Founding of the Reykjavik Water Utility / Uphaf vatnsveitu

Founding of the Reykjavik Water Utility / Uphaf vatnsveitu (HM27WZ)

Location: Reykjavík 101
Country: Iceland
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N 64° 8.726', W 21° 55.638'

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Inscription
(English panel:)

On 16 June 1909, the Reykjavik Water Utility was founded when fresh, drinking water was conveyed through a pipeline from a river and cold springs on the outskirts of Reykjavik to the town center. It was a defining moment in the city's history, as people were no longer dependent on sparse, poor-quality water that came from local wells.

Reykjavík Mayor Knud Zimsen, who was instrumental in driving the project forward, stood at this street cor-ner when the first hydrant was turned on, and thus the Water Utility was formally operational. As a result, public health and hygiene improved dramatically, fire safety was enhanced and new industries were born.

(Icelandic panel:)

Timamót urðu í sögu Reykjavíkur þann sextánda júní árið 1909, þegar Vatnsveita Reykjavíkur tók til starfa. Fersku neysluvatni var þá veitt til bæjarins, fyrst úr Elliðaánum en sfaar frá Gvendarbrunnum. Þar með þurftu bæjarbúar ekki lengur að treysta á óheilnæmt brunnavatnia, sem oft var líka af skornum skammti.

Knud Zimsen, einn helsti hvatamaður að gerð vatnsveitunnar og siðar borgarstjóri Reykjavikur, stóð á þessu horni þegar skrúfað var frá fyrsta brunahananum. Með þvi má segja að vatnsveitan hafi formlega tekia til starfa. Með tilkomu hennar stórbatnaði heilsufar Reykvíkinga, þrifnaður jókst, brunavarnir



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Details
HM NumberHM27WZ
Tags
Placed ByOrkuveita Reykjavíkur
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Tuesday, May 29th, 2018 at 4:01pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)27W E 454880 N 7113548
Decimal Degrees64.14543333, -21.92730000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 64° 8.726', W 21° 55.638'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds64° 8' 43.56" N, 21° 55' 38.28" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling West
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 5 Vatnsstígur, Reykjavík 101, IS
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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