The Washington times., 1914-03-10
TAKOMA WILL HAVE
NEW WATER SYSTEM
Town to Expend S18,925 for
Reservoir and Setting Basin
! Soon.

Inc Town OF IakOfna Park VIII SOol
make extensive improvements In 1t
water system, which will include tn
building of large combined reservoi
and settling basin. sufficient TO supp.
the needs OF the town for a month
and which Will greatly facilitate TIT
flltering of the water. II Will construc
auxiliary dams and water tower. and
the substitution of oil engines for th'
gasolene engines. at present used tc
pump the water to the water tower
at cost of s1s.SS.
A Bond issue ot $4,000 is conten.
plated to raise the money for the i'm
provements. which will give Takoma
water system possessed by any town
of Its size in Maryland.
Harry Steyers, consulting engineer
last night laid before the mayor and
town council of Takoma detailed pans
for the scheme Of improvements. II
Is expected favorable action will be
taken before the next meeting Of the
council
Is Without Storage.
At present the town is practically
without any storage facilities for the
water. and the new reservoir, which
VIII have capacity of more than
3.5eo.oeo gallons, will enable the town
TO store up w9t"r whA@ Sligo creek,
the source of supply. is full.
The average daily consumDtion Of the
town is between 10000 and 1250N gall
Ions. According to Mr. Stevens plans.
the reservoir and settling basin will be
near the present pumping plant. The
dam will he further up the stream
the water beng conducted to the reser-
voir by pipe.
With Earthen Walls.
Mr.. Stevens in his report TO the coun-
ell, said: The reservoir can best be
constructed with earthen walls, sufficient
material for same being from the neces-
sary excavation. and should be lined
With concrete or some suitable paving
In order to obtain the best results from
the reservoir as a settling basin, the
water should enter near the bottom, and
two outlets, with suitable gates, should
be provided, one at the bottom and one
about three feet below the normal sur
face.
In extremely dry weather the reservoir
would receive the entire twenty four
hour flow of the creek and this, togeth-
er with the reserve, should keep the
town amply supplied with water during
any such period. Assuming that the en-
tire twenty-four-ho f,ow of the creek
dropped to $4,000 gallons, that amount.
added to the reserve in the reservoir
would supply 10000 gallons a day for
forty-eight days.
1T is very doubtful whether the creek
ever falls so low. and it is certain that
II woulo not remain SO for the ierfgth
Of time given
-. Engineer Stevens plan also includes
the substitution of oil engines for the
gasolene engines at plesent in use He
pointed out last night the saving which
would result from use of the cheaper
fuel
Flow By Gravity.
The water level in the reservoir would
be more than two feet higher than that
In the coagulating basin of the filter
riant, ana the water would flow by
gravity into the latter most of the time.
MI stevens explained. The present low
service pump would therefore only be
needed when the supply at the dam is
cut off for some time, or when the level
of the water in the reservoir is lowered
considerably in dry period.
Inc estimated cost OF the reservoir
complete. including excavation. lining,
dam. connecting pipes, sluice gates,
screens, etc, but not including any land
or rights of way, is placed at 81. .DoO. A |
saving Of $3.50 Annually viii be effected |
by the dispensing with the low-service |
pump, and certain saving is looked for
as result OF the relieved strain on the |
litter. The sum Of &c cents All hour |
would be saved on each pump hv the |
substitution of oil for gasolene in the |
pumping engine.
Asks 75-Foot Tower.
Engineer stevens also recommends the
erection of a seventy -five-foot water
tower TO be used in place of the present
water tower on Carroll avenue, which |
Mr.. Stevens states is too high. Nj.
stevens estimates the fixed charges of
the new install alton at 81 tS7IS annually
and sl,H2.lg as the amount to be saved
by the Change. leaving a yearly balance
10 be rs-ised Of only s3S4.0S
Councilman +. l.. LeWton advocated
changing the basis OF assessment in
the town from one-third the value Of
improved property. and twO-thirds the
value OF unimproved p-opcr,y winch
are the present figures. 10 one-fourth
and three-fOUrths respectively
II. +. Rogers. register of vital stalls
tcs Tor the town, and chairman of
the health and sanitation committee Of
the council. reported that there were
thtrty-two births and tweEty-six deaths
in Takoma in the last year, e-cven Of
the latter being transents.
Twenty five dollars was appropriated
Tor q cleanup week.
The treas urer's report. sum titted by
Town Clerk and Treasurer Ben q. Da-
Wis, SHOW ed receipts for the asst month
Of s., S,6s@.1s, disbursements Of $780, and
a balance on hand OF S3375.Il
Those at the meeting last night We're
Mayor stephen '" Williams, Council
men Il. F Taft. /. Z. GrabIll. r. d.
ltush. u. (. Rogers, +. I. Blodgett, +.