Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-12-27
LACK OF WATER EXPLAlNEU
Water Committe Issues Statement Ex-
planning Causes of Sudden Fluctuation.

/
rising and falling of the water in the
comment, and when the supply gave out
entirely on Monday the situation began
to assume a serious phase, inasmuch as
the village was practically without pro-
lection in case of fire. Inquiry was at
once instituted by many citizens, but
little satisfaction could be gained. That
the condition of the system may be
known to all, the following statement Is
furnished the REGISTER by the water
committee:
"The mountain water was turned off
and the creek water turned into the
village mains last Sunday. The chair
man Of the water committee was COM
PEELED to take this step in order to pre-
vent damage to the reservoir. The
water has been drawn by 250 takers in
the village faster than it came from the
spring, the deficit being made good from
the reservoir. There was only about
100000 gallons remaining in it when the
water was turned off. Any further ex-
posure of the sides and bottom to the
freezing weather must have resulted In
injury. The reservoir has been drawn
down during the night as fast as, and
sometimes faster, than during the day.
This cannot be accounted for by any
legitimate use of the water. On no day
since the spring water was turned on
has there been less than 100000 gallons
used by the village, and some days the
quantity reached 100000 gallons. This
does not include the days when the
mains were being flushed at the hy-
drants.
If these figures fail to convey a clear
idea of the quantity Of water used we
can give them in a different form. A
kerosene barrel holds about 80 gallons.
1t is % inches across. 100000 gallons
would fill 5000 of such barrels and these,
if stood up side by side, would form a
line Il, 800 feet or 2s miles long. This
is the average quantity of water used by
this village each "a hours since the
mountain water was turned on.
There have been fears on the part of
some that the spring water either has
not reached the village or has leaked
through the reservoir. The measure
ments taken at s 80 a. m. last Monday
after the water had been shut of showed
1913, 900 gallons more In the reservoir
than at 4 :35 the preceding afternoon.
Water was coming in to the reservoir at
the rate of almost 100000 gallons per
day. 1t has come to the village and has
passed into the sewers. A moments
consideration will show that such a
quantity could not have been used in
any Legitimate manner. This village has
a population of only 1897. A daily sup
ply of from $4,000 to 10000 rgallons
would be liberal for all reasonable use.
AS stated in the report of the water COM
mlttee on Oct. 20, 1900, the statistics of
cities showed an average daily consump-
ton Of "A gallons per person. Mr.. j. T..
Tanning, one of the highest authorities in
the country on water supply, states that
the average daily varies from
about 40 gallons per person for towns of
10000 inhabitants to about 100 gallons
per person for cities of $4,000 population
or over, the increased consumption COM
ing from the diversity of purposes to
which the water is put as the population
Increases. The town of Winchendon,
Mass, with population of 1900 used in
1897 an average of $4,000 gallons daily.
Wellesly, Mass, population 1920, used
in 1899 an average of PIP, 200 gallons
daily, and in 1900 an average of 240, 900
gallons daily. Webster, Mass, popula-
laton 1900, used in 1895 an average of
] rs ho
seen by these figures that the use of
from 240, 900 to 100000 gallons daily by
this village of less than 1900 inhabitants
and having only about $50 takers of the
water is not reasonable.
The Lathrop spring has never measur-
ed as low as 100000 gallons per day. 1t
alone should give us an abundant supply
and surplus to go to the reservoir with
out having to call upon the brook for
additional water.
The great waste comes from leaving
taps open day and night, either for con-
venlence or to prevent freezing, and
from leaks at taps or in water closets
These wastes can and should be prevent
ed. No faucet should be allowed to run
constantly and all leaks should be
stopped.
The work on the intake at the brook
is being pushed as rapidly as possible
1t is hoped that within a few days q
temporary arrangement can be made
whereby the brook water also can bt
turned into the pipe line. This will give
US the full capacity of the pipe, AGO, O,OO(
gallons per daV. As soon as this Is done
the mountain Iwater will be turned OF
again. But this abundant supply ough
not to be an encouragement to wastefu
use, and the water takers should feel thu
responsibility resting upon them to make
proper use of this system which the vii
lage has constructed at such labor ant
expense"