Before 1894 the main source of water supply for Eureka was a well at 4th & G street. Consumption = 250,000 GPD. In 1894 the city hired D.E. Henney, C.E. to study other supplies. He recommend a pipe from Lawrence Creek to a 3 MG reservoir. In 1894 a bond election was held to acquire Ricks Water Company - it failed. In Jan. 1895 Mayor Staffed appointed on 11 member water committee to investigate and determine the most feasible system to supply the city with water. In 1903 the Eureka Water Company acquired the Ricks Water Company. In 1912 a water committee was appointed and they recommend Mad River for a gravity supply. In 1914 bonds were approved and the property of the Eureka Water Company was purchased for $270,000.