Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-28
THE WATER QUESTION AGAIN.
superintendent Boiling Says Something
1Iust BE Done-Committee'sA Action.

Must BE DOne-Committee' Action.
The Council Committee on Water has again
grappled with that question which has so per-
picked and puzzled the city fathers for the past
year or so-lhe inadequacy OF the supply. At q
meeting OF this body held in the Councli-C ham
Der last night, Superintendent Boiling submit
ted a report, which unanimously recon-
mended 90 the Council for some action which
would give relief 10 the situation. TLis paper
vety fully, yet tersely, sets forth the condition OF
affairs as follows:
III ia my duty to bring TO the attention Of the
Committee on Water the Importance OF increas-
ing our pumping capacity. Tho necessity Tor an
early addition has been most plainly exposed 10
the past two months, when day after day our en-
tire machinery has been worked to its fullest ca
pacity 10 meet the demand, and had any i'm
portaut part OF II broken IL would have required
40 long 90 four days TO restore IL and there would
have been a scarcity of water In the city
THE WATER VERY Low.
lowing 20 low water In the river during the past
two months We could only get from the old pump
house from 100000 To 3,OOO,OOO gallons per
day-this amount being insufficient 10 MI tue
Marshall reseryoir-and We had 70 draw from
the New reservoir adding 10 the work of the
new pumps. already overburdened, ana there
fore had constantly to run the steam pumps
81 find by actual measurement OF water de-
Nyered by our new pumps a shortage OF about
% per cent. of their original capacity making
the present delivery only about 9,OuO.OOu gal-
Ions a day. The steam pump Win an original
capacity OF 100000 gallons. Will now deliver
about 1000. 900. so in summer, with the river
too low 10 run all our old pumps, the total daty
capacity was 100000 gallons From actual
measurement OF the Wator drawn from the
reservoirs the daily consumption has been as
great As 100000 gallons. so In the event OF
any serious accident our water supply would
have been in danger.
TIE sUPERISTESDEST's RECOMMENDATIONS
81 would recommend that steps be taken at
| once To Increase our machinery by constructing
additional pumping facilities OF 2O,9OO,OOO
| gallons capacltv. In deepening and widening
| the caua, from the Tnree-Mie lock 10 bOsher
| dam provision was made TO bring down more
water than was then needed ana am confident
| that this addition can be made at the New
Pump House with our present excess OF power
| IL win take from twelve 20 eighteen months 10
| construct such plant and lay pump-maln 10
| the New Reservoir 50 II win be- seen that there
Is no time 10 lose. considering the rapid increase
| OF consumption
SUPERINTENDENT Boiling here recommends
| 4S-ipch main from the reservoir 10 the city IN
! order to supply The demand and stop the COM
| plants mat are now being heard on ali slnes.
lie refers 20 his previous recommendation OF inc
| Introduction OF a metre system and concludes ny
| saying:
SOMETHING MUST EK DONE.
"There is one thing very plain-somethlng
must be done or we viii be reduced 10 tue Same
| straits In which we we're In 1881. would also
| state tnat the constant working OF tho Steani-
| pump, averaging about fifteen days a month";
| viii entail increased cost Of pumping as we WnI
have 20 expend about $500 month Tor coal