Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-25
SEEKING PURER WATER.
ARTEsIAN WELLS TO BE SUNK
AT THE WATER WORKS.

The Work of Boring to Begin at Once
What the Proposed Plan Contemplate
The Present Mains TO be Used for
Decentralization OF the Arte-
sian Well System.
Councils action on Wednesday night
in taking steps to supply the city, II pos
slbie. with artesian water seems 70 meet
the general approval. The matter has
been discussed Tor years, but the cost and
the feature OF uncertainty attached have
always caused the question TO be deferred
whenever it was preached.
The section OF tie city between East
Broad and West Broad streets is supplied
emuiply with river water through the
water works. The population west OF
West Broad and east OF East Broad
streets is dependent upon pumps and
wells. Various plans have been proposed
for supplyiug artesiau wSteS. Some sug-
eested large well In the park extension,
and others "a number OF wells through the
middle Of the city. A third plan was 70
drive "A series of wells along the eastern
and western slopes Of the city, and sup
ply clear and pure water 10 the people IN
those sections who are compelled TO use
the impure well water.
western limits of the city is impure is evil
dent, because on the slopes the springs
come nearer the surface and the water is
contaminated by the filth which perco-
lates through the soil from neighboring
sinks and vaults. The appearance Of the
uniltered river water, as 1t comes from
the hy0rants, has always been more or
less OF a detriment TO Savannah, az
strangers at once conclude from its yell
ah huf - - fTun a.
that residents who have always used 1t
may say. A good fltering renders 1t
clear and practically pure, but II is estl-
mated that - per cent. Of the population
do not use filters.
During the year some members Of COun-
Gil have individually looked into the ques-
ton OF putting in q filter atthe works, but
the cost Of putting IN and maintaining
good filter would amount, IL was found,
TO SIS, 600 for the first year, and large
sum would be required annually TO run it.
The plan which Will be undertaken con-
templates the boring at the works OF
well four or six inches in diameter. The
success OF the first wen will determine
whether the work will be prosecuted. 1t
is estimated that 5000, 900 gallons Of water
are used ia Savannah every day. That is
about lbs gallons for each in
habitant, but perhaps not more than
one-fith OF this amount, or two
fiflhs, at most is used for drinking and !
domestic purposes. The rest is used by |
the steam boilers, street sprinklers, |
livery stables, flushing the sewers, and |
for other purposes. To supply 100000 |
gallons at least two, and perhaps half a |
dozen, 4-inch wells viii be necessary. The |
4-inch well at Brunswick is said to flow |
100000 gallons a day.
The objection was raised that a number |
Of wells in a small area will likely effect |
one another. That, however, Is a matter |
that can be settled only by experiment, |
and it may be that wells OF different /
depths, striking different veins of waller |
on different levels. Will not interfere with
each other.
If an abundant supply Of pure, healthy |
water is obtained, the use of river water
will be abandoned. The steam power now
in use will be used to force the new sup
ply through the mans and pipes which |
constitute the present system. If this |
scheme can be carried out successfully |
the population in the eastern and western |
limits Will be looked after. Council ia
vOred this scheme because it is the cheap !
est and, at present the most practicable |
that has been suggested.
IL is expected that the cost of the first |
well will be more than that OF others that /
may be driven afterwards, as the price OF |
tools viii have 10 be included in the cost Of |
driving the first well. The city has an
engine on the ground which can be used
for boring, and work will probably be
commenced very soon.