diff --git a/include/cantera/thermo/WaterSSTP.h b/include/cantera/thermo/WaterSSTP.h
index bb56f3a6e..30de4cbf4 100644
--- a/include/cantera/thermo/WaterSSTP.h
+++ b/include/cantera/thermo/WaterSSTP.h
@@ -65,9 +65,14 @@ class WaterProps;
  *
  * ## Instantiation of the Class
  *
- * The constructor for this phase is NOT located in the default ThermoFactory
- * for %Cantera. However, a new WaterSSTP object may be created by the following
- * code snippets, combined with an XML file given in the XML example section.
+ * A new WaterSSTP object may be created by the following code snippets,
+ * combined with an XML file given in the XML example section.
+ *
+ * @code
+ *      ThermoPhase* w = newPhase("waterSSTPphase.xml");
+ * @endcode
+ *
+ * or
  *
  * @code
  *      WaterSSTP *w = new WaterSSTP("waterSSTPphase.xml","");
diff --git a/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp b/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp
index f09dfb8c8..bb85636b1 100644
--- a/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "cantera/thermo/IdealMolalSoln.h"
 #include "cantera/thermo/MolarityIonicVPSSTP.h"
 #include "cantera/thermo/IdealSolnGasVPSS.h"
+#include "cantera/thermo/WaterSSTP.h"
 #include "cantera/base/stringUtils.h"
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ ThermoFactory::ThermoFactory()
     reg("RedlichKwong", []() { return new RedlichKwongMFTP(); });
     m_synonyms["RedlichKwongMFTP"] = "RedlichKwong";
     reg("MaskellSolidSolnPhase", []() { return new MaskellSolidSolnPhase(); });
+    reg("PureLiquidWater", []() { return new WaterSSTP(); });
 }
 
 ThermoPhase* ThermoFactory::newThermoPhase(const std::string& model)
diff --git a/test_problems/cathermo/testWaterTP/testWaterSSTP.cpp b/test_problems/cathermo/testWaterTP/testWaterSSTP.cpp
index 1f5673611..cc1dd8bee 100644
--- a/test_problems/cathermo/testWaterTP/testWaterSSTP.cpp
+++ b/test_problems/cathermo/testWaterTP/testWaterSSTP.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "cantera/thermo/WaterSSTP.h"
+#include "cantera/thermo/ThermoFactory.h"
 #include <iostream>
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ int main()
 #endif
     double pres;
     try {
-        WaterSSTP* w = new WaterSSTP("waterTPphase.xml", "water");
+        ThermoPhase* w = newPhase("waterTPphase.xml");
 
         /*
          * Print out the triple point conditions
diff --git a/test_problems/cathermo/wtWater/wtWater.cpp b/test_problems/cathermo/wtWater/wtWater.cpp
index 8c21ca3fd..1cdd18437 100644
--- a/test_problems/cathermo/wtWater/wtWater.cpp
+++ b/test_problems/cathermo/wtWater/wtWater.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-#include "cantera/thermo/WaterSSTP.h"
+#include "cantera/thermo/ThermoFactory.h"
 #include "cantera/transport/WaterTransport.h"
 
 #include <cstdio>
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ int main()
 {
     try {
         double lambda;
-        WaterSSTP* w = new WaterSSTP("waterTPphase.xml", "");
+        ThermoPhase* w = newPhase("waterTPphase.xml");
 
         WaterTransport* wtTran = new WaterTransport(w, 3);
         printf("------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n");