The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-05-30
CLOVER CREEK WATER PUMPED
INTO MAINS WHILE THE SOUTH
TACOMA WELLS ARE SHUT DOWN

The question OF water supply for
Tacoma is becoming serious one. Since
the season Of lawn sprinkling commenced,
residents Of the hill districts have been
short Of water during the latter part Of
the day. In some homes the water sup
ply has been 50 scant that there has
been scarcely enough for domestic purposes
and lawn sprinklng has been out Of the
question altogether. The dry season has
just commenced and each week the de
mand for water increases aud the situation
grows more serious.
The trouble seems TO he at pumping sta.
tons A and b which are unable TO force
sufficient water TO the hill reservoirs dur
ing the day TO maintain the pressure when
the lawn sprinklers are put ON. short
time ago it was discovered at pumping
station 3 that one Of the valves had be
come clogged aud for several days before
the difficulty was discovered the pumps
were forcing air into the mains instead Of
water. At this time last year pumping
station \ was run only part OF the time.
and yet sufficient supply was main.
tanned. Why il cannot be done now with
both pumps being worked to their full
capacity is a problem that puzzles the city
oineials
Besides the scarcity Of water on the
hill. residents all over the city arc com
planning OF the unusual amount OF dirt in
the water lately. What this is or where
1t comes from nobody seems to know.
II was supposed that when the new
wells at South Tacoma were ready for use
the supply from Glover creek would be
shut off That is not the case however.
Water from the wells is turned into the
Glover creek Hume, and when the supply
Is greater than the pumping stations can
take care of the South Tacoma pumps are
shut down and the Clover creek water Is
pumped through the mains as formerly.
80 far rs poviding a supply of pure wa
ter IS concerned, the new wells have not
been Of much value TO the city. under the
present method OF operating.
Investigation shows that. no matter how
adequate the new wells might be to supply
the water, there is no means of cutting
Oh the Clover creek supply If il was kept
form entering the hume at the filter plant
the water would flood number of farms
ia the neighborhood and the city would
be up against a proposition of paying
heavy damages. Consequently, when the
water from the two sources OF supply
Clover creek and the new wells, becomes
toe great for the pumping stations to han.
die, the pure water supply from the wells
is cut off aud the full volume of the
Clover creek water is used.
During the past week force OF men
has been at work cleaning out Clover
creek near its source The channel is be-
ing deepened and several swamps near
the head Of the creek are being cleaned
out This viii improve matters somewhat
as far as the source of Glover creek is
concerned, but does not in the least i'm
prove conditions that exist along the creek
between the springs and the city Aume.
The creek runs through several miles OF
land that is used for pasture. Cattle and
horses walk up and down in the creek al
AL hours Of the day. A number OF flocks
Of ducks aud geese frequently dsport
themselves on its Shiny surface, and the