In the mid-1700s to 1800s, the site of the pool was home to a substantial brewery and brickyard. Unsurprisingly, Albany is built upon a network of concealed waterways, shaped over nearly four centuries of development. Before the city's existence, a stream, with numerous branches, traversed the land that eventually became Albany, ultimately flowing into the Hudson River.
The late 19th century witnessed the construction of the Beaver Creek sewer. As Albany expanded westward, the Beaver Creek stream was progressively repurposed for wastewater and gradually covered over, segment by segment. By 1884, maps identified sections along the creek suffering from sewage contamination. By 1940, the entire former creek had been transformed into an underground sewer, carrying both sewage and stormwater—a "combined" sewer. Maps from 1946 documented flooding issues along various branches of the sewer line.
Since then, Albany has grappled with this challenge. The Beaver Creek sewer line and its branches now encompass 5.2 square miles at the city's core. During dry weather, it efficiently manages its function. However, when substantial rainfall occurs, the system—remembering it handles both sewage and stormwater—struggles to cope with the increased water volume. Consequently, it overflows into the Hudson River near the Port of Albany, known as the "Big C." On average, these overflows transpire 45 times annually, discharging approximately 532 million gallons of combined sewer water into the Hudson.
