- Pryor Avenue Iron Well
The Pryor Avenue Iron Well, or Iron Well, is an early artesian
water well located in the Bay View Historic District ofMilwaukee, Wisconsin . Built in1882 and named for its high iron content, water continuously flows from the pressurizedaquifer below. It was designated a Milwaukee landmark in1980 for its significance as the last remaining public well in the city.Background
Drilling began in October 1882 as a public works project by the Village of Bay View, but progressed slowly due to the dense glacial drift below. The final depth of 1500 feet was achieved later in January, at which point water pressure was enough to provide a constant supply of water to a planned network of satellite wells and fire hydrants. [Historic Designation Study Report. "Pryor Avenue Iron Well", Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission, 1987.]
Once completed, the original wellhead consisted of nothing more than an exposed pipe with water spigots for public use. Some time in the 1920s the current concrete monolith was added. It stands roughly five feet tall and has a pipe on either side, from which water continuously flows out of and in to ground level drainage basins. Potted plants and benches provided by Bay View Gardening and Yard Society now flank the structure. [ [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=250645 Sense of community: Bay View's flows like Pryor St. well] , "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel", August 13, 2004.]
Many area residents still visit the Iron Well to fill up on drinking water. It became a popular alternative to the municipal
water supply , which draws fromLake Michigan , during theMilwaukee Cryptosporidium outbreak that occurred in April of1993 . [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,978285,00.html The Waterworks Flu] , "Time Magazine", April 19, 1993.] Despite both water sources being physically close to each other, they remain independent and separated by geological strata.Water quality tests are performed regularly by the health department and DNR to ensure safety.
References
External links
* [http://www.wisconline.com/greenmap/milwaukee/sites/infrastructure.html Milwaukee Drinking Water Sources]
* [http://www.milwaukeemoms.com/exposure/expose.cfm?ID=166 Fun Places in Milwaukee]
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