E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant: Difference between revisions
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[[Category: Historic structures]] | |||
Latest revision as of 18:58, 31 January 2026
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| Location | 1810 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Constructed | 1939–1940 |
| Original use | Municipal water treatment facility |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne |
| Architect / Engineer | William C. Olsen (Consulting Engineer) |
| NRHP status | Listed |
| NRHP reference number | WA4179 |
| Local landmark | Raleigh Historic Landmark |
The Bain Water Treatment Plant, formally known as the Raleigh Water Works and E. B. Bain Water Treatment Plant, is a former municipal water treatment facility located along Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh. The plant was Raleigh’s primary source of treated drinking water during a period of rapid population growth in the mid-20th century and is recognized for its architectural and engineering significance.
Construction and operation
[edit | edit source]The Bain Water Treatment Plant was constructed between 1939 and 1940 as part of Raleigh’s modernization of its municipal water system. Contracts for the new facility were awarded on July 5, 1939, with construction beginning later that year. The plant was dedicated on June 18, 1940, and named in honor of Ernest Battle Bain, who had overseen Raleigh’s water system for four decades.[2]
The facility incorporated both filtration and pumping functions within a single structure and initially had a rated treatment capacity of approximately 8 million gallons per day. The plant was expanded in 1951, increasing its capacity to approximately 13 million gallons per day.[2]
The Bain plant was Raleigh’s sole source of treated water from 1940 until 1967, when the E. M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant became operational. The Bain facility continued operating in tandem with other plants until it was taken out of service in 1987. Portions of the site, including storage reservoirs, continued to be used for backup water storage into the 1990s.[2]
Architecture and physical characteristics
[edit | edit source]
The main treatment building is a multi-story brick structure designed in the Art Moderne style and reflects the design standards of water treatment facilities constructed under the federal Public Works Administration. The building consists of a central head house with extended wings housing the operating floor, filter galleries, and pump rooms. Interior spaces were designed with decorative brickwork and prominent public areas.[2]
According to county parcel records, the building contains approximately 28,499 square feet of interior space.[4]
Ownership and redevelopment
[edit | edit source]On February 6, 2006, the Bain Water Treatment Plant was purchased by Empire Properties, operating under the name Aqua Empire. The site was marketed for adaptive reuse following its decommissioning as a municipal facility.[5]
Historic designation
[edit | edit source]On May 18, 1999, the Raleigh City Council passed an ordinance designating the water plant as a local historic landmark.[6]
On October 21, 1999, the NC State Historic Preservation Office submitted the building to the National Register of Historic Places.[2]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant, 1980s" (link). Raleigh Historic Development Commission. (Unknown). Accessed January 31, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Raleigh Water Works and E. B. Bain Water Treatment Plant" (link). North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. (National Register nomination)(1994) Accessed January 31, 2026.
- ↑ "Interior view, Raleigh Water Works and E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina" (link). Preservation North Carolina. (Unknown). Accessed January 31, 2026.
- ↑ "Raleigh Historic Landmark Designation Report: E. B. Bain Water Treatment Plant" (link). City of Raleigh. (Landmark designation report)(2006) Accessed January 31, 2026.
- ↑ "North Carolina General Warranty Deed" (link). Wake County Register of Deeds. (). Accessed January 31, 2026.
- ↑ "Ordinance No. (1999) 564. An Ordinance Designating the E.B. Bain Water Treatment Plant, 1810 Fayetteville Road in the Planning Jurisdiction of Raleigh, North Carolina, a Historic Landmark" (link). Raleigh City Council. OrdinanceMay 18, 1999 Accessed January 31, 2026.