Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-06
PURE WATER NOW.
Successful Operation Of
the New Plant.
The Realization Of Augustus
Hope Of Pure Water.
Machinery and Pipe Lines Completed and
Working Satisfactorily.

a representative of the Journal spent
u very profitable and interesting after
noon 1T the new pumping station of the
Augusta Water District at Lake Cob
bosscecontce, last week, and it would
be of equal interest and profit 10 every
citizen of Augusta if they could visit
the station and become intimately ac-
Quainted with the manner in which the
clear crystal waters Of the lake, and of
Carleton pond, are being supplied 10
the people Of this city.
Some months ago a complete descrip-
ton Of the pumping station building,
which was then nearing completion,
appeared in the Journal, but since that
time The pumping machinery has been
set up and in active and successful
operation for over a fortnight, the two
pipelines, one running from the lake
and one from the more distant Carleton
pond, have been completed. and Au-
gusta people have enjoyed the luxury
OF lake water in their homes since the
middle OF last month.
The water that is now being pumped
through the station comes from the
Lake Cobbosseccontee. and it passes
from the lakeside to the pumping APP
paratus through half-mile long main.
Connected with the lake supply main at
East Winthrop is the Carleton pond
branch of 20-inch pipe, and it is 21s
miles in length.
Carleton pond is 16S feet above the
ground level that is maintained at the
pumping station, and the water from
the POND viii be run by graVitatiOn to
the station, whence ii must rise 100
feet to be einptied into the Augusta
reservoir. While the water might
flow, with some degree Of success. OF
its own accord, it will be forced
through the mains by the two big
centrifugal pumps that are described
below. When the entire system is III
active operation it is proposed to pump
nothing but water from Carleton pond,
which, it is said. Will supply an ade-
quate amount Of watcr-to met the de-
mands of consumption. y great soiid
dam, composed principally of earth
and concrete, and one-thirG of mile
in lcngth, has been built at the pond to
increase the supply.
lii the pumping station there are two
large and we'll lighted rooms. In the
main room is installed the pumping
machinery. The floor, for the most
part is solid concrete, furnishing
safe and reliable foundation for the
machinery and the walls are of plain
brick and the ceiling is sheathcd in
ornamental stamped steel. The win
dows, Of which there are a great num-
Der. are very long, reaching from with
in two feet Of the floor to within three
feet of the ceiling. No artificial
illumination is required during the
daylight hours. but the entire building
is fitted with electric lights which fur
nish illumnative power at night.
Tho main section of machinery is the
Deane duplex compound pumping ell
CINE This is q very intricate piece Of
machinery and Of the latest improved
pattern. Ii is claimed that it is the
very finest to be obtained and from
the severe tests that it has been sub
jectcd to since being installed in the
pumping station. 1t would seem that
the claims are well founded. The en-
sine has a horsepower mark of $50
and is rated technically as a 5000, eco
gallon pump" When in normal and
usual operation, the pump makes 81
revolutions per minute. and with each
revolution. it forces 60 gallons of water
through the giant mains. During ono
hour, while the writer was present, the
pump made 204 revolutions and threw
a total of 124,440 gallons Of water. The
average capacity Of the pump. as opcr-
ateG AZ the present time is about .
100000 gallons per day, and the days
as counted at present. consist Of
twelve hours constant pumping.
In the other part Of this room are
located the two ccnt-ifueal-clcctrp
pumps that are mentioned above
These pumps, as rated, vary in capac-
ity. Pump No. | is rated as 1000
C00-gallon pump, and the capacity Of
pump Nc. is rated at 100000 gallons
These pumps are operated by cleo
tricity which is furnished by the Ken
nebec Light & Heat Co. of Augusta.
but as yet they have not been put in
operation. and they will not be in
service until the water supply ot
Carleton pond is released. The enci-
neer in charge is John GRAHAM of this
city. Mr. GRAHAM has experienced
long service with engineering machin-
cry, and he said that in all his expert
ence he had never been in charge Of a
set of pumps that worked as smoothly
and as well as do these just installed
The boiler room occupies the South
end Of the building. and as in the en-
CINE room, everything is neatly kept
and for the convenience of the rand
handling of water. The floor in this
room is solid concrete and the walls
are rough brick The boiler is 70
inches in diameter and 15O-horse-
power. and-was built specially for the
pumping station by the Portland Com
rany Of Portland. The standard nres-
sure " stear, maintained during ,ha
day is 100 pounds, and it is kept in this