The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-23
The Water Supply.

! The question OF an increased supply CT
artesiaa water which the c ty couacil IS now
( consideri z IS a very important one, aud in
/ settling 1t great care should be taken not to
make a mistake. A mistake, il one were
made, would be very costly. and the coun-
Gil. therefore, should be satisfied that it has
decided upon the right thing to do before
taking any decided action. Ths supply If
water from the artesian wells at the water
works is not now equal TO the demand f the
pump, and water Is being pumped from the
river. II is Insisted, whether correctly or
not 1t is impossible to say with certainty,
that the mixed art ssian aud river water is
not wholesome Whether it is or not 1t
is evident that the first thing to be done is
to increase tie supply OF artesian water.
That can be done probably OILY by increas-
ing the number of wells The
theory is held that the flow of
the wells in existence can be increased by
deepening them. Experiments are being
made to test the truth of it. 1t is certain
that the supply can be increased by in
creasing the number of the wells. and it is
a question whether it would not be advisa-
be, from the standpoint of economy, to
cease seeking greater flow by deepening
the wells, and to begin at once the sinking
of additional wells. 1t is believed, also,
that if the water was permitted to flow into
reservoir, the pump could be worked to
much better advantage. If this belief is
well'founded, the construction of a reser-
voir should be begun without unnecessary
delay.
But If the water was permitted to flow
into reservoir it would be exposed for
some little time 10 the atmosphere. Would
it suffer any dana ye from such, exposure?
When the first artesian wells were sunk in
this city it was said that the water from
them, if permitted to stand in an open yes
sci for several hours, become unfit for USE
This statement vas probably erroneous, but
would it not be advisable for the council to
satisfy itself on this point before deciding
to construct reservoir?
1t is admitted that the present water
works will not be sufficient very long to
supply the city with water new plant
must be obtlined. The recommendation of
the committee of couacil that plant.
having capacity of 100000 gallocs
day., be erected at the we'll now
flowing on the Springfield plantation,
appears to be wise one. A plant
of that capacity will be- nee lei event
ually, and it might be economically used
before it is actually needed, because the
cost Of forcing the water from the present
water works into the city is verygreat.
Whether or not a sUand-oipe should be
erected, as recommended by the COMMITTEES,
should depend upon whether it would cost
enough less to distribute the water in that
way to justify tbs expense, and whether
the stand-pipe method of distribution has
any great advantage over the present one.
There is no need for haste in the matter
of larger water works plant. Vita ad-
dltional wells the present plant will answer
for year or two longer. 1t is expected,
therefore, that the council will give the
question of larger water supply very
thorough consideration before taking any
decided acs ion upon it.