During the early 1890s, local entrepreneur named James M McElroy hatched a plan to pipe water from the Hygeia Spring, located in the Town of Waukesha, over 100 miles to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Despite the fresh water of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River was contaminated with raw sewage, and many feared the water shortage would dissuade guests from attending the exhibition. McElroy was to receive 8.5 cents per gallon, after commission, for shipping the water from Waukesha to Chicago.