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130 years ago - the Lindleys’ waterworks in Warsaw deliver first filtered water!

130 anniversary of  the Lindleys’ waterworks in Warsaw

The 3^rd of July, 1886,  was the day to remember. The inhabitants of  Warsaw could enjoy the first filtered water for individual consumption. The water came from the newly built Filter Station in Warsaw, designed and executed by two generations of English civil engineers – William Lindley, the father, and William Heerlein Lindley, the eldest son. Because it was only the technological test it did not have adequate cover by the local press. The Filter Station at Koszykowa Street in Warsaw reached full capacity in the fall of 1886.

Sir William H. Lindley  was the Chief Engineer of waterworks and sewerage system in the years 1881-1917. William Heerlein’s representatives in Warsaw were his two younger brothers - Robert Searles (1881-1888) and Joseph (1888-1905).

In 2016 Municipal Warsaw Water and Sewerage Company celebrates the 130 anniversary of the Lindley waterworks in operation, designed and built under the supervision of two generations of civil engineers from the Lindley family.

Sir William H. Lindley  was the Chief Engineer

110 years ago passed away Joseph Lindley

On April 20, 1906, in Ober Ursel (Oberursel, Germany) passed away Joseph Lindley. He was only forty-seven years old.

As Emil Sokal (Polish engineer and journalist) wrote: “The causes of his premature death are due to his hard work, which initially brought him a nervous disease, and when help of doctors proved inconclusive, when travel and stay in the South [Europe] instead of relief and improvement, made him even more sick, he returned to Frankfurt, where he was treated in a sanatorium for nervous patients, where his busy life ended". He was buried on the cemetery of the Haupt Friedhof in Marburg.

Joseph Lindley left the wife Emily Suermondt and two children – Henry William (son) and Julia Anita (daughter). He had a talent for languages. Spoke and wrote fluently German, French and Russian. Eagerly studied Polish language in order to communicate with workers, as well as to be able to track the publications in the national press. In Warsaw’s works Joseph Lindley was involved for long seventeen years. Since 1888 he was a representative in Warsaw of his older brother William Heerlein Lindley, Chief Engineer of water supply and sewerage. Joseph Lindley spent here his mature youth and the greater part of his professional life. He was more connected with Warsaw then the rest of the Lindleys.

As the Polish author writes in the Universal Illustrated Encyclopedia: "Trough 16 years he was involved in Warsaw in very useful activities. Thanks to his diligence and energy Warsaw could bring to the end so important for the city sewerage works.

Joseph Lindley with his son Henry at the construction site of water tanks

Happy and Merry Holiday

Happy and Merry Holiday! And Happy New Year 2016!

Ryszard Żelichowski, the President

Waiting for the Winter (photo H.Żelichowska)

William V (Bill) Lindley visits Łódź

On 10 September 2015 the water supply and sewerage company (ZWiK) in Lodz (Poland)  celebrated the 90th anniversary of the start of the water and sewage construction in this city. At the invitation of the President of ZWiK Romuald Bosakowski, Francis William (Bill) Naunton Lindley, with his wife Philippa came to Łódź. He is a direct descendant of William Lindley (1808-1900), the English civil engineer,  and founder of the family's company providing expertise and building the water supply and drainage in dozens of European cities.

Sir William II Heerlen (1853-1917), the eldest son and Chief Engineer in the company, with the help of his two brothers, Robert and Joseph Searles, contributed to the design and implementation of sanitation and water supply in Prague, Budapest, Frankfurt on Maine, Warsaw and Baku. He also designed the water supply projects for St. Petersburg, Radom and Łódź. The first two have not been executed mainly because of revolutionary events of 1905, Russo-Japanese war and the First World War.

The first preparatory works in Łodź began at the end of the 19th century, but gained momentum only ten years later. At this time William Heerlein led the work on design and construction of the aqueduct in Baku, which was the last of his great works. Inspite the Bolshevik Revolution, William Heerlein Lindley managed to take part in the opening of the aqueduct in Baku February of 1917. In December of that year he died suddenly of a heart attack. Fortunately for Łódź, Deputy of W.H. Lindley in Baku was engineer Stefan Skrzywan. The First World War and the premature death of Sir W.H. Lindley prevented the implementation of the project. Engineer Skrzywan, who was the great admirer of  working methods of  Lindley, after taking the functions of the Chief Engineer in Łódź, decided to implement the project. After some necessary modifications this great investment  was completed.

Part of the system comprises four identical water tanks. The structure of  these tanks, due to arched brick work, resemble the inside of a medieval cathedral. The first two of these were built between 1935 and 1937, and the second pair in 1949-1953. Each has a capacity of 15 000 m³ .

William V (Bill) Lindley is a great-great grandson of William I Lindley and a great grandson of Robert Searles, brother of William II Heerlein. He is also the only living male descendant bearing the primary name William (Bill). 

This was William (Bill) Lindley's  first visit to Poland. He was most appreciative of the hospitality of ZWiK and thoroughly enjoyed the Jubilee Gala. It took place under the slogan "Lodz water is the best".  Invited guests could taste Łódź water in variety of products: sorbet-ice, Jubilee Beer, Silky Beer (March Beer) and Lodz Compote "Apple".

Four of the employees were awarded diplomas in recognition of the quality of their work. The diplomas were  presented by William (Bill) Lindley.

The Gala was attended by the President of the city of Łódź, Mrs. Hanna Zdanowska, senator Ryszard Bonisławski (a great connoisseur of the history of Łódź and the author of many publications on this topic) and Małgorzata Niemczyk, Member of Parliament from the city of Łódź and other eminent guests.

On the photo (from left): Małgorzata Niemczyk, the Member of the Polish Parliament (city of Łódź), Romuald Bosakowski, the President ZWiK, Ms. Hanna Zdanowska, the President of  Łódź, William (Bill) Lindley and Ryszard Bonisławski, the Senator in Underground Cathedral in Stoki, the10^th of September 2015.  

The entertainment part of the Jubilee comprised of an excellent performance of Andrzej Poniedzielski, stand-up comedian, and Lena Ledoff Trio with recital of a mix of jazz and popular musicals. Gala ended with a champagne toast by the President ZWiK, Romuald Bosakowski and slices of Jubilee cake.

For more details go to:

Lindleys works in Warsaw the Monument of History

Warsaw's filters it is the joint work of the four Lindleys: the father William Lindley (1808-1900) and his three sons, William Heerlein (1853-1917), Robert Searles (1856-1925) and Joseph (1859-1906). The youngest of the brothers, Joseph, spent nearly his entire professional life in Warsaw, representing a family company.

Being placed on the list of Monuments of  History means a serious step towards entering the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

You can view this wonderful album in our E-library (texts in Polish):