The morning times., 1896-10-07
IMPURE SHALLOW WELLS
Supt. H. F. Hayden Says Nearly
All Are Con animated.
FROM SURFACE, DRAINAGE
Showing Made by the Water Depart
ment for Past Fiscal Year-District
Facilities for Supplying Residents
Potomac Fluid-Success of the Deep
Well Experiment. .s.r.t4fI.

MIR. II +. Hayden, Superintendent of the
water department, whose report for the
past year isin the hands of the engineer de-
partmcnt, makes special mention of the
present facilities of tie District for supply
ing its residents With water
Superintendent Hayden says, among other
things, that the present system OF pumping
directly into the distribution mains and de-
pending entirely upon the speed of the
pumping engines for maintaining the ncces>
sary pressure ut the various points is at
tended with considerable difficulty, owing
TO frequent fluctuations OF pressure, cs-
pccially when there are heavy drafts upon
the mains.
There are in the District j ,75T fire
hydrants in service. 1t is very difficult,
MIR. Hayden says, 10 keep these hydrants
at all times In good condition for service,
as they are almost constantly used by con-
tractors, railway corporations and by scy-
cral divisions of tie District government.
THE PUBLIC HYDRANTs.
There are also in use 32s public hydrants.
Which are maintained for the use OF such
of The residents asare not able to pay water
rent, and Who are wholly dependent upon
the public hydrant service for a supply OF
water.
The District also maintained seventy-one
drinking fountains for animals. Four new
fountains, donated by the Humane Society,
We're erected during the year. .-
Supt. Hayden says that, from chemical
and niscroscupcal examinations made, ii
s apparent that but few shallow wells are
wholly free from impurities. He is of
opinion that nearly all of the public
shallow wells Will have to he closed and
abandoned in the near future.
The two deep wells driven for cx-
periDientalpurposcsdur the year s95 on
Br ght wood avenue, south of Military
road, aud at the corner of Sixth and Il
streets southwest. have given an abundant
supply of clear, cool, wholesome water.
The appropriation of So 800, now avail
able for continuing the work OF sink
ing deep wells and I'ning them with iron
tubing 10 effectua!ly prevent contaniina-
ton OF the water 10y surface drainage, Will,
he says, aisplaCe Il number of objection
able shallow wells. Mr.. Hayden rcConi-
ulends that an item OF $1,000 be in
cluled i'll the estimates FOR 1899 for
public pumps aud wells. and for con
tinuing the work of sinking deep wells, AMI
the purchase aud repair or deep well
pumps.
- HELD IN RESERVE
Speaking of the general facilities for
water supply, Mr.. Hayden says the George
town station has been held in readiness
for emergencies, and was in operation only
for a short time during the latter part OF
October and first Of November, / S95. He
says this station should be held in reservc
until the pumping capacity Df the u street
station is great enough for any tnie r9rhcy!
The triple expansion pumping engine,
rated as having a capacity OF 5000 900
| gallons daily, Mr.. Hayden says. has proved
to be satisfactory, bgth us To production
and cost Of operation. The pumps de-
livered on a test daily average OF 5,0b3,.
9l5 gallons OF water with an average
daily consumption ofHl i,95T pounds of
coal. exceeding the cont ract requirement.
The GaskiH engines at the q street
| pumping station, he says, have not been
| thoroughly overhauled in three years, and
| are very much out ofsrepair. 1t will be
| necessary to continue the iNordberg engine
| on the middle high service until the new
| 5000 900 gallon Barr triple expansion
| engine, recently contracted for, can De
erected To take the place or the east Gas
| kill engine.
The Barr engine was designed especially
| to meet the present and future tIema ntis
| for the extension ofthe middle high service
and it's expected that the new plant
| will be completed and ready for operation
| by November 3 OF the present year.