Empire of Water: An Environmental and Political History of the New York City Water Supply

by David Soll

Supplying water to millions is not simply an engineering and logistical challenge. As David Soll shows in his finely observed history of the nation's largest municipal water system, the task of providing water to New Yorkers transformed the natural and built environment of the city, its suburbs, and distant rural watersheds. Almost as soon as New York City completed its first municipal water system in 1842, it began to expand the network, eventually reaching far into the Catskill Mountains, more than one hundred miles from the city. Empire of Water explores the history of New York City's water system from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century, focusing on the geographical, environmental, and political repercussions of the city's search for more water.

Soll vividly recounts the profound environmental implications for both city and countryside. Some of the region s most prominent landmarks, such as the High Bridge across the Harlem River, Central Park s Great Lawn, and the Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster County, have their origins in the city s water system. By tracing the evolution of the city s water conservation efforts and watershed management regime, Soll reveals the tremendous shifts in environmental practices and consciousness that occurred during the twentieth century. Few episodes better capture the long-standing upstate-downstate divide in New York than the story of how mountain water came to flow from spigots in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Soll concludes by focusing on the landmark watershed protection agreement signed in 1997 between the city, watershed residents, environmental organizations, and the state and federal governments. After decades of rancor between the city and Catskill residents, the two sides set aside their differences to forge a new model of environmental stewardship. His account of this unlikely environmental success story offers a behind the scenes perspective on the nation s most ambitious and wide-ranging watershed protection program."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, New York, Environment

300 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 2013

Reviews

[John Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

No mention of the local assembly member Jeff Dinowitz being overridden in his opposition to the location of the croton filtration plant and DEP Commissioner Ward who crafted the deal that allowed for Bronx parks to reap the rewards.

[Matt Botkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

got this from inter library loan sight unseen expecting the usual nyc history romp with mob guys and bordellos and such- it is in fact a very sober, academic report on the convoluted bureaucracies that delivered water to new yorkers for the past 100 years or so

what I wasn’t expecting was the soft, implied argument that maybe we can save the planet ? in the 90’s the nyc watershed was threatened by federal regulators and the city was almost forced to build a filtration plant like most other cities on the east coast. instead a massive outreach program/partnership was made and the city footed the bill for a massive environmental reshaping program, stakeholders recognizing that farms were much better for the ecology of the area than subdivisions. and it worked ! nyc has some good ass water. and the watershed residents have access to the rivers and reservoirs and aren’t just steamrolled like in the past.

Idk if the author was intentionally pitching this case study as a potential solution for the ruin of the earth but that angle made the last part of this dry ass book riveting. it was exciting ! surely some ecosystem was fucked up, some marginalized group was screwed in some way. but no! it all worked out !

of course, no indication that author believes this process to be replicable/scalable. I don’t! lol

interesting read !

[Akakiy · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Soll’s Empire of Water examines the history of New York City’s water supply not as a story of technical achievement, but as a political and environmental project that reshaped landscapes, institutions, and power relations far beyond the city itself. The book argues that securing clean and abundant water was never simply an engineering challenge; it was a process of governance, legal maneuvering, and territorial reach.

At the core of Soll’s argument is the idea that New York City built an “empire” over water. Through projects such as the Croton, Catskill, and Delaware systems, the city extended its influence deep into rural upstate regions, treating distant watersheds as strategic assets for metropolitan survival. Water abundance, Soll shows, emerged less from hydraulic innovation than from political authority, state support, and legal control. In this sense, the city’s water system functioned as an instrument of power as much as a public utility.

One of the book’s strongest contributions is its focus on law and governance. Courts, legislatures, and interstate negotiations play a central role in the narrative, especially in conflicts with neighboring states and upstate communities. Supreme Court cases and regulatory battles are not presented as peripheral events, but as decisive moments that shaped who had the right to water and under what conditions. This emphasis makes the book particularly valuable for readers interested in environmental governance and political ecology.

Soll also pays close attention to the social and environmental costs of the system. He documents land seizures, community displacement, and long-term restrictions imposed on watershed towns, challenging celebratory narratives of urban progress. Rural areas often appear less as partners and more as managed resource zones, expected to absorb the burdens of protecting the city’s water. The “empire” metaphor is especially effective here, capturing the asymmetrical relationship between metropolis and hinterland.

The later chapters trace a significant shift in water governance, culminating in the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement. Soll interprets this moment as a partial retreat from imperial control, as New York City moved toward watershed protection, land-use regulation, and negotiated cooperation with local communities. Importantly, he avoids framing this shift as a moral awakening. Instead, it is presented as a pragmatic response to regulatory pressure, financial constraints, and ecological risk.

The book does have limitations. Readers seeking detailed accounts of engineering design, hydraulic systems, or ecological processes may find these elements underdeveloped. Soll deliberately keeps technical discussions in the background, which at times simplifies the material complexity of water infrastructure. In addition, while the concept of “empire” is a powerful analytical lens, it occasionally feels stretched when applied to periods characterized more by negotiation than domination.

Overall, Empire of Water is a thoughtful and persuasive contribution to environmental history and urban political ecology. It successfully reframes a familiar story of municipal infrastructure as a broader history of power, law, and environmental governance. For readers interested in water politics, metropolitan–rural relations, or the environmental dimensions of state-building, the book offers a rich and critical perspective, even if it prioritizes politics over pipes.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very technical history of the social, political and environmental forces at work since the 19th century in providing water to New York City. The emphasis on source development instead of filtration of local rivers meant a colonial process of seizing property, creating reservoirs and regulating watershed. Ultimately, however, those same forces led to a collaborative and mutually beneficial approach that could serve as a global model.
A very educational and compelling book, especially for a New Yorker. But as a local, I wish the otherwise very good audible narrator had asked someone about pronunciations. Mayor Ed Koch, for example, is not related to the conservative brothers of the same name. And I flinched every time he said Ra-MAH-poh.

[Jill L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I was hoping for more engineering and design details of the NYC water supply network, I found this an eye-opening political, financial and social history. Impressively researched and amazingly (for such a sprawling topic) well-organized, it is also a very engaging read. Being a city resident with some minor connections to the Catskills probably helps in that regard. The bibliography/references and footnotes are excellent.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting but sleepy read that reveals why NYC inhabitants are so boastful of drinking the best water in the world. Rural inhabitants and the habitat in a multi state area surrounding the city carry the scars of the 100 year political takeover by those in the city who could not curb their water consumption.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's strange to think that why upstate is a landscape of sleepy villages is due to New York City owning much of the land there and actively prevents these villages from developing. Upstate is reasonably akin to an occupied territory who will never achieve autonomy.

[Jeff Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating topic - the New York water system. I was hooked for the first third of the book that focused on nature, science, and technology. However, the final two thirds were a slog for me, walking through court case after court case. The human opinions and politics of rural and urban communities were a big learning from this book, so I’m glad I made it through!