The daily gazette., 1879-01-03
THE WATER WE DRINK.
Annual Report Of the Chief Engineer of
the Water OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Inter
esting Facts and Figures.

Annual Report Of the Chief Engineer of
the Water Depdrtment-S0me Inter
esting Facts and Figures.
At the mee.ing of City Council, last
evening, the annual report of II. B. Nc
lntire, Chief Engineer of the Waler De-
partment, was presented and ordered to
be printed. The following is full sum-
mary of the document
To the President and Members of the
Guy Councl-GENTLEMEN In COM
pliAnce with section 5 of an ordinance
reorganizing the Water Department of
the city of Wilmington, passed Nov. 2,
1871, l hereby submit the ninth annual
report Of the Chief Engineer.
Having been Chief Engineer of the
Water Department but three months, l
can only report such transactions as have
come immediately under my notice du-
ring that time, together with such infor-
nation As is contained in the books aud
accounts of my predecessors.
The position occupe ed at the time OF
my election as Chief Engineer being that
of general superintendent of the COLI
struction Of Cool Spring Reservoir, uuder
the direction Of the Board Of Water
Commissioners, has in great measure
assisted me in the performance Of the
duties of my new position, and has not
only given me thorough knowledge OF
that important work, but a general
knowledge of the Water Department ;
and ha, enabled me to report to you mat
ters which think will be both interest
ing and instructive.
OPERATIONS DURING THE YEAR.
Although the operations OF the De-
partment during the past year have been
confined almost exclusively to the Ordi-
nary demands and necc ,sary repairs, the
year 1878 is not without importance in
the history of the Water Department
cool SPRING REsERvoIK.
Water for the first time was pumped
into the north basin Of the Cool Spring
Reservoir OH Tuesday, Dec. 18th, 1877,
aud was turned into the city supply pipes
Tuesday, January lst, 1878, as has been
reported to you by my predecessor
Since that time Cool Spring Reservoir
has been in constant use, excepting but
"a hours in Saturday and Sunday, May
18th and 10th, when the reservoir was
emptied, at the request Of the Board OF
Water Commissioners, in order TO allow
their resident engineers to ascertain levels
required to complete the south basin.-
Also, that an examination might be had
In order that changes or notifications
might be made in the plans for The con-
struction Of The south basin, if required.
On Sunday careful examination was
made and the reservoir found TO be per.
feet i'll every respect. At l1.30 o'clock
.. H., the pumps were again set to work
and continued. until the reservoir again
had sufficient water in it 10 supply the
city. The south basin was completed by
the contractor, Mr.. Z. McIntire, of Phila
delphia, and accepted by the Water Com
missionefs, Saturday, October 9TH, 1878
On Tuesday, Oct. 18th, Mr.. Jane;
Bradford, on behalf Of the Water Com
tee of City Council, and All agreement
was EN- cred into by which the Chief En-
< neer was authorized and empowered tt
employ an extra engineer and extra fire
man for the city mill station, and tht
pumps to be kept continually running
until both the north and south basin.
were filled with water, the Commission
ers agreeing To pay all additional expense
for labor.
In accordance with these instruction,
the extra help was employed and uh,
pumps were kept running both day ane
nigh un II the reservoirs were filled Al
400 c lock on Wednesday rnlng Oct
18th, Tie water commenced tunniug ovel
the overflow from the north lntothe soutl
basin. On Mou,.ay evening Oct. 2lst
the wat. from ihe south basin was turn
ed into the city supply pipes, and for th'
Ii fst time it could be truthfully said the
city was supplied with water from the
Cool Spring Reservoir. The work ol
filling the reservoir was completed ant
the extra men were discharged on Wed
nesday, Oct Sd. On Friiay, Nov. lst
the water in one of the odtei pes from
the springs west OF and the drainage un
derneat h the reservoir showed decidet
| increa % in the flow. After a careful
| watching for several days IL was though
best To let the water IN the south basil
run down and make an examination
which was accordingly done, On Tuesda,
Nov. 18th, and tn south basin found Il
be perfect In every respect, with Ii,
signs OF leakage whatever. The soutl
basin was then ref HE'D, and the water il
| the north basin allowed To run down.
ON "Wednesday Nov. ooh, the north BASH
was thoroughly examined, and a smal
hole discovered III ,he pudding az th'
| foot of the west emDankment, through
" nich the water found its way into th'
| gravel leads, and was conducted theme,
| to the drain pipes. This hole may hav,
been m tde by a crawtish, or it may hav,
been caused by some thoughtless persol
thrustng a.can through the puddle be
! fore the brick pavement was laid. How
ever,it was of minor Importance, was eas
lily repaired and could never have led I,
any serious damage, although it woul'
have caused considerable trouble aud al
noyance.
feel satisfied there need be no fears IA
to the safety Of these reservoirs, as the
have been carefully and substantial
built, and every precaution has bee
taken to render them perfect in ever
respect.
During the past year complete an
or, as they may properly bu termed, TIL
outlets from the springs west OF, an
the drainage underneath the reservoirs
has been kept, and the flow is 43, 1S5 Al
lgallons per day, or l5,7G2,611 gallons q
water per year. The Temperature of thi
water during all seasons of the year, lis .
degrees Fahrenheit This water snoul,
not be allowed to 60 to waste, but shoul
be collected in a small reservoir erecte'
for the purpose, In view OF the erection
of such "A reservoir IA connection has beei
made with the new Walker compoun,
lpump, now in operation at the Coo
Spring Station, which councillors ca