Water for Gotham tells the spirited story of New York's evolution as a great city by examining its struggle for that vital and basic element—clean water. Drawing on primary sources, personal narratives, and anecdotes, Gerard Koeppel demonstrates how quickly the shallow wells of Dutch New Amsterdam were overwhelmed, leaving the English and American city beleaguered by filth, epidemics, and fires. The situation changed when the Croton Aqueduct (opened 1842) provided a reliable outside water source. With over forty archival photographs and drawings, the book connects natural resource management, urban planning, and civic leadership in New York's development.