In 1908 the Village Council and the people of Burlington were occupied with the question of whether to continue to depend upon well supplies of water, or to raise a sum estimated at $50,500 to develop a Waterworks System drawing water from Lake Ontario. The Burlington Gazette published this editorial on April 29:
“If the Council in their wisdom should decide that the village can undertake it, we believe that they have courage enough to let the people say whether they want waterworks or not. They apparently realize that this is the people’s question and the citizens should be given the privilege, at least, of voting on it.
‘Built up Burlington’ is our motto and we have no hesitancy in saying that the waterworks will be the means of making our village one of the best and most up-to-date in Ontario. Waterworks is all we lack and we believe the day is not far distant when we will have it. Then watch us grow.”
On June 14, 1990, Village Reeve Maxwell Smith turned the first sod for the Pump House, which was put into service in the following March. The Pump House was built by E. Williamson of Burlington, at a final cost of $3,553.51. The electrically operated pumping machinery was installed by Smart Turner Co. at a tendered price of $5,000. The pump well contract was awarded to Canada Foundry for $1,943.
The rest of the waterworks cost was spent on the building of a water tower at the corner of John Street and Maria Street, and the laying of cast-iron pipe with hydrants and valves. Some of these historic watermains are still in use in 1994. Sixty-one customers signed on and had meters installed.
Burlington did grow and the demand for water grew. The Pump House was in continuous service from March 3, 1910 to February 1936, the year following the completion of the first filtration plant. The Pump House was then converted into a private residence.
