Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library
Triumph: Water and sewer system
The City of Detroit's first public waterworks began in 1836 when the city purchased a rudimentary system of leaky wooden pipes operated by a private company, and converted the Savoyard Creek into the city's first sewer. The city invested heavily in constant upgrades, including the installation in 1871 of the then-largest water pumping engine on Earth, capable of delivering 24 million gallons per day. The municipal water system that Detroit built is now the third largest in the nation, and supplies drinking water to 40% of Michigan's population.
