The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-30
THE CITY'SMUDDY WATER
sUPT. MANNING EXPLAINS Why IT
Is 80.


The Water Works Engines Unable to
I Draw from the Artesian Wells-A
Sufficient supply and River Water
Being Used-The Percentage Only 5
Per Cent.-A Freshet in the River
Accounts for It's Muddy Appearance
The River Water in Use Since
November.
There has been complaint for several days
about the appearance Of river water in the
hydrants. The water has the appearance
of that used before the introduction Of ar
tesian water.
Supt Manning Of the water works was
seen yesterday and was asked for an expla-
nation Of the introduction Of the river water
and the amount used.
"The reason" said he, "is that the con-
sumption Of water is increasing steadily and
the pumps cannot draw from the wells at a
long distance as much water as from those
near by. In other words the water cannot
be drawn from the same level The only
remedy for this would be the cutting down
of all the wells and the turning Of the water
into cistern from which the pumps could
draw their supply. This is what will be
pensive work to be undertaken at the pres
ent works in view OF the building of the
new works.
The amount Of river water used is only
about per cent, Supt. Manning says, and
this amount has been pumped since Nov. ).
The reason it is so noticeable now is a
freshet up the country filing the river with
mud.
sUPT. MANNING'S REPORT.
For further explanation Of the situation
Supt Manning referred to his annual re-
port, which was turned into the clerk of
council yesterday morning. The extract
relating TO the artesian wells is as follows:
with the addition Of the 24-inch we'll,
the quantity Of water secured was very ma
terially increased, and 1t was thought that
no more would be required for at least some
time But as the year advanced, and the
warm season set in, the demand for water
increased to such an extent that, although
the engines we're working up to their full
speed, they failed TO furnish a
satisfactory pressure in the city,
and many complaints were heard
from those who could not obtain a supply
Of water in the upper stories Of high build
ings. From observations and approximate
measurements it was evident that the en-
glnes were drawing more water from the
wells near the engine house than from those
ub a hAoNohNGs anu w hSGEALdlu Win CeT-
tainty an exact and actual survey and
measurement was made with instruments
on June Is and found a variation
IN elevation Of water in the different wells
In the main suction lines Of nine feet, that
is to say, No. l well, which is close by the
engine house, was pumped nine feet below
the level Of No. % WELL which is l, 900 feet
further away. This shows that with the
present arrangement Of the present system
additional Nvnlla vvould no Of 10
service, because it would be necessary to
locate them at still greater distance, and
the pumps would not draw the water from
them. The lack of water from the wells
caused the engines TO labor greatly and
pound badly, and was the principal cause
of the stop of the large engine in August for
repairs. This great labor and pounding of
the engine continued until Nov. 5, when,
tearing greater injury to the machinery,
as a last resort, the river water was turned
on, which gave some relief.
THE ONLY THING TO DO.
and" continues Supt Manning, ut Is
the only means. in my opinion, by which a
satisfactory supply Of water can be OBJ
tanned until the new works, now being con-
strucred, or part at least, can be put in
operation. The large engine on which the
supply depends will not work with any
reasonable degree OF safety without the aid
of river water"
The balance OF Supt. Manning's report
deals with the work done at the water
works during the year.
During the year 1884, $50 gallons of
water were pumped.
The fire hvdrants have been quite expen-
slve the past year on account of a large
number having been found in very bad con-
dltion. Thirty-two have been taken out and
replaced with new. Twenty-nine have been
added to the system on the line of extern
sion mains, making In all 4O7 fire hydrants.
There are now total Of 395S miles
l62 feet Of pipe of all sizes in the city. The
total cost of running the works during the
year was S4S, 1872 O..