Board of Water Supply. Chemical department. Laboratory, 147 Varick Street, top floor. In 1906, the Board of Water Supply was beginning its work to plan the Catskill Aqueduct and installed a laboratory at 147 Varick Street for testing equipment and building materials, and analyzing water and soil samples. It also hired a photographer to document the monumental project, and put the photo lab on the second floor here. August 1906.