Decatur Waterworks, Historic waterworks in Mason Mill Park, Decatur, United States

Decatur Waterworks is a former drinking-water facility in Mason Mill Park, near Decatur, Georgia, built where Burnt Fork Creek meets the south fork of Peachtree Creek. By 1939 it had two aeration and solids-removal tanks, two storage tanks, an office building and two dams, one on South Peachtree Creek and one on Burnt Fork Creek. The ruins of all these structures remain, covered with graffiti.

The facility was established in 1907 and supplied water to Decatur until the 1940s, when the city's growth outpaced its capacity and operations moved to DeKalb County. During World War II, it played a key role in serving nearby military installations.

The site shows how early engineers managed water supply for a growing community. Visitors can see how stone and concrete structures were woven into the landscape to serve daily needs.

The waterworks remains lie in Mason Mill Park, reached by trails from the park; the WPA stone bridge over Burnt Fork Creek now carries a recently built trail. The structures are unrestored and covered in graffiti, so watch your footing among the tanks, dams and office building remains. The park plan developed in 2008, partly funded by the PATH Foundation, is being implemented.

During World War II, the facility exclusively supplied a nearby naval air station and army hospital, leading to a temporary closure to the public. This wartime role is a surprising chapter of its history that many visitors overlook.