The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-22
-zsNEw WATER WORKS SCHEME.
What Consulting Engineer Douglas
Has to Say About II.
SAVANNAH, GA, July 20, 1891.

SEAS the matter of constructing q new
,rster works for the city is now uader consid-
ration by the city council, have deemed it
:, come within my province as your consulting
sngineer to make report upon the same.
The question need not be raised at any meet
tn of YOUR association as to the necessity or
4 instability Of an ample supply Of good, whole
r,re water, We are all agreed that it is one of
n ne prime factors in the health of the city, and
As such contributes largely to its business pros
i r4rity and growth.
n las been urged by MANY citizens that the
rre,ent water works, with some inexpensive
sl,erations, are ample not only for the present
rsauirements Of Inc city, but also for some
years to come. My own argument has been that
thewaste of water in the city should be checked.
and that such stringent regulations be passed
Is would reduce the daily supply per capita TO
liO gallons or less, and that BY this method the
maximum quantity pumped Into the city be re-
duced from total OF $500, coo gallons per day,
As at present, to 4 400 900 gallons per day-the
TaDulatiOn supplied being estimated at $4,000
il The one case, giving supply OF l5O gallons
nar head per day, and in the other case 100 gal
Ions per head per day If these wastes were
4 sr0pped instead of the city being short of
4 water we would have an available surplus of
over 10 o. 900 gallons per day.
II The postiOn taken by those who are respon-
sible for the management of the city water
,,orks is that while / may be correct in saying
tnat 100 gallons per head is ample If undue
wastes are stopped, the temper and disposition
~ the taxpaYers who really own the water
V-or[s and have to find the money to erect and
onerate them, is decidedly opposed to any strict
regulation of the supply. They insist practi-
ca1ly upon boundess supply of water to use
nr waste if they choose. There is much force
IN mis- statement, and it must be recognized
that aldermen are placed in position to carry
ont the wishes of the people and not to place
them under such regulations as they will pro-
test against That some economy in the use
Of water is absolutely necessary no one
Denies and that it is impossible to
IlNt1 RING ta
Of the population by means of the present ex-
istug arrangements, unless some restrictions
are made is quite evident. The population OF
the city increased 30 per cent in the last decade
and is expected to increase at a greater ratio in
t1e next decade. The present rate of growth
is estimated at from 1000 TO 5000 per annum,
andIn the year 1900 good judges estimate that the
CIV will contain population or at least 65 900.
With these views in my mind, asked per-
mission of Mr. Cam, chairman Of the water
works committee, TO investigate the present
works, and also to examine into the plans for
the new water WorRs. This he cheerfully &C
corded and asked Mr.. Manning, superintendent,
and Mr.. Johnson, consulting engineer, to give
ne every facility for SO doing, and beg here
10 state that they have been most kind and
LepIlll to me in everything that l asked them
10.
REPORT on THE PRESENT WATER WORKS.
There are two pumping engines at the water
Il vorks-one constructed to pump 5000, 900 gal
Ions per day, and the other to pump 800 600
cent to supply the city, and is held in reserve
in case of a breakdown of the larger pump, and
would in that event give only a partial supply.
The larger pump IS a low pressure pump, the
water ends having been enlarged to give addi-
tonal volume of water at lower pressures than
the pump originally built to furnish. 1t is
therefore, not of the strongest kind and more
liable to break down than a specially built high
pressure pump.
Inc water supply can be drawn either from
the ri er or from artesan wells, or from both
sources at the same time.
The artesian wells are laid out irregularly,
and are connect d directly with the pumps by
system Of cast iron main pipes, varying in
sic from Il inches to 30 inches DR.. No blame can
be attached 70 the present management for
any lack OF design IN the arrangement of the
wells. Mistakes have occurred, owing to q
lack OF knowledge natural 10 the development
o. an unknown and uutrie1 syst EN-.
There are four wells 10 inches diameter,
twenty wells 6inches diameter one well 4 inches
diameter, twenty five in ALL
These wells all flow above the level of the
ground II allowed to run, but | was unable to
ascertain their capacity under such conditions.
as to do this, pumping from them would have
10 ne suspended, anu arrangements put in to
guage the results
Tho delivery main into the city Is "a inches
diameter and about 10000 feet long. and the
pumping Is direct into the city mains tank
attachment in the city takes up the excess of
water when the pumps deliver more than the de-
mand, and compensates for any deficiency
WIEN uho uolnSuu exceeds 10 duty OF the
pumps.
Having thus roughly described the water
works VIII give few practical notes upon its
working conditions.
The pumps are set 25 feet above low water
mark. In pumping from the river there is an
average suction depth of % feet, which is too
much. They would give better service if placed
lower.
As the artesan wells naturally flow above the
ground line, expected to find the pumps work
Ing more easily when pumping from them than
when pumping from the river, but to my sur
prise found that was not the case When
made my examination the large pump was at
WORK and pumping approximately at the rate
OF LOO0OUO gallons per day, all of which
was drawn from the wells Ii was work
ing heavily and showing signs of considerable
thumped a good deal, due probably to the pres
ence Of gas, brought up along with the water,
rom the wells. A gauge upon the suction pipe
Imulcated vacuum of - inches of mercury.
Inc trouble was soon ascertained for upon dip
ping the wells they showed that the water was
9rawn down in the test tubes IL feet ~ inches
below the SURFACE Of the ground, and as the dis
cuaIge valves OF the pumps are feet above the
ground line. there was total depth of % feet of
suction, which, with some allowance for friction,
accounted for the 10 inches of mercury vacuum
lndicated. 1t was evident that unless some
caange was made in the arrangements that tha
pump was working to its full capacity.
Al Il mas been suggested frequently that all of
nus uithculty could be overcome by low
sllng the beds of the pumps cutting off the
"ellS below the general line and allowing them
70 now into conduit, and from thence to a
.alE below the pumps, from which the water
cglid be pumped after liberation of the gases.
ms however, is more serious and costly
matter than some might expect il to be. II
, t present requirements call for a suction of
% Ieet upon the wells then it would be neces-
vary TO cut off the wells at IS feet below the
sul4ace TO get the same quantity of water they
are now yielding, and if more water is wanted
,ueh 5he wells must be cut off deeper still 1t
would not be unreasonable to say that 20 feot
yelo" the ground line would be too deep and
Sne tank should be lower than it these
%es are 10 drain into it, or say
t9eV deep at the bottom. The pumps should
s s % placed more than 20 feet higher than the
Soy.Ui1 OF the tank or say 10 feet below the
Souuu Iine IL is needless to point out that
W., ,SS would De a heavy joe; l have not calculated
s sIe cosI' out say roughly that $4,000 would be
sMVueFate estimate. In making alterations of
6 Ss ana II would be unwise TO retain the 5000
tyoysaIion pump, and new pump would have
o2otoe put in its place with a capacity of saw
T TGigoooV gallons. The cost of this new pump,
eto az V41id steam power, would probably cost
So sO,GoU more. We would then have a pumping
ma. winch would be considerable improve
i N yer Tue present one; that is to saw
Inv "ou s De capable Of supplying 100000 gal
city could carry il - P4P0 W 'uo
-, Inc present 2-inch main is. however. taxed
wster I'e IuiI capacity. When examined the
st A'oI WORKS, the pressure guage on this numn
suo"ed between IS pounds and 46 pounds nres
beo, Ptg square inch, or equal to about 100 feet
tb III Vi wafer At the water tank in the citv
On ptessnre IS only 60 feet head-the loss being
dilferer. ten Ieet OF this is accounted for by
tha 1,ot ioe III the level OF the ground between
sac water works and the tank the other 90 feet
incraa,eo liIlctlon IN the main. ANY ATTEMPT to
cre s.as5 the flow of water in this pine will in
ratio thai amount Of the friction in greater