Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-01-04
TIE WATER COMMISSIONERS
Annual Report OF Chief, Engi-
neer Joseph A. Bond.
IT CONTAINS INTERESTING ITEMS
The Surplus, $4,000, Given
to City Council.
Over Two Billion Gallons Of water Pumped
from the Brnndywine During 1s00-Many
Thousand Feet OF Water Pipe Laid-A
Snug Balances nc the Beginning OF 1900.


Chief Engineer Joseph A. Bond pre-
sented his annual report to the Water
Commission ut its meeting Tuesday.
In the report is the following in
formations:
Number Of gallous Of water pumped
from Brandywine creek, 2,439, 499, $50,
an increase OF 273. 829. 800 gallons over
1898; meter consumption 1, 033, PAS, 600
gallons, which is AZ. 80 per cent of the
entire pumpage, and an increase of
226, l23, 900 gallons over 1888; water
pumped to high service reservoir,
1898 of 80, 020, 1893 gallons.
The Rodney street tower service,
which was increased by the addition
OF that section OF the city known as
the Highlands, was Z, 800, 28l gallons,
consumption of 1865 gallons per capita
day for the 800 persons supplied
therefrom; Elliott avenue tower service,
A, 234, 800 gallons, an average consump-
tion of 2l.5 gallons per capita day
for the Sal persons supplied; 30, 465, 800
gallons Of water were used In washing
the filter beds, which is less than /. 5
per cent of the water pumped. The
total average per capita consumption
was SOL gallons; deducting the con-
sumption through meters from the
total, the difference would Indicate the
domestic consumption, including fire
service, to be Ola gallons per capita
daily. At both pumping stations the
machinery is in good condition and
was run during the year with very
little repairs.
There were laid during the year in
| the high service Is, 976 feet of pipe,
and 10 the low service IA, 435 feet, or
5.38 miles |; 9,5S1 feet of small pipe was
replaced, leaving the net increase In
the distribution IS, $50 feet, and the
total pipage Of the city 1905 miles. To
the system 1853 gates were added and
46 fire MIGRANTS set, II Of them to re-
place old ones. The number of fire
hydrants now belonging to the city is
| TAI. There were 4S7 new services run
from mains 10 curb, and 1853 recon-
nected where remoyedAin the laying of
new mains.
Rodney street reservoir was cleaned
| and the coping around the top was
taken up and reset, in cement mortar,
and cracks in the lining repaired. The
north basin of Cool Spring reservoir
was cleaned and the division wall was
repaired where needed The other
branch of the suction pipe for the
pumps at the station was carried down
into the reservoir, having been left
until the basin was eriptied for clean
ing. The iron fence around the reser-
| voir was painted with two coats of rub
Der paint, and the fence adjoining the
tstcrehouse was painted with graphite,
| to test their comparative durability.
One hundred and ninety six meters
were placed, making 623 now in use,
o gain of 10. Leaks are discovered BY
meters, and better plumbing is the rule.
| About 80 per cent Of the revenue of
the department is obtained from meter
service, and mere than 40 per cent of
the total consumption passes through
meters.
Buildings and parks are in good con-
ditiun. Improvements that have been
made are concrete pavement at Cool
Spring Park, concrete walls, bridge
over the spillway, new arch at Sixteenth
and Market streets. Sixteenth street
between Market aud and French opened
to the full width, with an iron fence
on the north side, building of water
tower in Rockford Park.