Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-07-20
BETTER WATER
PRESSURE HERE
Standpipe at Runyon May be
Increased in Height
Water Board Plans.
TEN POUNDS TO FORCE
Utilities Commission Wants
Consumers Told How to Read
Meters--C0aI Matter.

Steps to enlarge the stand pipe be-
tween this city and RunyOn and thus
increase the water pressure through
the city were taken by the Board of
Water Commissi last night. As
the present contract with c. NJ. Pc
terson & Company for supplying coal
at the Rpnyon pumping station has
expired action was taken to adver-
tise for bids for 1900 tons for the
next twelve months. The board also
took action to have instructions and
diagrams printed on water bills to
enable consumers to read water me-
ters. This is in accordance with a
state law now being enforced by the
Board of Public Utilities.
Ten Pounds More Pressure.
The matter of increasing the ca
pacity of the stand pipe, which is To-
Gated about six miles from this city,
between here and Runyon, was dis
cussed and a motion passed instruct
ing Engineer Samuel j. Mason to
look into the question. The commits
sioners seem unanimous in the opin-
ion that the stand pipe should be
raised twenty feet, thus giving the
city about ten more pounds Of pres
sure, but they are undetermined as
to whether It would be better to add
twenty feet to the top Of the pipe and
reinforce the bottom or raise the
present pipe and make the addition
on the bottom. With the pipe thus
enlarged, Engineer Mason says the
pressure will be increased approx
mately ten pounds and every part OF
the city should receive good pres
sure under all conditions, except per-
haps, in extreme hot spells when the
consumption was unusually great.
The very hot spell of the past two
weeks has caused a draught on the
city's water system such as 1t has
seldom, if ever, before experienced.
AS a result the high parts on Ar
nold's and the hospital hill were
without water during parts of the
day when the consumption was great
est. During those hot days, Engi-
neer Mason stated the engines show
ed that approximately 9,00O,UU0 gal
Ions of water were used daily in thi;
city. The normal draught appears
to be about 100000 gallons every
twenty-four hours.
missioners, Mr.. Mason said the stand
pipe could be eliminated d a.-,t. Pre- eg
sure put direct from The engines intt
the mains, but this he deemed mad
yisable, as weak portions might be
burSted. He SUHUeu Uue sUdHu pIpe
acted as a safety valve for the sys-
tenn and also as a small storage place
for water The present stand pipe
tot nh tyTi OF ~ q
days supply when full. The stand
pipe, Mr.. Mason explained, is used
to hold the back pressure of water
from the city; in other words, 1t con
tinually holds the surplus and with
its increased size the water pressure
will be good when the consumption
Is not over great and the water is
forced to high level IN 1t.
Coal Not Up To Standard.
The subject of coal supply for the
Runyon pumping station for the next
twelve months caused considerable
discussion, owing to the fact that
the coal recently received there has
not been up to the standard. The
commissioners are endeavoring tC
secure a good and uniformly high
grade coal. They will advertise fol
5000 tons at the next meeting. The
matter of preparing specifications
and advertising for bids was left tc
the committee on power with power
In an effort to secure a good grade
of coal, 1t is likely the committee will
ask for a specific kind from certain
mine or a certain district of mines
The coal now used is known as rice
coal and Is supposed TO come from
the Wyoming district
Tell How To Read Meters.
Following the reading of a print
ed communication from the Board OF
Public Utilities on the matter of fur
nishing meter reading instructions on
water bills, the commissioners in
structed the clerk to write to the
utility board for suggestions.
A number of bills were ordered
paid at the meeting and acquisitions
for supplies at Runyon, including
some minor duplicate parts of the
new Wisconsin pump, were referred
to the committee on power.