A comparative history of how Boston and Oakland solved their water shortage problems at the end of the 19th century. It looks at the transformation of the cities, their natural surroundings and politics, applying urban history to environmental concerns and environmental history to urban problems.

Near the end of the nineteenth century, the cities of Boston and Oakland each faced environmental crises -- water contamination and water shortages -- which existing institutions could not solve. How those cities resolved their problems is the basis of a comparative history that provides valuable insights into urban development and explores the political implications and environmental impacts of regionalism.