From Water Wagons to Private Development: A History of Vancouver Water System

Clark County Historical Museum’s 2022 Speaker Series continues on Thursday, May 5th, with “From Water Wagons to Private Development: A History of Vancouver Water System” presented by Jim Pestillo. The event will occur in-person at the Historic Covington House (4201 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98663). Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m.

Clean water is key to a healthy and prosperous community. While the Pacific Northwest has an abundance of natural water sources, as cities and townships grew so did their pressures on these natural systems. From pollution to distance, adequate water access proved an increasingly more difficult puzzle for community leaders to solve. In this presentation, Jim Pestillo explores the history of Vancouver’s water systems and the relationship between those systems and the City’s growth.

Jim Pestillo is a retired engineer with an interest in local history. His article “Vancouver Water Delivery 1824-1930: From Water Wagons to Private Development” (2019) and “From Stinky Streets to Sewers: An Overview of Vancouver’s Water and Sewer Systems” (2020) both appeared in Clark County (WA) History published by the Clark County Historical Society.

The CCHM Speaker Series is sponsored by the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission and Versa Events (formerly Wager Audio). This event will be free to the public.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as seating is limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

For more information, contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.