East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-03-20
ENGINEERS REPORT ON WATER
SUPPLY SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL

the flow which was found to be about
100000 gallons per day. The city
secured the land from the Indians and
recently put in pipe line and sys-
tenn of drains for collecting the water
and delivering it at the head of the
proposed main pipe line to the city.
After the pipes were laid and during
the coolest weather last winter when
! the ground was frozen and no surface
water flowing into the drains the flow
was over 100000 gallons per day.
The other proposed sources of sup
ply investigated were Cayuse Springs,
Mckay creek and the Umatilla river
at Pendleton. Cayuse springs are To-
Gated near the Umailla river on the
north side of the Oregon Washington
railroad track about nine miles east
of Pendleton. The combined flow of
the springs measured in November,
1908 was $500 900 gallons per day.
The elevation at the point where the
springs were measured was 1909 feet
which is fourteen feet below the pro-
posed distributing reservoir in the
city. These springs are not high
enough to deliver the water at prop
er elevation in the city and they are
located in low ground near the river
which is subject to inundation during
high water. The pipe line would
have to be laid for some distance
along the railroad track between the
railroad bank and the river where it
would have to be protected by ma
sonry wall or heavy riprap for$a dis
tance of about one-half mile.
The estimated cost of a pressure
pipe line of wooden stave pipe to de-
liver the water from these springs to
the old city reservoir. based on the
same capacity as the pipe line from
Thorn Hollow springs, is $135.OOO.
The flow of Mckay creek was
measured on August 2Sth, 1868, and
found to be insufficient for city wa
ter supply The flow of the North
Fork was 400, 900 gallons per day and
the South Fork 100000 gallons per
day
She present source of water supply
for the city of PendIeton is the Una
tilla river. Originally a large we'll was
sunk in the gravel beds in the eastern
ed from this well, but the supply be-
ing insufficient a pipe was laid from
the well to the river and the water
taken directly from the river near
the Oregon Washington railroad
bridge. The water is pumped into the
distributing system through IL inch
pipe on Webb street with 1O-inch
branch on Vincent street, leading to
an open concrete reservoir on the hill
at Mill and Tustin streets. This res
ervoir is about 96 feet by SO feet and
12 1-2 feet deep and has capacity
of 700, 900 gallons. 1t is $50 feet
above the intersection of Thompson
and Alta streets. The old reservoir
is not properly constructed and it is
not high enough to supply the upper
part of the city or to give sufficient
pressure for fire service. The only
provision made for cleaning the res
ervoir and washing the mud out is
through the supply pipe to the dis
tributing system.
The pumping plant consists of g.
inch two stage turbine pump having
a capacity of 100000 gallons per
udN, driven DN Il po"SA CiCS
trio motor and an auxiliary steam
pump and one 90 horse power boiler.
The large turbine pump is run contin-
uously during the summer and about
16 hours a day during the winter.
The steam pump was run for about
three weeks last summer. The small
turbine pump is not in use.
I The maximum amount of water
pumped is about 1900, 900 gallons per
day. Electric power for pumping wa
ter is furnished by the Northwestern
Gas & Electric Co., under a contract
which runs to 1916 unless sooner can
celled by the city. which reserves the
right to cancel the contract at any
time should II decide to install a grav-
/ ity wsterworks system.
The electric company agrees 70
furnish. install and keep in repair for
pumping water one two stage tur-
oine pump with capacity of 1,44o,-
900 gallons per day and one rs horse
power motor for driving same, and
to pump into the water mains and
reservoir as much water as may be
required to supply the city but not
to exceed 1.200.0 900 gallons per day.
The city to pay for said service at the
rate of $500 per year and for all wa
ter pumping in excess of 1900 900
gallons at a proportionate rate. The
city Is required to furnish the neces-
sary labor for operating the pumping
plant. The electric company is not
required to pump water for four
hours each day during the hours OF
peak load.
1t Is not safe TO use the water di-
rect from the river as is now being
done on account of the danger from
contamination along the river above
the intake. II the pumping plant Is
continued the water should be filtered
before being used.
The cost of constructing a proper
filtration plant will be about $4,000
per million gallons capacity. II
should be in units of 100000 each
with one spare unit to allow fol
cleaning. A plant of sufficient size
for the present requirements of the
city should have a capacity of moi
less than 100000 gallons per da,
and the pumping plant should have
the same capacity. Another electric,