← All Ohio markers

Ohio’s First Publicly Owned Water System

Hamilton County · 801 E. Pete Rose Way, Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point, Cincinnati, OH -- Sawyer Point Park, Ohio River Front, just E (upriver) of the I-471 bridge over the Ohio River

Get directions ↗

Side A: On June 25, 1839, Greater Cincinnati Water Works became the first publicly owned water system in Ohio, when the city purchased a privately owned water company in operation since 1821. This purchase required approval of the voters of Cincinnati and authorization by the Ohio State Legislature. The Water Works, with two steam pumps at this site, three and a half miles of iron pipe, and 19 miles of wooden pipe, provided one million gallons of water per day. Front Street Pumping Station (ruins at this site) replaced earlier facilities and operated from 1865 to1907. Side B: Same

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Report a problem with this page

The marker isn't at this spotOur pin may be off. If you know where it stands, tell us.I couldn't find the markerWe record what the source recorded. We have not been to look.The sign reads differentlyThat would be an error, and we can pass it to the program.The historical map looks wrongThe period map behind the pin, not the marker itself.Something else

We may pass what you report to the state's marker program. Please don't include personal details.

Marker data: Ohio Historical Markers program, Ohio History Connection (Remarkable Ohio)

More markers nearby

The Black Brigade of Cincinnatiunder 1 mi
The Sultanaunder 1 mi
The Irish in Cincinnatiunder 1 mi
1749 French Claims to Ohio River Valleyunder 1 mi

See your own family's places through time.

Start with your family tree