How does the City of Vancouver get its drinking water? It is more than the simple act of turning on a tap.

The development of today’s water system is part of a long engineering tradition beginning with rain barrels and wooden pipes, to artesian wells; with private companies competing to provide water to both the U.S. Army and the growing City of Vancouver.  The competition and increasing complexity of the water demands eventually led to the City of Vancouver purchasing the private water company, and creating a public utility, which exists today.