This sewer system was built to accommodate a city of two hundred thousand when it was constructed in 1906-07, even though Gary did not approach that population until about fifty years later. The sewers were constructed in the alleys so that the streets wouldn’t be blocked when regular maintenance or repairs were done. The total length of the sewer system in use was 19.5 miles as of the beginning of 1909, and the large outlet sewer was eight feet in diameter and made of concrete. The initial design of the sewage plant was done with the future development of the system being of some consideration, which was not common at this time. Alvord and Burdick, Chicago engineers, were hired to provide Gary with a water system and sewers.