Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-10
THE WATER WE DRINK
surIRrHryNpgxr CHARLES y. Boil
LrHG's ANNUAL xEpsRr
Ths Supply and tho wasss-Mstsrs Recon-
msnded-filtrssiea Basin-sprin-
king OF Streets. &c.

the Water. WORKS DepaftMsus Oh tne WY
The following additional Information on sub
iects OF general interest 10 this community
IL from the annual report Of superintendent
Boiling:
The banks OF the tace-ways or csnslare
Srserally IN good condition. Various leaks
were repaired during the year. The most
extensive one was IN the iofebay bank near
the New puup.housc, The channel AT dill
ferept poiui. along The canal needs cleaning
out where it has become onstructed from
slides along tie bluffs and by deposits
brought IN by tie following streams along
the canal.
A needed protection " the strengthening
and raising OF the canai.sank Just east OF the
FIVE Mile lock. This msy be done AZ swal
cost this year. So The Ricomoou ana Ahe-
sbsnv Railroad Company propose changing
their line 10 tho north side OF the canal and
the material excavaied In making the
change can be used foe our purpose at small
cost TO the cts.
PUMP.w0EKs.
The new puwp.works (water-poweT) arc
IN fsIriy good order. Sundry repairs and
announcements were made. New pillow
blocks OF an inlproycu design we're put upon
All the sets. proving Of great assistance 10 the
proeer Adjustments ~ the shafts, aud are
giving enllre satisfaction.
The machinery has been overloaded and
painted.
Some trouble has recently been occasioned
by the breaking OF two cr0nk-pins, the exact
cause being difficult TO ascertain.
The Improvements necessary here consist
10 repairing one OF the stone Foundations,
which - shaken up, renewing some oil the
buckets OF the wheels. putting IN new iron
gsie.serews, and pSiDiing the building.
The stham-pump aud boilers were tho
roughly repaired and new smoke'stacks put
up. A granite cosl.vsult conveniently To-
Gated 10 the boiler-r0Om has been built, and
by its accessibility saves the labor oi tNo
men formerly required whenever the steam
pur,p was at work. Repairs TO the stucco
and pant sre needed on the buildings.
The Jumps and wheels at the Old pump
house are IN good order. TIE beVi-wheel
Of the turbine pumps has beeI recently re-
eoggsd. The only needs here are repairs TO
the wooden portion Of the dan, the hand
rail along the wal Of the forebay, and few
repairs on the building.
The total quantity OF water pumped aggre'
gated 4. 142, IA. 1872 gallons; pumped by the
new water power pumps, 2.777 l9O,9I3 ga'-
Ions: BY The old waier-pOwer pumps, LIB
bS3. 0s6 gsllobs, and by the Wortblngton
steam pumps, 2l1, j20 $50 ganons-the cost
per million gallons being. By The new
pumps, 1886; by the old pumps, Sj.1l, and
by the Fteam.Dumps, 1913
The AVERAGE daily consumption Tor the
year was II, 3ll.OlS gallons.
The greatest daily consumption was IN The
montb Of October. averaging daily for the
month Is. l5L0i2 gallons; the least in May,
averaging daily lD.70O,Osl gallons.
The WORK done at the different plants re-
yeals this fact that the old pumps have ca
pacity double the quantity demanded de-
pendeut uDon the state Of the river, which
in low conditions does not furnish power
enough to meet the daily demand.
The new wster-po9 pumps are daily
worked 10 about 20 per cent. Of their Ca
pacitV, ana experience teaches us that II Il
dangerous and dlsadvantageoUs TO work
them to their iul capacity smely, 12,OOO,-
600 gallons per day. In other words, that
they are nov doing all that can be relied
upon.
Our only auxiliary is the WorthingtOu
steam. pump. This We have 10 fall back
upon whenever stopped for reDaFs. and 1t
is for US an expensive manner OF providing
water. II Is true that with all the plants IN
good order--a full head for the old pumps
and the WorihingtOn pump-our daily
pumping capacity is 24,000,000 gallons; vet
II Is right 20 consider what might he called
an average condition.
With one set Of new pumps stopped for
repairs and the river low our daily capacity
is only 10, 100000 gallons, entirely too close
a margin when the daily consumption Is
sometimes 14,OO0,C00 gallons. | therefore
find II nv duty TO call your attention TO the
necessity Of providing for increased pump
ing facilities so long as our daiiy consump-
ton remains what II Is. j unhesiiailngly
say that after carrfCl study Of the question
a .rsa trffh 9TH at
OR present pun ping capacity Is amply suth-
cient TO supply the wants and Injuries VI a
population OF 100000 people, out so long as
the reckless and careless waste continues 10
safely guard our city we shalt have to pro-
vide more pumps and larger suppy-malns,
which will entail great outlay. The only
remedy lies In the application OF meters TO
all supplies. Then the people VIII paS only
for what they use and carelessness ADD bad
fixtures be rewarded with large water bills.
RESERVOIRS.
The reservoirs are 10 good condition, and
only need small expenditure 10 keep them
so The brick lining to Marshall reservoir
hiss been carefully reprinted. a lew repairs
and paint on the enclosures Is the only re-
Quirement.
The New reservoir, which has now become
a general resort IN summer, should have
10 take the place OF the wooden ones, and
the iroo railing painted. A few more seats
should be provided for visitors.
wATEg-HAINs.
The pipe extessions made consist OF
twelve, eight, six, aud Iour-inch pipes.
Most OF the extensions were 10 the outlying
and newly-buiit-up sections OF the city. The
demand for water from these sections stu
continues. and taxes fully some Of our sup
ply.mans. a much.n' eded relief aud in-
creased pressure would be given IN the
northwest section by laying slxteen.iuch
man frGm Msin and Vine streets 70 Broad
aud LomDsrdy streets, and hope to have
this done at an early da'e. 10 short time
it will also be necessary TO lay large main on
Broad street from LOmbardy 10 THIRD street,
the present one being only six inches in Ill.
ameter.
wATER-METEEs.
There are In use only eighty five meters.
can but repeat each year my recommends
tioUs Tor their Introduction generally, and
our new meter rates were made re an induce
ment for water-tskeTs TO apply for them. IL
is the only equitable manner OF charging for
water. IL IL q guard against waste. We
cannot now pass laws requiring owners or
tenants 70 thorOug hy protect the pipes an j
fixtures already put In, aud | am safe in
estimating that three fourths OF all The
premises supplied with water either have
the fixtures out OF order or exposed 10 freez-
ing. The putting In meter demands for
seli-pf OBJECTION Props Plumbing and It's pro-
faction from freezing. We cannot make dif'
ferent rates for these premises. Tor the qucs-
ton then arises. Who is 10 bear the cost OF
mating the change, the owner or the tenant
Put 10 a meter aud tue tenant VIII have the
right to demand that the landlord shall pro-
tect bin from damage on account OF bad or
exposed fixtures. Assuming family OF
eve persons on the premises, with a daily
consumption OF forty gallons per caplts, the
water bill at our highest meter rate would
amount 10 ninety cents mouth; at our
lowest rate forty-two cents. l am safe in
stating tbat II our city bad every supply
meiered the daily consumption would not
exceed 6.000,000 gallons, and the an
nuh revenue at seven cents per thou.
saod would be sl53. SOCIAL that three
the city should expect from the present
plant The result, would be that our people
Il. A.