Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-20

Pumping Machinery, %2.121
Stand Pine. SO9S
So52, ST.
On the plant since built there has
been Il total depreciation OF s3O,435.
making the present value S222. i3I. AL
lowed 81 per yard for rock excavation.
Called the MIGRANTS $33.43 each set. In
estimating depreciation we take the .;fe
of each part. Thus we have called the
life of the reservoir 100 years. that of
cast iron pipe IS years. that of wrought
iron pipe 25 years, that of pumping
machinery 40 years, that of MIGRANTS so
years, etc. We call life of whole plant
So years. The actual physical life is
longer than the useful life. The pipe
here is in good condition. as good as
could be expected. We call annual per-
centage of depreciation on first cost
$40 of / per cent, This makes annual
depreciation $1.517. or that sum should
have been set aside each year at So
per cent. compounded semi-annually to
replace plant. This applies to future rs
well as past of plant. Regard water
here as wholly unfit for use. Its pol
luton from sewerage makes it unfit.
Slow sand filtration would be better
here than mechanical filtration. Would
locate such plant near present reser-
voir."
Mr.. Gray resumed the stand at the
opening of the afternoon session and
continued his testimony as to a Ultra
ton plant for Augusta. ITO filter the
water required for this city l should
recommend two slow sand filter beds
of one half acre each, beyond the pres
cnt storage reservoir. Above them
would be IL settling basin to which the
water would be pumped from present
pumping station. From this it would
flow by gravity to filter beds and thence
by gravity to the big reservoir. The
filter beds should be below ground and
should be covered to prevent freezing.
Estimate total cost of filter plant at
$g5,2S9. This includes cost of chang
ing -pires The annual cost of opera
ton, exclusive of taxes and interest.
is estimated at s3411. The settling bal
sin is matter of economy, as the
pumps here can run only II hours daily.
and without such a basin the filter beds
would have to be larger. In considering
matter Of depreciation, have set life
of filtration plant at 40 years. Such
n plant properly managed, ought to re-
move IS to 9S per cent. of all bacteria
in water.
Have made an estimate of erecting
a steam pumping station here, in case
water could not be pumped by water
power at Kcnnebec dam. If there was
back water here on dam for any con-
siderable period the supply Of water in
reservoir would not be enough. If a
fire should destroy present station.
there would be the same shortage
There should DC an auxiliary steam
pumping station here. Such plant would
cost so512 at a fair estimate. Only
need he used when present station is
DESTROYED or nut out of operation by
high water. The hydrants here should
all be drained To put in such drain
age would cost about s. per hydrant."
ON cross-cXamination: storage
basin above filter beds would have ca
pacjtv of 100000 gallons. Even if
there has been no mishap here for IS
wears would not feel sure that there
would not be any in the future. Would
put in duplicate pumping system, 10
c,1ard against fire. back water or going
1WdN Ot dam. SutIl Il hllcT pant DIS L
have described. properly managed.
would make the river water reasonably
safe to drink. Perhaps not perfectly
safe. but safe enough to use for do
nestic purposes. Might not remove all
tvnhoid germs. Would not expect il to
remove % per cent. of all bacteria at
all times. Other methods may come in /
use within few years to change abso-
mtely present filtration methods. The
nh vsicaI life of storage basin at filter
wo;,ld probably much exceed it's use
f,,l life. Nobody knows how long cast
iron nine will last. The water and soil
here are favorable to life of pipe. Have
seen uncoated pipe unimpaired at end
of Gu wears. Consider the reservoir here
y 9 nerfectlv sound. 1t grows more solid
with nassing Of time. Have noticed
that water revenue generally increases
faster than population. Have not TAX
on into account any increase in reve-
nue. in calculating depreciation of
plant"
p.,;ierct-'iWould not consider water
taken from river here and filtered as
safe as unfiltered water from Weber !
pond" .s-,i: