Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-24
WATER SUPPLIES IN VERMONT.

Of tho very best possible investments
a community can make is the provis-
ion OF an abundant supply OF water.
This Is the first requirement, for fire
water IL put outside Of domestic pur-
poses, do not stop to inquire what
kind of water Is afforded.
When the domestic domain is reach
cd, then 1t is necessary to insist not
only that the supply shall be sufficient
but also that It shall he Of n quality
that Ia not injurious TO health With
and purity assured, n water
supply fulfls all practical require
ments. Fire. pcstilence and drouth
nave recently demonstrated these re-
in different Vermont COM
munitics.
The city Of Rutland IS Just now
passing through an experience which
serves in n peculiar manneh to en-
phaslze the need Of an abundance Of
pure waiter for n city. Feeling That
the requirements named were not met
in r.,tlard t5e authoritjes Of TINT civ
recently made arrangements with
George c. Whipplc. committing; en-
eineor or New York. to make a thor
ough investigation Of the plave's wa
tor supply ana to submit rccommcnda-
tons r.gardinr the best way 10 In
crease tho supply and safeguard both
The supplv and tho quality. THIS en-
ginecr has tust submitted MS report.
and his opinions have interest for
every communitv having water prob
lem Of IT'S own.
The oriGina! supply az water for the
village ~ Rutland was taken from
Gleason hrool; which drains tho
northerly slope Of East Mountain. The
watershed was entirely uninnabited
and tn" n-ator was of excellent quality.
Part ot tho water for Rutland IS still
Obtained from that source.
Thirty years ago twelve-inch pipe
was laid - an arbitration gallery from
East creek at the junc'ure OF The
Chittenden stream and Mendon brook
lnhitrauon did not yield sufficient
supply and direct connection was
made with the creek. subsequently,
canal was constructed to convey the
waite OF Mendon brook ~ two small
reservoirs owing to the fact that th'
water was better IMAM thet IN emit
tenden stream.
age area of Mendon brook Ia abou
1G.o square miles, including the south
ern slope OF Blue mountain, the west
erly slope OF Pico and the northeriN
slope OF East mountain. In the sprinl
the stream becomes torrcntial, wni''
during the summer 'he stream Is cor
respondingly low
Tho engineer mas that IN" water o
Mendon brook mas most o' tho re
quisite qualities or an excellen' pun
lie supply the sanitary CONDITION be
Ing comparatively satisfactory; al
though there are number Of house,
near the stream and under certain
conditions there might be contamina
ton, particularly II case OF typhoi'
fever should develop IN ono OF til
| houses. During 1907. however. Their
were no deaths from typhoid IN Rut
land.
| The report states that although
these waters do not stand in immedi
ate need of fltration ct tho time /
coming when tho filtration Of sue
supplies will be universal Hence. an
further developments should be so ar
ranged that filtration can be intro
duced without undue expense or diff
Guilty.
No water is sold by meter In Eut
land. and the engineer believes thi
expedient might reduce the consumI
ton so per cent. As It Is the rcpoi
says tho city is not well provide
with water from the standpoint Of iii
protection. the engineer therefore +,
commends that the city provide for
supply OF water from Cold river, fl
largest available watershed fro
which a good water supply can be oil
stream drains the western slope
Pico Killington and shrewsbury an