Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-03

What We Drink, and Where 1t Comes
Erou,-Some Interesting Statistical
billion Gallons a Year Sent Coursing
Through the City.
4 representative Of the MORNING NEWS
visited the Savannah Water Works on
saturday. in order to obtain some intor-
nation in regard to the city water supply,
the quantity pumped daily, and the
amount consumed.
Meeting Mr.. A. y. Miller, the superin-
tendent. the reporter was cOurteously
shown around the place, aud given de-
tailed information regarding this very
important department Of the city's works.
The site where the water works are now
located is on a tract Of land containing 50
acres. 30 acres Of which are now fenced
in. known as the old stiles tract, adj
Joining the Hermitage. with $40 feet Of
bold river front. The site is apparently
an exceptional one. the water being Of
quality superior in every way 70 that OBJ
tanned heretofore at the old works. The
inlet from the river to the well, from which
the water is taken. Is three and nall
feet below ordinary low water mark. and
the tide GIBBS at this point about eight and
a half hours. giving purer water than on
the food tide. The bed OF the river IN
front of the works being a sand bar, all
foul matter OF sufficient gravity sinks TO
the bottom before il reaches this point
above the city: also the water in the river
swells from twelve TO twenty-fOur inches
yariablv by the winds before the current
sets up. all floating and injurious mat
ter passes By. and is not taken into the
well. The water is not affected, or even
discOlored BY the discharge from the rice
fields above. as il seems 10 md It's way
through another channel between Hutch
insOn's and Rabbit Island. 1t Will thus
be seen that Savannah enjoys at. least the
benefit of good water. The buildings and
lands cost the city $4,000. and the ma
chinery $50, 000-thus giving to savannah
water works commensurate with her adj
vantages in other respects.
How much water is sent up to the
city dailyg'' asked the reporter pointing
~ the two enormous pumping engines,
1--WE are now pumping 100000 gallons
daily. under a pressure Of - pounds to
the square inch on the principal main,
and are delivering 10 the city 3,5U.0On
gallons daily. which would give to every
person in savannah a supply of 81 gal
lens every - hours. if we reckon our pop
ulatiOn al 10000 replied the Superinten-
dent.
What amount Of water is discharged
through the sewer traps daily"
Nearly 100000 gallons. and about
100000 gallons which passes through the
overflow Of the water tower, in Franklin
square. to the sewer in BrOughtOn street,
and is carried thence to the BrOughtOn
street sewer. at Perry street lane, and is
discharged into the BilbO canal"
What contingency Is there in case Of
tire:'
When "A fire alarm is sounded we are
at once notified from the police barracks
by telephone. and a pressure of - pounds
70 the square inch Is applied at the works.
TO increase the pressure on the main
sewer. giving an additional flow Of 300.
600 gallons"
Is there much waste in the use Of
water in the city,
Yes: great deal more than people
are aware of. There is fully 30 per cent.
from neglect and williul use. There are,
on an average. 100 or more water-clOsets
continuously dischargihg water, and this
Of itself would give an expenditure Of
100000 gallons day."
lone of the great difficulties in disturib-
uting the water throughout the city"
continued the superintendent, sis owing
10 the small maius. which are about 101s
inches IN diameter. and which are entire
Is too small 10 deliver the large quantity
If water TO the desired elevation"
What was the amount OF water pumped
up last month";"
.Our statistics show 10 425. 222 gallons
at a consumption of 2l23s cords of wood.
ON an average we consume billion of
gallons OF water a yeag, which. in other
words. would cover a surface Of $500
acres of land one foot deep. Last year
the total amount OF water pumped was
I.111.274.05j gallons, exceeding the
amount delivered the year previous by
about one-third. or >. 100000 gallons"
In further conversation the Nuperin-
tendent stated that the cost Of supplying
the city with water amounted to $4,000
yearly. including wood. oil, waste, repairs,
salaries. and extensions, connections.
cesspOols, free hydrants and fountains.
The improvements made az the works
during the past year have been quite eX-
tensive. New roads have been laid out,
wharves erected, and about thirty acres
Of land fenced in, making the place more
accessible and attractive.