The History of the London Water Industry, 1580-1820

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The book explores the emergence of London's water industry starting in 1580, highlighting how competing companies established a vast network of wooden mains to supply water directly to consumers. It details the industry's growth throughout the 1600s, ultimately connecting over 80 percent of homes by the late eighteenth century. This transformation positioned London as the best-served metropolis globally, showcasing the feasibility of managing a large-scale infrastructure network in a major urban center.