A Pipe Through Time: MWA Crew Discover Piece of Water System History

“A Look Back at Water System History”

Long before the Macon Water Authority (MWA) delivered award-winning drinking water and cutting-edge wastewater services, water systems relied on much simpler materials. In the 1800s and early 1900s, wooden water pipes were commonly used across the U.S., including right here in Macon. Artisans would carefully shape wooden staves, bind them with iron straps, and bury them underground to carry drinking water to homes and businesses.

Though they were innovative for the time, these pipes were prone to leaks and decay over the decades. As technology advanced, wooden pipes were replaced by iron, then steel, and today by durable modern materials like ductile iron and PVC.

“A Reminder That Our Work Never Stops”

The wooden pipe now displayed in the MWA Board Room was discovered by our crews on a recent job site, over 100 years after it was first laid into the ground. It stands as a powerful reminder that infrastructure does not last forever.

Just as past generations built and maintained Macon’s water system for their community, MWA employees today carry forward that responsibility. Every repair, upgrade, and inspection we perform is part of a continuing mission to protect public health and ensure safe, reliable water and sewer services for all of Macon-Bibb County.

If you attend one of our monthly board meetings, take a moment to view this unique piece of Macon’s water history. It’s a tangible connection to the past and a symbol of the progress we continue to make.

Whether it’s a wooden pipe from 100 years ago or modern water mains laid today, every piece of the system tells a story. Thank you to all of our employees for being the next chapter in that legacy of service to Macon-Bibb County.

Media Contact
Rachad Hollis- Communications Specialist
Macon Water Authority
Phone: (478) 464-5600
Email: rhollis@maconwater.org