The water is back.

A historic artesian well in American Fork has come back to life, and residents are celebrating -- and reminiscing.

Sweet and cool, even in the middle of the summer, the water flows from a spigot into a historic watering trough on 100 East near 400 South in American Fork. From 300 feet below ground, the water comes up purified and ready for use by runners, walkers, neighbors and visitors.

City officials have now proposed the new Center Street trail cross 100 East to ensure the water trough is not in the way. City Council members have not set a date to vote on a final trail plan.

"We don't want the city to get rid of it," said Patty Webster, who lives next door to the trough. "We just love it. It is part of our youth."

People have been visiting the site for most of the more than 100 years the water has been flowing, coming at all times of the day and night, she said. Some have brought horses and other animals to water. Some bring bottles to take home a supply.

The water stopped flowing sometime during the recent drought.

Most neighbors remember it running year-round until the 1990s. It started running again last fall or early this spring, according to most.

"When it started running again, we were so thrilled," Patty Webster said.

LeRoy Webster, who has lived next door to the trough since he was 10 years old, recalled a disappointed visitor who came during the drought only to find the water gone.

"You turned it off," the visitor said.

"God turned it off," LeRoy Webster said he responded, explaining the drought.

Janice Nilsson, who lives across the street from the trough, has fond memories of those who visit the trough.

"People came from Alpine all the time," she said. "I recognize them and their cars. I enjoy seeing people stop. I have become acquainted with people who stop by. It is interesting to meet them and see where they are from."

LeRoy Webster agreed.

"People came with their trucks and filled up lots of bottles, all hours of the day and night," he said.

Nilsson remembers the trough being the center of attention.

"It used to be a nice, cool gathering place," she said. "We used to sit out there on the side. We used to have people come night and day to get water. They would bring gallon jugs to take it home. All they drank was this well water."

Many runners and walkers rely on the water, Nilsson said.

"We got to know people," she said. "When it was dry, we turned on the hose for them."

The quality and taste of the water are what draw people here, she said.

"It is good water," she said. "It has the same temperature all the time, about 70 degrees. There is no chlorine in it. That is why people like it."

"I tell everybody it is the best water in Utah County," said LeRoy Webster.

The trough is also a magnet for kids, Nilsson said.

"The kids always have fun with it," she said. "They used to go down to the lake and get fish to put into the trough. Sometimes they would throw in a snake or two."

This spring, one young boy was looking for something to do, so his parents told him to go clean the trough, she said.

"He cleaned it up, took out the rocks and bought some goldfish," she said. "Then some dogs came and made the water all muddy and killed the fish. It gave the boy something to do, though."

Water pressure has degraded in recent years, allowing more moss to grow, she said.

"When it ran better, it kept cleaner," she said. "It used to be quite forceful. It ran into the ditch and under the freeway."

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D4.