The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-03

PIPES.
The exterior-pipe distribution. or that
portion embracing the large mains which
convey water from the pumps to the reser-
voirs and take it again to points for further
distribution, need only to be considered
here, since all questions concerning the in-
terror portion OF the distribution are deter
mined by the Superintendent OF Water
Works.
The present mains from the pumps to the
old reservoir are ample for all the pumps
now operated at the old works, and the
| twenty-four-inch main which now conveys
water to the new reservoir will be used to
supply the old reservoir and low service
from the upper works when constructed.
There are two Iaains-one twenty-iour-
inch and the other a thirty-inch-alrea
| laid from the new reservoir, capable Of de-
lIverinS without great loss of head Is, 900, 900
gallons Of water to points at the head of the
interior distribution Of the city. In the future
when the distribution exceeds this quantity
| OF Is, ,O00, 900 gallons OF water, new 36-inch
main should be laid from the new
reservoir to Broad street, and thence down
Broad to connect with another portion of
the interior distribution. This main will
deliver 1S,000,000 gallons of water without
great loss OF head, and with the present
mains from the new reservoir will give
total delivery Of 36,000,000 gallons in twen-
| ty-four hours, nearly equal in amount to
the future capacity OF the proposed new
| pump-works. 1t is therefore seen that am
| pie provision is made for all the exterior
distribution in both pump and supply
mains, taking the most enlarged view OF
the extension OF the works.
| FILTRATION.
| There is, perhaps, nothing concerning our
! snrl.y ~ rapa~ Il
tie understood by the public as the question
of filtration OF the river water, and vet an
examination OF various official reports will
show that it has been fully investigated and
repeatedly reported upon. When the con-
sumption OF water was less than 10000
gallons per day flter-bed was constructed
as part OF the old reservoir; it was used for
short while and then abandoned as filter,
and is now covered up as part Of the sto-
rage-basin of the old reservoir.
In 1851 A. II. Vancleye's plan for new
reservoir provided for settling the water
| through chambers and screens as means OF
| improving its character. This is not titra-
tion but sedimentation.
In 1858 W. Gill and James L. Davis re-
commended as means of improving the
water that, in building low-servce reser-
voir near Hollywood, it should be divided
hhco soihpdl LiDcuLs lOT SeQlmcnLatlO0.
In 1859 Charles Elicit, w. Gill, and James
l.. DaVls, IN recommending reservoir on
oregon Hill, stated that the water would be
improved by sedimentation, without need.
ing filtration, and said, aAs soon as this
reservoir is completed the water supplied
TO the lower service will be over three
weeks In passing from the pumps to the
| consumer, to whom 1t will be delivered, il
not always absolutely clear, ut least sutfi-
ciently relieved OF all impurities to be ac-
ceptable to the public" and when the con-
| sumption increases to such an extent that
the water will pass too rapidly to allow Il 10
settle, settling-basin at the river should be
constructed.
In 1860 W. Gill and james L. Davis made
special report upon reservoir. witt a
litter attached, and recommended that
FILTER-BEDs OF SAND AND GRAVEL
be constructed at the old reservoir, which
would filter, it was claimed, 100000 gas-
Ions OF water in twenty-four hours. This
plan was based on rate of filtration OF i22
gallons Of water in twenty-four hours to
each square foot Of filtering surface. Ex-
periments have shown that we cannot de-
pend on a rate greater than % gallons to
the square foot Of fiitering surface, so that
the plan here recommended would not haye
& dIl9NcfcO lOt tUoiS tuah SoS 9tAsh S"S -
ent daily consumption OF water.
i In 1869 and 1870 the two plans recon-
mended upon the suggestion OF James I.
! Kirkwood for building a new reservoir
i provided that the reservoir should be made
into compartments Us means OF improving
the water by sedimentation.
! In. 1871 j. j. Heindl recommended set
tlsng pond at the river just above the pre-
sent pump-works, in which the water would
be improved by sedimentation before beng
pumped to the reservoir. This is similar TO
part OF the plan OF 1859, by Messrs. Elicit,
Gill, and Davis.
In my annual report. February, 1874,
pages 35 and 36, an investigation OF the
question OF filtration Is given; and sediuen-
tation, in . reservoir divided into compart-
ments, Is recommended as
THE MOST PRAcTIcABLE NODE OF IMPROVING
THE WATER.
Il In my next annual report, February,
i 1875, pages II to 80, the question: of filtration
is agsin discussed, In connection With an
\ elaborate chemical analysis OF the water, and
the results summed up % f0llows
~ In the absence Of dltration, by the ar
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