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Manhattan Water Company of New York founded to provide clean water to city residents.

1799

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Founded by Aaron Burr, the company works to provide clean water to a city devastated by the yellow fever epidemic. The Manhattan Water Company will be the the only supplier of fresh water to the city until the 1840s, when the New York Public Works Department will begin laying down pipeline for a public system. To maintain its charter, an employee will continue pumping water for the Manhattan Water Company everyday until 1923. The Manhattan Water Company and its bank will become JPMorgan Chase, one of the largest banks in the United States.