7
tower 100 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep,capable of holding 294,500 gallons, or
6 3 / 4 g a l l o n s p e r h e a d o f p o p u l a t i o n f o r o n e d a y . T h e w a t e r w a s s e e n f r o m t h e
manholes, along the line of under-ground channel, flowing as clear as the clearest
crystal ; but to prevent any fear of silt being washed. into the service reservoir
and so fouling the water, the channel has been made self-cleansing, by providing
along the line a series of silt traps, which intercept any deposit which finds its
way into the channel. The water flows into the manhole where the silt trap is
built, and passes over it, and in doing so any foreign matter brought down is
deposited in the trap below, whilst the water flows out by the exit pipe, which is not
placed opposite the pipe of entrance. An iron sluice valve is fitted to the bottom
of the trap, on opening which all the silt deposited there is at once discbarged.
Frcm the service tower, which is 100 feet above the town, the water will be dis-
tributed under pressure through iron mains, and from these a complete system of
delivery-pipes will be carried all over the town, on which stand-pipes, fitted with
two self-closing taps, will be erected. This distribution has been so carefully
arranged that no one in Kolhápur will have to go more than 100 yards from his
house to fetch his water. The pressure in the mains will be constantly kept up,
so that water can be drawn off at any hour of the day or night. Should the
population increase, the scheme admits of indefinite extension, as the hills in the
vicinity of the head works appear to retain water like a sponge, and the valleys
are full of springs. They are practically uninhabited, and the gathering ground
is as clean as it is possible to conceive, and I look upon this Kolha,pur water-supply
as on of the finest in India.
25. The stand-pipes have, with careful forethought, been provided with
rests, on which the water vessel can stand whilst it is being filled, and the handle
will not be out of the reach of women,—two points of great consideration ; whilst the
surface below being paved on a slope any wastage water will be conveyed to the
nearest drain through a glazed stone-ware pipe. This scheme will do away with
the objectionable houds, or dipping wells, now in use, though drinking troughs
for cattle will be provided. This will itself be an incalculable good. The present
houds in which the Káttyáyani water is distributed are of the worst possible con-
struction, consisting simply of a cistern on a raised stone platform. The women
wash their vessels and their feet on it, and the pure water is defiled and rendered
muddy, and presents a very different appearance to what I saw as it was flowing
in the channel. The cost of the scheme will, it is estimated, amount to Rs. 2,20,279.
The other existing source of supply is from the Rankál Tank, which was
formerly a valley, across which an earthen dam has been built on two sides. It
supplies the lower suburbs, but it is not nearly such good water as the Káttyáyani.
At my visit there I saw men and women washing their clothes and their bodies
on the steps which face the dam ; but it is at present a positive source of disease,
and, I think, of danger also to the inhabitants, as the water leaks through
the dam to such a degree that the whole of the pets below it are rendered
unhealthy, as the fields around are simply swamps. I saw stagnant water
covering a large area, standing wherever it could, though there is a great
rush of water into the river through the nullah, and as the houses are built below
its bed, the floors are made damp and unwholesome. This is one of the worst
things I saw in Kolhápur, and I trust instant steps will be taken to prevent the
pure westerly breeze being tainted at the very threshold of the town, especially
as if the dam were to go, the whole of the inhabitants living below it would pro- -
bably be drowned.
29. The Padmala Tank should, when the Káttyáyani water-works are com-
pleted, be emptied, cleaned out, and filled with water from them. The streets at
present are not watered, and these tanks would afford a ready supply for this
very necessary work, which cools the atmosphere greatly. There are 26 wells in
the town, some of which are said to yield good water, but I doubt it. Luckily
the inhabitants prefer Káttyáyani water to any other.