Wausau Water Works
Serving Wausau since 1885
Clean drinking water has always been important, but in 1885, Wausau Water Works was built for a different reason — to supply water for fighting fires. 1885 was an especially bad fire year in Wausau. There were 23 alarm fires, including a lumberyard fire. When fires blazed, Wausau Water Works pumped from the Wisconsin River rather than a well.
In cases of large fires, the fire department would ask the waterworks operator to sound a city-wide steam whistle. This meant that Wausau residents should stop using water so that it could be used to fight the fire.
How much water do you use in a day?
Believe it or not, the average person today uses more than 60 gallons of water daily. Before 1885, Wausau residents drew water from a well or from the river and carried it in buckets.
Today, the plant treats and supplies more than 5 million gallons of clean water daily through a network of nearly 200 miles of water mains.
[logos of] River Edge Parkway • Welcome Home Wausau
Marker can be reached from River Drive 0.1 miles south of Washington Street (Wisconsin Highway 52), on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
