Catastrophe set a new record for water levels, deaths, and financial ruin across the state. March 1913 - counties not only took on water but pollution that was in the waters, coming from those “better” regions of the state that were manufacturing and building. Photos of breadlines, saturated towns and merchants and ruined sewer, septic, and rail lines. Bloomington’s Showers’ factory sustained a loss of about 100,00 feet of timber and so by May, when our local WCTU installed a drinking fountain, it was more than just a gentle nudge for an alternative to alcohol, it was a sip of clean water, which was more appreciated that summer.