Table of Contents
In August of 1962, St. George City's water system received a morale boost
as the state department of health conducted a sanitary engineering survey
and "approved" the city system. Such approval was very significant at the
time because it was necessary for F.H.A. loans to be approved in the city,
and because, at the time several companies were looking at St. George as
a site for expansion. Having the state's official seal of approval on the
water system was a definite feather in the city's cap.
At the time of the state's "approval," the city's water system was supplied
by 32 springs spread seven miles along the base of Pine Valley Mountain.
The water moved by gravity flow along, for the most part, the route of the
original Cottonwood Canal and pipeline to a mixing station on the Red Hill
north of town. At that point the water was mixed with water from the Mill
Creek springs near Washington. The Mill Creek flow was furnished by some
46 different springs that had been cleaned out down to bedrock and connected
into the system.
The Pine Valley and Mill Creek sources remained adequate into the mid 1960's.
But the meed for additional water grew more ominous with each passing year.
The city staff and the water and power board put their heads together to
come up with the best answer. All eyes pointed toward the Santa Clara River,
and, more specifically, the Gunlock drainage area.
<
Previous | Next >
Articles taken from Making the Desert Bloom
Copyright
2012 City of St. George |
