Design and costs behind Prairie du Chien’s water system
A historical technical report from 1902 explores how to plan a reliable water supply for a small city. It covers choosing a source, building a distribution network, and balancing first costs with long-term operating expenses.
This edition outlines the city’s geography, population growth, and water needs. It explains how to compare river, artesian, and groundwater options, and why ground water was favored. It also describes distributing systems, pump machinery, reservoirs, and the economics of different design plans. The work presents methods for sizing pipes, locating valves and hydrants, and evaluating different pumping and storage strategies.
- How to pick a water source based on cost, quality, and future demand
- How a distribution network is planned, sized, and laid out
- How pumps, reservoirs, and pressures affect reliability and fire protection
- How cost analyses compare several design plans and operational scenarios
Ideal for readers of engineering history, civil engineering students, and anyone curious about early 20th‑century municipal water works planning.