Construction of the Morena Rock Pill Dam, San Dieqo County, California

In August, 1906, under a contract with the City of San Diego, the Southern California Mountain Water Company undertook to furnish a supply of water, up to 7 766 000 gal. per day, at the city limits, at the extraordinarily low price of 4 cents per 1 000 gal., from the Lower and Upper Otay Lakes, through 20 miles of pipe line. Previous to this time the city depended on the pumping plant at the San Diego River, in the Mission Valley, inside the city limits, for its supply. As this water was highly alkaline and the quantity was limited to about 3 000 000 gal. per day, the city was very eager to secure an improved water supply of good quality to supplant the objectionable system, which retarded the growth of the community.