and look for ways to save energy.
The Crib is looking to enlarge is capacity and become more efficient
with providing water to Cleveland.
Cleveland is always looking for ways to improve this great machine we
have providing for us every day.
Cleveland is lucky to have such a great source of resource to call ours.
The Five Mile
Crib has helped Cleveland become what it is today. Every day we wake up and take a shower or
drink water we use it in our everyday needs.
Without water we could not survive.
Let’s just say this big orange steel building may not be pretty but it
has made Cleveland a beautiful place to be.
It makes us be able to call Cleveland home. The Five Mile Crib has let us use the
wonderful Lake Erie and turn it into valuable water resource. Every day the Five Mile Crib helps us make
our city a whole lot greater.