Singapore's first major waterworks was completed in 1877 to provide piped water to the town. Originally called Impounding Reservoir, it was enlarged on two occasions and was renamed Thomson Road Reservoir in 1907. The reservoir became known as MacRitchie Reservoir in 1922 in recognition of the work of municipal engineer, James MacRitchie. In 1907, Pearl's Hill Reservoir was built, while the Kallang Extension River Scheme - now known as Peirce Reservoir - was completed in 1911.
