1946 – 2026 Watching Steinbach Grow: Running water on Mill Street

NOVEMBER 30, 1951—One of Steinbach’s newest streets will be the first to boast running water in every home at a cost, like the ads say, within the reach of every pocket. Cooperation, and a little foresight, has made this project on Mill Street East possible.

This portion of Mill Street from Barkman Avenue to Kroeker Avenue was opened last summer. The only residence on the street at that time was that of I.T. Wiens. Since a shallow well could not be made here, and the cost of a drilled well would run $500 to $600, the Wiens family had to make do with a cistern and purchased water.

Later, Wiens sold his property to Bob Scarrow and built a new home on the same street. Another home was built by Jack Berger, and still another by Dietrich Reimer.

The group now decided to pool their resources and have a well drilled. Before they were finished planning, they agreed to the installation of one centrally located pressure tank and trench water lines to every home. The whole project is now almost completed, awaiting only the arrival of an oversized pressure pump before the taps can be turned on.

The cost to the individual households has been calculated at about $250. This cost would be reduced when two or three prospective customers decide to connect into the system. Total costs are $600 for the well, $600 for trenching and pipe, and $250 for the pressure system.

The cost of the small building to house the pressure system is included in these figures. Part of the 600-foot trench for the water main was dug by dragline, which would have cut costs more had it been available for the whole job. Had each owner tried to make his own water system, the cost would have been approximately $500 for the well, since it would not have been drilled quite so deep; $150 for the pressure system, and about $50 to lead into the house. Thus, each homeowner saves about $450.

A contract has been drawn up between the shareholders, and although they do not have the satisfaction of having their own private well in the backyard, the residents have water on tap, which they feel is more important.