1886

The first community water system was constructed by the Redding Water Company. The water was pumped from the Sacramento River into the distribution system. The intake was located on the west bank of the river southeast of the community, just north of the old Freebridge off of Parkview Avenue.

1908

The original river intake was abandoned and replaced by a well installed near Jenny Creek about 200 feet from the Sacramento River. The well did not produce sufficient water so a tunnel was dug between the well and the Sacramento River. The well was converted to a sump pump.

1915

The water system was acquired by the Northern California Power Company.

1916

Chlorination of the water supply was initiated for disinfection.

1920

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company purchased the water system. Coagulation and filtration facilities were considered; however, only a 0.5 million gallon sedimentation basin was built ahead of the main 3.5 million gallon open storage reservoir, located at 3100 Foothill Blvd.

1927

The water system was purchased by the California Water Service Company.

1928

The California Water Service Company drilled a well which was abandoned because of the strong local opposition to the location of the well near the cemetery. The Company then took steps to improve the surface water supply. An alum feed machine was installed. The chlorination facilities and the electrical controls were improved. Whenever the turbidity (cloudiness of the water) in the Sacramento River became objectionable, the water was coagulated and settled out in the 0.5 million gallon and 3.5 million gallon open reservoirs.

1937

The City of Redding builds its own water system. A river intake tower and pump house were constructed on the south bank of the Sacramento River about 1/4 mile downstream from the California Water Service Company intake. The original pump house (#1) is still in the same location on Sacramento River Trail. Treatment facilities included an ammonia feeder and a chlorinator. The State Board of Health granted a water permit to the City on December 31, 1937.

1938

The City constructed two 1.5 million gallon covered concrete reservoirs which still exist and are part of the Foothill Water Treatment Plant. The treated water was pumped from the Sacramento River to the reservoirs and into the distribution system via gravity. A booster pump station was built for the higher elevation zone. A routine bacteriological sampling program to assure the safety of the water was initiated.

1941

The City purchased the California Water Service Company system and integrated the two open reservoirs and portions of the distribution system with the City system.

1949

By this time, Shasta Dam was completed and had become operational. As a result, the Sacramento River water quality past the City of Redding water intake improved considerably. The upper and lower open storage reservoirs were enlarged to a 2 million gallon and a 7 million gallon capacity.

1960

Construction of the Foothill Water Treatment Plant, Pumping Plant #2, and Hill 900 Reservoir #1 was completed. In addition, two 4,000 gallons per minute water intake pumps were added to Pump House #1 and several other changes were made to the distribution system. Water treatment facilities now included pre-chlorination, alum and lime feed, mechanical flocculation in the upper reservoir, and post-chlorination.

1977

The Cascade and Enterprise areas were annexed to the City of Redding. The water systems from both of these special districts, which were supplied by deep groundwater wells, were integrated into the City's system with the construction of major cross-town transmission mains.

1978

To increase storage capacity in the Buckeye Pressure Zone, a 2 million gallon reservoir was built near Williamson Road.

1978 - 1980

A major water bond was passed to improve the treatment of the Sacramento River water at the Foothill Water Treatment Plant. The project included the construction of a 24 million gallon per day dual media filtration plant, a new chlorination facility and a 6 million gallon covered storage reservoir incorporating the existing sedimentation and sludge basins. In addition, the intake capacity of Pump House #1, on the Sacramento River was substantially increased from 18,000 gallons per minute to 24,000 gallons per minute.

1982

To increase storage capacity in the Cascade Pressure Zone, a 2 million gallon reservoir was built near Valley View Road.

1984

The City added a 2 million gallon reservoir in the Hill 900 Pressure Zone - just above the existing Foothill Water Treatment Plant.

1985

The City added a 6 million gallon reservoir in Enterprise Pressure Zone -just northeast of the Mt. Shasta Mall. Booster Pump Station #4 was built to provide additional water supply to the Buckeye Pressure Zone - north of Lake Blvd. This brought the City's total reservoir storage to 28 million gallons.

1986

Three additional groundwater wells adding 5 million gallons of water per day to the water system and 4 miles of major transmission main were constructed in the Enterprise Pressure Zone connecting the Enterprise water system to the Municipal Airport.

1987

Pump House #1 capacity was upgraded by replacing three 2,000 gallon per minute centrifugal pumps with two 5,000 gallon per minute turbine pumps. This move increased the total capacity of the pump house from 24,000 gallons per minute to 32,000 gallons per minute.

1991

Construction of another groundwater well in the Enterprise Pressure Zone, south of Rancho Road on Goodwater Avenue, added another 2 million gallons of water per day to the water system.

1993

The City relocated Booster Pump Station #5 from the Hilltop/Dana Pressure Zone to the Enterprise reservoir site with the addition of another booster pump, increasing the flow from 2.8 million gallons per day to 4.5 million gallons per day.

1994

A new booster pump station at the South Bonnyview Vault allowed an additional 4.3 million gallons per day to be transferred from the Enterprise Pressure Zone to the Cascade Pressure Zone. The El Reno booster pump station was constructed to transfer an additional 1.2 million gallons per day from the Cascade Pressure Zone to the southern end of the Hill 900 Pressure Zone.

1993 - 1995

These years saw the construction and completion of the 7 million gallon per day dual media Buckeye Water Treatment Plant located just northeast of the Spring Creek Conduit, the water inter-tie between Whiskeytown Lake and Keswick Lake. The Buckeye Water Treatment Plant pulls raw water from the conduit and supplies treated water by gravity feed to the Buckeye Pressure Zone through 5 miles of 30 inch transmission main crossing Keswick Dam.

1997

Addition of a fourth booster pump at Booster Pump Station #5 increased the flow from the Enterprise Pressure Zone to the HillTop/Dana Pressure Zone from 4.5 million gallons per day to 5.7 million gallons per day.

1997 - 1998

The engineering and redevelopment of Enterprise Well #8 in the Enterprise Pressure Zone added another 1 million gallons per day to the water system.

The addition of another 250 horsepower pump at the Foothill Water Treatment Plant will pump treated water to the Hill 900 Pressure Zone.

2000

A 1,000 gallon per minute booster pump was installed on the West side of town in the Mary Lake Subdivision to improve water pressure and fire flows.

2001

Addition of Enterprise Well #12 and #13 in the Enterprise Pressure Zone added an additional 5 million gallons per day to the water system.

Began pre-design of a 4 million gallon storage reservoir which will be located at the Buckeye Water Treatment Plant. This new reservoir will improve the daily filtration operation of the Buckeye Water Treatment Plant and will provide additional water storage for the Buckeye Pressure Zone north of Lake Blvd. to City of Shasta Lake city limits.

2002

Pre-design of Enterprise Well #14 to be constructed in 2003 in the Enterprise Pressure Zone which will add an additional 2 million gallons per day to the water system.