Des Moines Public works history

In 1851 a half-acre was purchased for $100 to build a proper schoolhouse.

Return to Fire Department home pageThe first fire company in the City of Des Moines was organized in 1865, and was known as the "Hook & Ladder.” After the City purchased an engine, the Company was reorganized under the name of the "Hawkeye Hose Company", with Charley Spofford as Chief Engineer.

Allen had built Terrace Hill in 1867.

In 1871, Frederic Hubbell and his law partner, Jefferson S. Polk, organized the Des Moines Water Company.

In 1873, Allen purchased a bank in Chicago and moved there, but he couldn’t save the bank and went bankrupt.

In 1880, the name was changed to Des Moines Water Works Company.

In 1891, the first water tower was constructed on 17th Street, between Center and Crocker.

His son, Charles Denman, worked as a cashier for several years and then took over as General Manager in 1896.

In 1897, the newspaper and City Council launched a vigorous attack on water quality so they could get the company’s asking price down.

In 1898, the City said they would purchase the company, but the people voted it down.

The first City Hall was constructed in 1905 at 137 5th Street for the cost of $900.

In 1910, construction of ponds in the park began to augment the water supply.

In 1911, the vote finally passed, but Denman wouldn’t sell because the City was offering too little.

The vote to purchase in 1914 was favorable, but the vote to issue bonds didn’t pass.

In 1917, a study was conducted by an outside source on river conditions of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.

In 1918, a permanent pumping station was built on the park grounds to pump water from the river into these ponds.

Finally in 1919, the City purchased the water company.

Construction of a new pumping station at its present site began in 1920.

In 1923, an attorney prepared a bill for the legislature to remove the DMWW Board from supervision by the City Council.

Seven thousand plantings of trees and shrubs were made yearly from seedlings grown in the greenhouse under the care of Arie den Boer (he joined DMWW in 1928), who also introduced several hundred varieties of crabapple trees and won many awards for his work in horticulture.

In 1931, scientists started realizing the benefit fluoride plays in preventing tooth decay.

In 1932, during the Depression, Denman provided work to many men who could not pay their water bills.

Before the military arrived, John C. Fremont, an explorer and military officer3, was sent in 1941 to learn about the area around the Des Moines River like the plant life as well as document the exact location of the Raccoon River Forks.

In 1943 the West Des Moines Public Library was officially founded.

In 1948, the first water rate increase in 50 years occurred.

In 1955, the Nollen Standpipe at 26th and Hull and the Wilchinski Standpipe at SE 9th and Pleasant View Drive were built.

In 1973, this standpipe, near Sears at Merle Hay Mall, was named Tenny.

In 1985, an office building was built along Valley Drive (now known as George Flagg Parkway).

The Raccoon River crested at 24.5 feet at the Fleur Drive Treatment Plant, 12.5 feet above flood stage and 2.2 feet below the Flood of 1993 record.

Temporary offices were set up around the community until 1996 when the offices were moved to the 2nd floor of the then recently completed West Des Moines Library at 4000 Mills Civic Parkway.

In 1998, groundbreaking for the Maffitt Treatment Plant occurred.

In August 2003, a monthly record for pumpage was set – 2,262.82 million gallons.

On June 7, 2006, a daily pumpage record of 90.19 mg was set.

On July 24, 2012, a new record for daily pumpage was set – 96.64 million gallons.