Kansas City, MO Water Quality: Yesterday
The Kansas City metropolitan area has its history forever entwined with that of the region’s water. Established in Missouri in 1838 and in Kansas in 1872, the city lies at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers and straddles the two states’ borders. Strategically located, the region has been offered key opportunities for trade and commerce, as well as tragedy during the Civil War.
The city’s earliest residents drew water exclusively from wells and cisterns, but waterborne illness and the need for fire protection encouraged Kansas City officials to establish a formal system. The area’s first waterworks was built in 1874 and originally provided thirsty residents with 5 million gallons of water per day from the Kaw River. As the city’s population swelled throughout the 20th century, water managers turned to the most natural source: the historic Missouri River.