Shanghai Manholes... & Fire Hydrants: Shanghai Waterworks Co., Ltd.

Shanghai Waterworks Co., Ltd. (S.W.W.) was incorporated in England in 1880 with a capital of 100,000 pounds, the company formerly began supplying water in Shanghai in 1883. The water plant is still in use today and is located in Shanghai's Yangpu District (上海市杨浦区). Most accounts suggest that the S.W.W. served both the International Settlement and the French Concession (through its nearly 185 miles of water mains at its peak) although there are references to a "French Waterworks Company" that served the French Concession. At this time little information has been found regarding the "French Waterworks Company."

Along with supplying water to the International Settlement and possibly the French Concession, the S.W.W. installed fire hydrants in the International Settlement (and possibly the French Concession) for use by the Shanghai Fire Brigade (S.F.B.) - the International Settlement's firefighting force (and possibly for the French Concession's fire fighting unit in the French Concession).

According to one account, the S.W.W. started installing these fire hydrants in Shanghai in 1883 and, because the water pressure was inconstant, the Shanghai Municipal Police (S.M.P.) was asked to check and record each hydrants' pressure every two hours. By 1930 there were 543 fire hydrants installed throughout the International Settlement (this number may include fire hydrants in the French Concession but not sure). This same source also mentions that before the fire hydrants were installed wells were used and, by 1879, the International Settlement had 61 of them throughout the settlement (Link).

Some of the fire hydrants in the International Settlement had S.F.B. Pumping Connection (Shanghai Fire Brigade) on them, some were blank with no markings, and others had S.W.W. on them. For the most part, it appears that fire hydrants in the French Concession had the words “CMF Pumping Connection” on them. While the letters “CMF” stood for La Concession Municipalité Française [de Changhai] the words "Pumping Connection" were in English. It should be noted that the fire hydrants found in both the International Settlement and the French Concession mainly appear to be of the same designs.

It is also worth mentioning here that the Shanghai Fire Brigade, serving the International Settlement, began as a volunteer force in 1866. The French Concession began a volunteer fire department in 1863 with an original 29 members and the Concession setting aside francs 3,000 for equipment (which arrived in 1869). Both of these volunteer forces were organized as a result of strong support by insurance companies insuring property in the newly formed settlements at the time.

The International Settlement's S.M.C. established a professional (full time) fire brigade in 1919. According to one account, the engines used to battle the flames were made by the British company Leyland Motors Ltd and these engines were still in use in 1984 (Link).

International Settlement, Water Main Manhole - Zhapu Lu Suzhou Bei Lu (乍铺路苏州北路)

International Settlement, Manhole - Huangpu Lu & the Russian Consulate (黄蒲路)

International Settlement, Manhole - Huangpu Lu, The Astor House Hotel (黄蒲路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Huangpi Bei Lu Weihai Lu （黄陂北路威海路）On the side of the Shanghai Grand Theater (上海大剧院)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Unknown Location, Found Online - Click Here

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Nanjing Xi Lu & Chengdu Bei Lu (南京西路成都北路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Fuzhou Lu & Jiangxi Zhong Lu (福州路江西中路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - The Bund & Guangdong Lu (外滩广东路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Beijing Dong Lu & Guizhou Lu (

北京东路贵州路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Ningbo Lu & Fujian Zhong Lu (宁波路福建中路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Shimen Er Lu & Wujiang Lu (石门二路吴江路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - The Bund & Dianchi Lu (外滩滇池路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Jiang Xi Lu & Beijing Dong Lu (江西路北京东路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Beijing Xi Lu & Wenzhou Lu (北京西路温州路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Weihai Lu & Yan’an Lu (威海路　延安路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Yan’an Xi Lu & Sino-Russian Friendship Center (延安西路中俄友好中心)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Nanjing Xi Lu & Sino-Russian Friendship Center (南京西路中俄友好中心)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Nanjing Xi Lu & Shaanxi Bei Lu (南京西路　陕西北路）

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Shaanxi Bei Lu & Nanjing Xi Lu (陕西北路南京西路）

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Juijiang Lu & Jiangxi Zhong Lu (九江路江西中路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Jiujiang Lu & Henan Lu (九江路河南路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Sichuan Lu & Guangdong Lu (四川路广东路）

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Juijiang Lu & Jiangxi Zhong Lu (九江路江西中路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Shashi Yi Lu & Nanjing Dong Lu (沙市一路南京东路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Jiangxi Zhong Lu & Shashi Er Lu (江西中路沙市二路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Sun Court Apartments Waihai Lu (威海路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Guangdong Lu & The Bund (广东路外滩）

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Sichuan Lu & Hankou Lu (四川路汉口路）

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Kunshan Lu & Zhapu Lu (昆山路乍铺路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Huangpu Lu, The Broadway Mansions (黄蒲路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Guizhou Lu & Beijing Dong Lu (贵州路北京东路)

International Settlement, Fire Hydrant - Jiangning Lu & Nanjing Xi Lu (南京西路江宁路) Note the cornerstone in the background on the former Shanghai Telephone Company building.