City of Jackson Well Head Protection Program

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE JACKSON CITY WATER DEPARTMENT

Post Cards from 1907 of the original Water Street Pumping Station

1870: The City of Jackson Common Council chartered the Jackson City Water Company by issuing $100,000 in capital stock. On February 7^th citizens gathered in response to a proclamation issued by Mayor W.M. Bennett to authorize the city to subscribe to the stock of the newly organized company of which the city took over $99,750 of the capital stock. It is not known to this day who owns the other 250 shares.

It was resolved that the newly formed Water Company secure the construction of the Holly System of water works in the shortest possible time and contract for the proper machinery and five miles of pipe. The boiler and engine were purchased for $40,000. The community was very proud of this machinery. The pump had a capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day and Jackson's first water supply was the millpond located along the eastside of Water Street. It was further resolved that the new Water Company procure a proper location and plans for a plain brick engine house with a Mansard roof.

According to the first chief engineer (Charles H. Christopher) a cofferdam and filter bed were built out to the middle of the millpond (Grand River). This system proved to be a total failure because the water was considered unfit to drink and very little was used. People complained that frogs and pollywogs were being pumped into their homes.

The first pumping station was constructed on somewhat of an island at the edge of the millpond with water all around it. During the first winter all water mains froze because they had not been installed deep enough to protect them from the frost. Fires were built on top of the mains in an attempt to thaw them out. The next year all previously installed water mains were re-installed at a greater depth.

Attached to the end of this document are copies of the Proclamation and resolutions that lead to the development of the Jackson City Water Company.

1874: The first well was drilled, followed shortly by a second well and the water works began filtering the river water to improve water quality. The wells were free flowing and only required a gravity flow to the pumping station.

1876: Mr. Charles H. Christopher was appointed the first Chief Engineer of the Jackson Water Works.

1885: The first pumping station was completed on Water Street, approximately where the Water Department’s maintenance garage is located today. A Holly-Gaskill pump was also installed that year. This was a steam driven pump with a cross compound, crank and flywheel that could pump 6.0 million gallons of water per day.

1889: Dependence on river water had decreased and the only river water used was for a period of 2 hours and 50 minutes for fires. Eventually the city had 15 free flowing wells along Water and Hamburg Streets and ceased to use river water all together. 17,200 feet of water main was also installed at this time.

Early photograph of the Water Street pumping station.

Photograph of the Water Street Pumping Station taken several years later.

Early photograph of the Water Street Pumping Station in the winter

Inside the Water Street Pumping Station

1893: A second and larger Holly-Gasksill pump was installed. This was also a steam driven pump with a cross compound crank and flywheel that could pump 10 million gallons of water per day

6 and 10 mg Holly-Gaskill Pumps

1896: The system of flowing wells on Water Street could no longer meet city demand. This led to the installation of the Bacon airlift system. This was a process by which air was injected into the ground and used the escaping air to lift water to the surface. This increased capacity by 2.5 million gallons per day. The air lift system was only used for four years and abandoned in 1900 when a suction pump was installed on the well system to increase supply. The average daily pumpage in 1896 was 2.1 million gallons per day.

Bacon Air Lift Pump

1904: The city started metering water to about 23% of its customers who were billed by consumption. The remainder of customers continued on with the Water Tax system.

1907: Some customers were still on semi-annual water tax system based on the number of fixtures a customer had. A custom with a single faucet paid an annual cost of $4.

1907 Water Bill paid semi-annually

1913: The Jackson City Water Works installed a new Snow cross compound pump with a capacity of 6.0 million gallons per day. 92.5% of all customers were metered and the average daily pumpage was 2.7 million gallons per day. The population of the city at that time was 37,316.

In 1913, a schoolgirl named Hazel, wrote a letter to her grandfather who worked for the Jackson Water Works wanting to know how many wells the Water Works had. He gave the following information to her:

There are 15 wells, 4 - 8-inch in diameter, 7 - 10 inch in diameter and 4 - 12 inch in diameter. They all have a depth of about 250 feet and three are located on the Water Works grounds while the rest were located on Water Street south of the Pumping Station for about 3/4 of a mile. All wells discharged into a 24-inch influent line that discharged into a 25 ft. x 26 ft. settling well from which water is pumped to city customers.

6 mg Snow Pump

1916: A ground storage reservoir was constructed just north of the Water Street pumping station. The reservoir had a capacity of 500,000 gallons for improved fire protection. This reservoir was used until around 1925 when a new pumping station and underground reservoir were constructed on Mansion Street. This old reservoir, minus its roof that was removed in the early 70's, is still standing and is used for storage today.

1917: Population was nearing 50,000 and daily pumpage was averaging 3.7 million gallons per day. Jackson drilled 4 - 12 inch wells and constructed a small pump house, called the Belden Road low lift station, on the city farm south of the Water Street pumping station. Water was pumped from the wells by the low lift station to the reservoir on Water Street through a 20" wooden water main. The main was constructed of wood because of the shortage of cast iron during World War I. The purpose of this new well field was to replace the older system of wells on Water Street because they were failing to meet the needs of the city. The new wells are over 300 feet deep with pumps positioned at the 120-foot level.

The City Farm became known as the Mansion Street well field that is still in use and capable of supplying the city with 18 million gallons of water per day. The low lift station is no longer used as a pump house but is used to house the No. 1 well and the electrical switches for the well field. This building received extensive renovation in 2001 and is now referred to as the "low service building".

1919: The city Water Works began feeding chlorine to the water supply for disinfection purposes. The distribution system consisted of 111 miles of water main and 867 fire hydrants. 28,145 feet of water main was installed that year and the annual demand was 1,500 million gallons of water.

1922: Mr. Charles H. Christopher retired after 43 years as the Chief Engineer for the Jackson Water Works. Mr. Christopher came to Jackson in 1865 and joined the Fire Department in 1868. He remained a member of the Fire Department for 8 years and was the captain of No. 1 Fire Station the last 2 years.

On July 2, 1876 Mr. Christopher was appointed Chief Engineer and held that position until May 1, 1891 when he resigned and became a plant manager for the Jackson Gas Company for 3 years. He was persuaded by the Board of Public Works to return as Chief Engineer, which he did and held that position again until 1922.

The city grew from a population of 18,000 in 1876 when Mr. Christopher was hired to 50,000 in 1922 when he retired. The Water Street Pumping Station at the time of his retirement had 3 pumps (6, 8, & 10 mgd capacity) and four boilers.

Mr. Christopher believed the Water Street Pumping Station was vulnerable because of its location to oil storage tanks across the street. He knew that a fire or explosion could potentially destroy the pumping and disrupt the city's water supply. He was in favor of constructing a new pumping station on the city farm south of the Water Street Location. This area was already being developed as our present day well field and a pumping station were eventually constructed there.

Mr. Christopher deplored the use of the wooden water main to move water from the low lift station to the Water Street Pumping Station. His contention was that when the wooden main was not used, ground water would seep into it making any water pumped through it unfit for consumption. Therefore, the wooden line had to be thoroughly flushed each time it was used and that wasted a day’s supply of water. He blamed the wood main for a previous interruption to the city's water supply and said it would not have happened if it was iron.

An interesting side note is that Charles Christopher had an impact on the Water Works Company that extended well beyond his retirement. Descendants and relatives of Mr. Christopher have always worked for the City Water Department even until this day. The supervisor of the Jackson City Water Treatment Plant is related to Mr. Christopher.

1923: The city authorized $400,000 in bonds for the construction of a new pumping station on Mansion Street. Construction was started that year and included 6 wells and a 3.0 million-gallon reservoir.

1925: In November, construction was completed on the new pumping station and 3 million-gallon underground reservoir. The Water Street pumping station and reservoir would no longer be used and the pumping station eventually was demolished. The new pumping station is still in operation today.

Arial photograph of the Pumping Station on Mansion Street

(probably taken in the early to mid 30's)

There were plans to move the 6 mg Snow pump installed in the old pumping station on Water Street in 1913 to the new station on Mansion Street; however, there was insufficient clearance and the pump was never installed. The pump was sold and it was later learned that the bonds for the purchase of the pump had not been paid off and the sale was illegal. The pump was eventually sold to a city in Indiana.

A picture of the interior of the Mansion Street Pumping Station probably taken in the 20's. Note the base in the foreground for the Snow Pump that was never installed.

1932: The present day water office and distribution garage were constructed on the site of the old Water Street pumping station.

Pouring a lead joint to fix a large water main break on Belden Road

(photograph probably taken in the late 30's or early 40's)

Mansion Street Pumping Station (early 50's )

1951: On August 16^th the City of Jackson began adding fluoride to the water supply to promote dental health.

Demolition of the smoke stack at the Mansion Street pumping station.

(Boilers were no longer used to generate steam for pumping)

1954-5: Two 1.5 million gallon elevated storage reservoirs were constructed and a 1125 KVA standby generator was installed at the pumping station.

West Elevated Storage Reservoir under construction

(West Ave. and North Street)

East elevated storage reservoir under construction

(Roberts and Tyson Streets)

1961: A booster pump was installed at Brighton and West Avenue and check valves installed around the Essex Heights area to form a pressure district for customers living at the higher elevations in the Essex Heights area.

1967: The City of Jackson Water Department completed installation of 130 remote meter reading devices as a pilot program. The remote devices were called "ARB" which is short for Automatic Reading and Billing. The devices were manufactured for the Trident Meter and employed a 14 wire and pin contact system to a hand held reader.

1968: A six-month occurrence of bacterial contamination spurs interest for a water treatment plant.

1970: The City of Jackson and Blackman Township signed a Water Service Agreement and the east and west transmission mains were installed.

1971: A 7.5 million gallon ground storage reservoir was constructed just east of the pumping station on Mansion Street and the old underground storage reservoir was no longer used.

Construction of the 7.5 mg ground storage reservoir

(view from inside the reservoir)

Construction of the 7.5 mg ground storage reservoir

(view from outside the reservoir)

1974: The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act became effective, bringing about many changes and improvements in community water supplies.

1975: Ground breaking for the new Water Treatment Plant and by city ordinance the Water Department was delegated responsibility for cross connection control.

1977: Jackson completed construction on its new 24-mgd water treatment plant. The plant uses a lime and soda ash softening process to lower the total hardness from approximately 470 ppm to 140 ppm.

Jackson Water Treatment Plant

1977-78: A severe winter caused many problems with frozen service lines and water mains.

1978: Sewer separation project had a major impact on water utility.

1980: First water treatment sludge removal contract.

1982: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) found in the City's wellfield requiring quarterly sampling and analysis by the Michigan Department Of Public Health.

1984: First city personal computer installed at the Water Treatment Plant.

1986: A new storage building was added to the Water Street facilities and hand held computers were first used by Jackson meter readers to read meters.

1984: The Jackson City Water Department began a program to install Sensus TTR remote reading devices on residential and some commercial accounts. This program was accelerated in 1986 and completed around 1992. In the middle of the process the city switched from the TTR (Tele Tape Remote) to the ECR (Electronic Communication Register) remote system which is in use today.

1988: Water Department publishes "Lead Notice"

Last of high efficiency well motor replacements

USEPA proposes new lead rules

1989: Water main replaced on Cooper Street - Armory Court to Monroe Street

Variable speed drive added at Water Treatment Plant

1990: Engineering and financial planing begins for a new wellfield.

1992: Construction of the new well field in Sharp Park and transmission line to the water treatment plant. Installation of the computerized control system for the water treatment plant.

1996: In December of 1996 saw the completion of a Master Plan Study for the Jackson City Water Department outlining and recommending improvements to make the water supply infrastructure more reliable.

1997-98: Both the east and west elevated storage reservoirs were painted. This involved completely encapsulating each tank to remove the lead base primer. Area wide contest was held for community input into designs for tank painting.

1999: The Jackson City Water Department begins a program to replace old and undersized water mains and begins a major capital improvement project to the Water Treatment and pumping facilities on Mansion Street.

2000: The City of Jackson Water Department enters into a cooperative agreement with other water suppliers in Jackson County to conduct a Well Head Protection study for the entire county. This effort will help protect the aquifer from which everyone obtains drinking water.

A capital improvement project for the water treatment and pumping facilities is completed. This project was based on recommendations from the 1996 Master Plan Study. This project was funded with the sale of bonds in 1999. Following is a list of some of the upgrades to water department facilities:

· Installed new filter media

· Installed a new standby diesel generator

· Installed new electrical switch gear with a grounded system

· Installed a chlorine scrubber building (Neutralize chlorine gas)

· Installed new underground power supply to the treatment plant

· Installed a new dome roof on the ground storage reservoir

· Replaced old (PCB) transformers

· Installed new well field switch gear in low service

· Renovated the low service building

· Replaced leaking influent and effluent valves within the facilities

· Replaced the discharge piping for High Service pump #5

· Replaced electrical disconnects in the filter pipe galley

· Insulated all piping in the filter pipe galley to reduce moisture condensation

· Install additional clean-outs on the decant lines from the lagoons

· Waterproofed the exterior of the water treatment plant

· Made exterior repairs to the pumping station.

· Replaced dust collectors for the lime and soda ash storage bins.

New dome roof installation on the 7.5 mg ground storage reservoir

2001: Renovations to low service building are completed and the City Fire Department completes a program to flow test every fire hydrant in the city. All black iron potable piping in the water treatment plant was replaced with new copper lines.

2002: The City of Jackson Water Department continues its program to replace old and undersized water mains. This effort will continue until water service has improved to all areas of the city. This effort will take several years to complete. Following is a list of streets where the water mains have been replaced under this program:

98/99: Street From To

Fourth St. Michigan Washington

Wilkins First Blackstone

Biddle Third Blackstone

Fifth St. Franklin mid-block

99/00: Pearl St. Blackstone Mechanic

Kent Robinson Euclid

Kent Addison South St.

East Argyle Cooper N. East

Frost St. Cooper end of Frost

James R Waterloo end of James R

North St. Lansing Blackstone