Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-10
DOUBLES IN EIGHT YEARS.
Another Phase of the Water Question That Needs Serious Consideration-The Needs of the Future.
NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER ONE.
 In the report of the board of water commissioners of this city for the year 1890, we find the following: "In 1874 water was furnished to about 1000 per sons with receipts of $16,000; in 1882, eight years thereafter, to about 5000 persons, with receipts of $34 ,0O0; in 1890, eight years later, to over 27,000 persons, with receipts of $63, ,00O, show ing that the consumption has been about doubled in every eight years" In the same report it was stated that "the daily consumption of water is now QS90) about 2,000, ,000 gallons" At the same proportion of increase of con- sumption the city will require in 1898, five years from next January, about 4,O00, ,00O gallons for daily consumption.
 Let us see how far Hop brook and Quassapaug pond will go towards meet ing the demands of the city in 1898. The flow of Hop brook is estimated at 1, FOG, ,000 gallons daily, and according to Mir Hering's report the daily overflow from Quassapaug pond by measurement was:
 From November to 10 Qs91) 4o, 1000 gal From " II to 20 |" 45 1000 '' From |" 21 to Dec " 51,OOO
 He adds: "The flow from Quassapaug pond was mainly leakage and, there fore, not true measure." If there was no overflow from Quassapaug pond but what was mainly leakage through the closed sluice gate, during the month of November up to the fourth of Decem- Der, and at It's highest flow during that time it was 949,0 ,000 gallons less than 1 ,000, ,000, what would be it's flow in the dry months, June, July, August and September? It can be proved by ocular observation that there is no over
 flow at certain times during the sum- mer time. Yet 100000 gallons daily are claimed as Quassapaugs capacity. But even allowing 100000 gallons daily from Quassapaug and add It to the 1,7OO,O 900 gallons flow of Hop brook, what would we have but 2,700,000 gal Ions from both combined. Is this reasonable amount of water to supple ment our present supply of 1000, ,0OO to meet consumption of 4,0O0,O ,OOO in 1898? The flow of the whole three sources combined would fall short of the city's wants in 1898 by three hun dred thousand gallons. Whither then shall the city turn to get more water?
 Some one may say to Bantam lake Tn Litchfield. Do we not all know that the free use of Bantam lake to the large number of people who resort there every summer for boating, fishing and picnic parties is absolutely essential to the prosperity of that town? Would Litch- field surrender one of her great attrac- tions, on which in great measure de- bends her prosperity? Who could esti- mate the damages that could be claimed for the loss of prospective gain to the town on account of the free use of that lake to visitors, and the damages that would be claimed by the hotel and r6I oI0T7~ banks? Furthermore, would there not be vigorous opposition by those who have water privileges along the Hol sa- tonic against diverting the water of this feeder from that river. Besides, it is said that this lake foams and purges at times in the summer season, so that its waters become quite muddy. Furthermore, what an amount of pipe to be renewed every twenty years or so would be required, what land damages for right of way, etc, and so far there is no mention of what would be the cost of the supply. Who would lay out half ] million dollars on Quassapaug and Hop brook for 2,700,000 gallons of water with the view of taking in Bantam lake afterwards, until they would first find out whether Bantam lake could be got, and at what expense, ,and what may be the quality and quantity of the water? Before speaking of Bantam lake we showed from the statistics of the board of water commissioners that in every eight years since 1874 the consumption of water in thls city has about doubled, and that in the same proportion we may assume that as the daily consump- tion in 1890 was 2,000, ,000 gallons, so in 1898 it will be 4,000,000, and conse- quently five years from next January the inflow from the combined reservoirs of Quassapaug and Hop brook would be daily 300,0O0 gallons short of the out flow required for the city's wants, and the deficiency would increase daily in proportion to the daily increase in con sumption.
 We shall now proceed to other proofs taken from what our population l may be in 1898 and from the quantity of water consumed in some of our | neighboring cities when their popula- tion was about what ours will be in | 1898.
 Mir Herring estimates from the con- stant and normal growth of the town of Waterbury since 1S40 and from a close comparison with other cities, that our population in 1900 will be 49,000. It is probable that before that time our SimonsviIle and Waterville. Hartford, with population of ,O00 in 1890, con stunned 5,OOO,OOO gallons daily. Bridge port, with population of 45,O0O, con stunned 5000 000 gallons daily. New Ha- | ven, with a population of S0,OOO, con- stunned 9,OOO,OO0 gallons daily. Since Bridgeport, with g population of 45,- GOO, consumed 5,000,000 gallons daily and Hartford, with population of 4S,- 900, consumed the same amount, may we not even assume that in 1898, when | our population will be approaching 49, ,- GOO, that this city too will consume 5,0O0,OO0 gallons daily? Four millions ] gallons daily consumption, which would correspond with the increase every eight years, shown by the statistics of the board of water commissioners, would be rather under than over what we would require in 1898.
 l MT Herring estimates that our popula- ton in 1910 will be 73,OOO, and in 1920. 104 ,0O0. If we take New Haven, Hart ford and Bridgeport as a basis of com- parison, our consumption in 1910, seven teen years from next January, with estimated population of 73,000, will be