The origins of many of the world’s greatest cities, if not all of them, began with a village well, and Salt Lake City was no exception.
Dubbed a “Central City Gem,” the artesian well on 800 South and 500 East has been cherished as a pure water source for over a century.
So, how exactly did it come to be, and why do Utahns still use it over a century later?
“The water right, for instance, associated with the artesian well here is dated 1890,” said Laura Briefer, director of Salt Lake City’s Department of Public Utilities.
The department oversees maintaining the park and monitoring water quality so it’s safe for people to drink.
The well is an artesian well, which means it doesn’t require a pump to bring water to the surface. There’s enough pressure in the aquifer below, which is sourced from a large recharge area that extends from Red Butte Creek underneath the University of Utah.
The history of the artesian well
“There’s evidence in the historical record of this water source being used to support different types of community functions,” added Briefer.