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SignatureMT | 45 Memory Lane Text by Suzanne Waring August Bergstrom: Overseeing Development Of Great Falls' Water System When you turn on the water tap, likely you never think about the people who have taken on the responsibility of making certain that the water is available and sanitary. In the 1880's having access to fresh drinking water was a problem for the 1,500 citizens of Great Falls. Only one in five hand-dug wells generated water. People depended on the "water man" who came by to fill the water barrel on their porches with water dipped directly out of the river. Most of the time, the water was unpalatable and unhealthy, and the barrel always seemed to be empty. Playing a major role In the history of providing access to good tasting, sanitary water in Great Falls was August Bergstrom. is immigrant from Sweden was hired by the three-year old privately held water company on June 16, 1891. When the company changed hands in 1893, he stayed on. In 1898 the city bought the water company, making it a municipal facility. Bergstrom was once again retained and promoted to street foreman. In this job he walked all over town to satisfy the water needs of 172 customers. He used a wheelbarrow for conveying his tools and pipe. Later he was given a bicycle to use in his work and still later he was given a horse and wagon. In 1912 he was furnished with a Model T Ford. In 22 years of driving around Great Falls he generated close to 200,000 miles of driving, but he never had an accident. He was still driving the same car in 1935 and overseeing 5,500 services and more than 80 miles of water mains. Bergstrom played an important role in the installation of the entire distribution system. By the time Bergstrom retired, he had worked 60 years at the same job and 53 as a municipal employee. His service was invaluable because even aer the system was expanded to 100 miles of primary mains, over 900 gate valves, and over 650 fire hydrants, Bergstrom knew all of the locations. is was essential in an emergency of broken lines and flooding. Bergstrom died in Great Falls at the age of 87 on October 19, 1955. All of that walking must have kept him healthy into old age. During those first years, when residents of Great Falls saw Bergstrom as he went about his work, they knew that he was one of those responsible for the clean water at their tap. Today unless we travel to destinations where we are told not to drink the water, we take having access to good tasting fresh water for granted. We can still say that August Bergstrom's contribution to the residents of Great Falls makes an impact on our lives. ~A life-long interest in communications made Suzanne Waring first a college instructor and then a writer. She lives in Great Falls and writes about Montana people and their communities. MT S

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