Milwaukee River Flushing Pump
1888
This pump, designed by Edwin Reynolds (1831-1909) and built by the Edward P. Allis Company, is the major component of one of the earliest water-pollution control systems. It was capable of pumping more than a half billion gallons of water a day, the highest-capacity pump in the world when installed. It still is used during the summer to pump water from Lake Michigan into the Milwaukee River upstream of the downtown area. This maintains a current in the lower portion of the river and greatly reduces the concentration of pollutants.
Marker can be reached from the intersection of North Lincoln Memorial Drive and East Lafayette Hill Road, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
