When reading Bentley's history of Wichita and Sedgwick County, the impression is given that all of Wichita was very proud of its water system. He reported, "The city of Wichita may boast of having one of the most complete waterworks systems in the western country, and this opinion is supported by the statement of several expert waterworks engineers, who recently visited the plant and who have no interests in it whatever. They pronounced it one of the most up-to-date systems in the world, and one that is now being adopted by different water companies who are desirous of supplying their patrons with a pure supply of water." (Bentley, 1910).
The water supply itself was pumped through a series of large cylinders sunk beneath the bed of the Big Arkansas River to depths of 40 to 45 feet. Using steam pressure, sand was forced out of the cylinders, allowing water to flow through the remaining deep body of gravel. According to Bentley, this natural filter resulted in "one of the purest water supplies to be found anywhere." (Bentley, 1910).
Vacuum pumps siphoned the water from the cylinders into a large cement receiving reservoir where the water was thoroughly aerated as a protection against bacteria and contamination before passing into the mains of the city. At various intervals a chemist for the company, W.E. Bundy, and the city physician, F. H. Slayton, performed bacteriological examinations for the city as further safeguard.
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Fire Station 1 in 1891, at 220 North Market Street, with hose and ladder wagons, and steam pumper.
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The main receiving reservoir was 33 feet deep and 25 feet in diameter, built of brick and laid in cement. The walls of the reservoir were three feet thick at the base and two feet thick at the top, and thoroughly cemented to prevent surface water leakage into the basin. A second smaller reservoir was also available for use. Water remained at the water table level and it was from here that the large pumps forced the water to all parts of the city at the rate of thousands of gallons every minute. The station stood until 1975, when it was razed after being replaced by a modern pump station nearby.
Since the underflow of the Arkansas valley was believed to be six to eight miles wide and hundreds of miles in length, Bentley considered the water supply to be nearly inexhaustible. The company leased the island which held the pumping station. By this time, one of the channels had been filled, connecting it to the mainland, and the area on which the waterworks was built was 40 rods or more in length and about a mile long. No stock or business of any type was allowed on it. More than a mile of the frontage on the Big Arkansas River had been acquired through purchases by the company to protect the water supply.
Superintendent Fred D. Aley, a Wichitan from boyhood, kept the entire system under his personal supervision. The Water Company encouraged public tours and examination of the plant and pumping system. Bentley wrote that the "Pure and sufficient water supply was a vital ingredient to its growth. No city can boast of anything more desirable for the upbuilding and advertising of its advantages than an adequate and pure water supply, such as they are assured here in Wichita. No citizen can afford to disparage such an advantage for political or other purpose." (Bentley, 1910).
It was during this same period of time that the Water Company updated its method of billing for service. In October of 1902, the rate for large consumers was increased, with users of over 15,000 gallons per month paying 35 cents per 1,000 gallons. The price dropped according to fixed brackets, up to 100,000 gallons. Over 100,000 gallons per month, the rate dropped to 2 1/2 cents per 1,000 gallons for each 250,000 gallon bracket. If customers used over 1,000,000 gallons, a flat rate of 5 cents per 1,000 gallons was charged. Additional rate increases occurred in 1906 when the company began metering. By the end of the decade most of the water was sold through meters. A minimum bill of 75 cents per month was set for meters of 1/ 2 or 5/ 8 inches, $1.50 for 3/4 inch, $3 for 1 inch, $5 for 1 1/2 inch, and $8 per month for 2 inch meters. Large customers paid 25 cents for each 1,000 gallons used up to 25,000 each month, with the rate dropping for higher amounts. The price remained the same for usage over 1,000,000 gallons a month. On January 1, 1909, another break was offered when a reduction of 10% on all bills was allowed if paid before the 15th of the month in which they were due, along with a 25% reduction in hydrant rental, to $37.50 for each new hydrant.
Although the company was expanding its facilities and modernizing its techniques, its customers were not satisfied. The impression of the great satisfaction with the company and the water supply which Bentley gives can be partially discounted if the political actions during the early 1900's are viewed.
While the company was expanding, the supply remained bad. The water was very hard, with a high chloride content, making it somewhat objectionable for use, and unpalatable. Because of the extreme cost of removing the hardness and chlorides there was no treatment of the water, other than chlorination of a few wells. Sodium chloride in the water was twice as great at the maximum set by the U.S. Public Health Service and individual wells differed considerably in chemical quality. In general, wells nearest the river yielded water of the poorest quality; therefore, those farthest away were used as much as possible. Old well fields were kept available for emergencies.
As the city grew and the people developed rising expectations, the quality of water and service began to seem inadequate, leading to actions against the Water Company.