Interesting!
The church's founding pastor, the Rev. Pascuale Lombardo, built the grotto in 1939 as a copy of the famous site in Lourdes, France, where it is believed the Virgin Mary appeared. In Lourdes, the water springs through rocks from a natural stream.
The version in the Bronx, officially called Lourdes of America, features large rocks that form an arch over a stone statue of the Virgin. The water cascades down with all the appearance of serendipity -- and no sign of the public utility.
More than a few visitors believe the water is sprung from a source higher than the Department of Environmental Protection. There is no plaque explaining the mechanics.
The whole story follows
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041106/NEWS/411060311/1021 This is a different site, but I found it interesting. I think it answers any question about Mary that we could think of. However, there is more there than my simple mind can digest. I thought someone else might take a gander. Am not certain of how accurate everything is.
http://www.udayton.edu/mary/rdrquest.html
