Canal de Marseille - History

History

Marseille, located along the hilly Mediterranean seafront is only crossed by one irregular river, the Heaveaune River, and its tributary, the Jarret River. The waters were canalized in the 14th century, but over time became an open sewer. Water quality continued to decline and the distribution suffered due to lack of maintenance on the network.

Further, since the river suffered from a weak flow droughts were devastating to the region. For example, in 1834 the river nearly dried out completely and only 1 litre (1 US qt) was available per person, per day. In the 1830s, Marseille began to experience rapid population growth and in 1832-1835 epidemics of cholera convinced elected officials to act to restore health and ensure an appropriate quantity of water for the city.

This cholera epidemic caused the deaths of approximately 100,000 people throughout France. Originally of Asian origin, the disease spread along the Ganges valley in 1826, then the Caspian and Volga in 1829. In 1830, the disease overtook Moscow and Poland, and Hamburg in 1831. In March 1832, cholera reached Paris, where 18,000 died, and decimated the population in Haute-Provence. In July 1833, the epidemic reached Marseille. By December 1834, 865 were dead and in 1835 the death toll numbered 2,500.

These epidemics revived the residents' fears of the Great Plague of Marseille, which had occurred a little more than a century before and caused around 100,000 deaths. In July 1833, 30,000 Marseillaise gathered in the city center to protest the sanitary conditions.

Maximin-Dominica Consolat, mayor of Marseille from 1832 to 1843, decided in 1834 to improve conditions, "no matter what it costs." The decision was made to bring in water from the nearest large river, the Durance. However, the distance was substantial and the river was separated from Marseille by mountain chains (chaîne des Côtes, plateau de l'Arbois, massif de l'Étoile). The plan called for water to be captured quite high on the Durance and thus harness gravity to overcome the mountainous terrain and arrive in Marseille at the highest point of the city, Saint-Antoine (150 metres (492 ft)). Hence allowing water service to the entire community.