Waterworks and Public Health Innovations

What is considered the greatest health innovation in the last three centuries?

• Penicillin

• Heart surgery

• Clean water

• Vaccination

Which type of disease was the leading cause of death in the late 19th century?

• Genetic disorders

• Chronic diseases

• Airborne diseases

• Waterborne diseases

What prompted Philadelphia to build its first waterworks?

• Cholera outbreak

• Tuberculosis

• Yellow fever

• Typhoid fever

Who was hired to design Philadelphia's first clean water system?

• George Washington

• Alexander Hamilton

• Benjamin Latrobe

• Thomas Jefferson

What was a major financial challenge in constructing waterworks?

• Environmental concerns

• Political opposition

• High cost compared to city revenue

• Lack of engineering talent

What technology complements waterworks by managing waste?

• Telecommunication lines

• Sewer systems

• Road networks

• Electricity grids

What was a common issue with early sewer systems?

• They were environmentally harmful

• They were not large enough

• They were too complex

• They were too expensive

Why were the first major waterworks built in large cities?

• They had better access to capital

• They had higher population density

• They had more political influence

• They had more engineering talent

What historical project influenced New York's waterworks financing?

• The Erie Canal

• The Panama Canal

• The Hoover Dam

• The Golden Gate Bridge

What was a key factor in achieving engineering feats despite corruption?

• Political reforms

• Public protests

• International aid

• Engineering talent