drinking water

In the very first years of the development of Belle Plaine, all drinking water was carried in from springs located in the close proximity of town. Water was also caught in barrels and cisterns for other purposes. A community well was established in the middle of the intersection of Main and Meridian, with a pump and drinking trough. This was used for a few years, until it was discovered that the water was being contaminated by animal manure. Cattle roamed the streets at large in those days. A new and deeper well was established in the same location, and an enclosed tower was erected, with a windmill on top to raise the water. This was done in 1889, at a cost of $550. The entire structure was painted on all four sides with the advertising of patent medicine called Kickapoo Indian Medicine. Water was restricted to one barrel at a time and not more than two barrels per day for an individual. Anyone violating this ordinance was fined $5. The old well stayed in existence until 1908. In 1907, the town started construction of a public water works. This consisted of a tower 110 feet high capable of storing 55,000 gallons of water, a pump and pump house, water mains and fire hydrants to serve the central part of town. Total cost of this entire project was $8,786.

Modern day Belle Plaine now has an extensive infrastructure of water and sewer mains which are serviced by a new waste water treatment facility, three wells and two water towers. A  new water treament facility, which is currently under construction, will greatly improve the water quality of Belle Plaine by removing more impurities and rust from the water supply.