The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-06
WILL INSPECT
SETTLING BASIN
Council Committee on Water and
City Officials Visit Big Plant
This Morning.
TOTAL COST HALF MILLION
Has Capacity of Many Million
Gallons and VIII Furnish Clear
Water in Abundance.

Tho Council Committee on Water. su-
perintendent Charles Z Boiling. OF the
water department: Mayor Carlton Nc
Carthy. and others, will leave this morn
ing at 1910 for the settling basin. about
four miles above the city. for the pUr-
pose OF inspecting the practically com
pleted clear water plant and the great
fumo which Is to convey tho water from
the basins TO tho New Pump House
almost a mile below.
The visit Of the committee and off,
Gals will be IN the nature OF an inspec-
ton OF the work and practically a for
mai acceptance. II has been about four
years since this gigantic plan Of supply
ing an abundance OF pure. clear water
TO the city was first seriously undertaken
and II is now promised that in a few
months tho flurno will DO completed and
the citizens viii be enjoying clear water
When completed tho entire plant and
connecting fune, including cost OF site,
viii have reached about $4,000. or. ac-
cording to figures now available. S448.Oo
or this sum. 5000 was paid for tho
site; $4,000 for construction and 81 Oh
additional general expense. while tho cost
or the nume or conduit 70 convey tic
water to the pumping plant is $500.
Tho site OF tho basin IS alongside OF tho
James River. beginning at n point just
north OF the Belt Line bridge. and ex-
tho Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad on the
other for distance OF nearly a mile.
Many Million Gallons.
Tho clear water plant consists n two
enormous settling basins OF $4,000 gal
Ions capacity each and two coaa-lIatinr
basins OF Is 10000 gallons canacitv each
making the total capacity % the two
settling basins 17ooooOo and Of tho two
CoaEulatinE basins 90 90 0po gallons AMI
q Two r1fo rlss
Tho maximum daily consumption OF
water IS nearly 1000 po0 gallons. so that
the capacity Of ono OF the two smaller
basins Us practically required 70 SUPPLY
the city for one day. The double basins
enable one TO be kept constantly I'm re-
serve. and either one viii supply the
city for about six DAYS and both for two
weeks In times OF long continued muddy
water IN the river a supply Of water can
be stored until the river clears Both nat
ural and scientific means OF cIarif,-ir.-
{ tho water viii he used and tests made
by the department establish ia advar ca
satisfactory results from the Investment
The location OF tho basins protects tr.
city against the drainage from eriburho-,
sections, an ~ this from the neighboriui-
nils going into the canal which separates
the basins from the mainland while the
, water 20 he clarified Is received tb~o,. -,
a great sluice AT tina western end Of the
plant directly from Tire river
The basins are built IN tho most sub
stantal manner Of massive concrete and
Fr"noithic walls and bottom and can Do
thoroughly cleansed OF am deposited sodi-
INT or mud from time 10 time. as tha
needs require. The entire plan is built
upon most approved ideas. and cornbin az
every feature Of q modern clarifying and
purifying plant
The committee Will also inspect tic
work on the gigantic fluue which viii
convey the water 10 ttHe pumps This
is great concrete conduit or aqueduot
circular IN form. about five feet I'm dia-
meter. and practically one mile long II
is expected that work thereon win he
competed in about three or -FOUR months
Great delay has been caused in this work
hy reason Of the scarcity az labor aud
Tie ravages wrought by floods in tie
river.