Waco City Waterworks
Waco, McLennan County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1849 Waco's main street was platted near one of a number of large natural artesian springs indigenous to this area. In the last quarter of the 19th Century Waco relied on private suppliers of artesian well water for its municipal needs. These supplies eventually proved inadequate and in 1901 the city approved bonds for a new waterworks system. By 1914 Waco had switched to water from the Brazos River and a distribution system powered by two steam-driven Allis-Chalmers pumps housed here in its newly completed waterworks complex. The pumps operated until 1967.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Waco grew up around the great natural artesian springs that gave the city its water, and for much of the 19th century residents depended on private well suppliers. When those proved inadequate, the city issued bonds in 1901 for a municipal system, and by 1914 Waco had switched to Brazos River water pushed through the mains by two steam-driven Allis-Chalmers pumps housed in this complex. The pumps ran until 1967.
Why it matters
Municipal waterworks like this one mark the Progressive-era transformation of American cities, as public utilities replaced patchwork private services and made modern urban growth possible.
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