Archives Awareness Week 2021: Plan of Rat Portage Water Works System (1899)

by Braden Murray

April 5th to 9th is Archives Awareness Week! #2021AAW

This archival document is the plan of the original Rat Portage Water Works prepared by the design engineer John Chalmers in 1899. This steam pump powered waterworks was designed and built in response to a local outbreak of typhoid fever 1897 caused by tainted water. The steam pump was built in the vicinity of the current water treatment plant. The original system had 27,000 feet of pipe and 36 fire hydrants, and when running at full capacity could supply 500,000 gallons of water a day.

While you’re here—
95% of the Museum’s collection has been donated by members of the community. We are always accepting donations for the collection. Do you have photos, maps, documents, diaries, or letters related to local history? We’d love to see them! We can even scan and return the originals AND give you a copy of the digital file. Under certain circumstances tax receipts are also available for donations.

If you are interested in donating to our collection, please contact us.