St. Louis Water Division
The St. Louis Water Division website states, "While St. Louisans currently do not have to worry about a water
shortage, it is important to remember that water is a limited
resource. There is the same amount of water on Earth today as there was 3 billion years ago,
and only 1% of Earth's water is available for human consumption. Making the effort to conserve water
now can help to avoid water shortages in the future."
| 1764: | The City of St. Louis is founded. |
| 1831: | The City of St. Louis contracts with Abraham Fox and John Wilson to build a waterworks. |
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1835:
| The City of St. Louis buys out the bankrupt Fox and Wilson, becoming sole owner of the St. Louis Waterworks. |
| 1876: | The position of Water Commissioner is created. |
| 1900: | The first experiments using lime and ferrous sulfate as water purifiers are conducted. |
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| 1904: | The Water Division begins adding milk of lime and ferrous sulfate to purify the water. |
| 1919: | The Water Division begins using chlorine in the water purification process. |
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| 1923: | Construction begins on the Howard Bend Plant and Stacy Park Reservoir. |
| 1953: | The Water Division begins adding fluoride to the treated water. |
| 1965: | The Water Division begins using activated carbon in the water purification process. |
| 1995: | A $19 million renovation begins on the Compton Hill Reservoir. |
| 1999: | Construction is completed on new chlorine handling facilities at both
plants. |
| 2007: | St. Louis City Water voted "Best Tasting Tap Water in the Nation" by the US Conference of Mayors. |
