Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-16
INCREASE PRESSURE WITH
AN AUXILIARY PUMP
Trafford Reports Plan for Improving
Distribution System Of High
Service.
EXPENSE WOULD BE $40, 900
Board Takes Recommendation Under
Adviscment, and May Adopt Sug.
gestion-Trafford Favors Merger
of Middle and High Services.

| Tho installation OF an auxiliary
pumping plant between the reservoir
and the delivery mains at n cost Of
about $4,000. is recommended by STU
perlntendcnt Trafford OF the Electric
| rant. as the most practicable solution
! or tho problem involving tho improve
| ment of the water distributing system
| 10 minimize the fire hazard. The rec
| ommcdatiou is the central feature Of Il
lengthy report submitted Yesterday by
! Sir. Trafford TO the Administrative
| Board
Mr.. Tranord was asked by the board
| IN March IL. TO report on the capncity
or the ctty's pumps to care for tho pres
ent nigh pressure service, and what
| additiona! territory now included IN
the corporate limits should be served by
this service
The report will be taken under con-
sideration by the board. and an order
carrying into effect the recommends
lions rs far rs Ia ut this time prac-
ticablc, is expected.
TWO PUMPS SUPPLY
PRESENT HIGH SERVICE
The report. in part follows:
The present pumps used for high SER
vice are two in number. each having q
capacity Of approximately 1900, 600
gallons OF water n day. operated by
electric motors The maximum present
demand rate OF high service is nor
'naliy about 3.25o.0o0 gallons a day for
domestic use. This quantity is exceed
ed in the summer months
tor fire purposes Il punping capac-
! ttE OF about 100000 gallons a day Ia
asked for by the Fire Underwriters.
In addition to Ties" two pumps. we
| nave n standpipe on the system. which
when filled contains 10000 gallons
1t will thus he seen that the two
pumps would just about supply the do
Ihestlc and fire demands but we would
nave no reserve equipment. and. In the
event OF fire occurring during the
heavy demand period with one pumn
out OF service from any cause, our high
pressure system would very quickly
ran. The standpipe holds about one
hours supply for domestic purposes. or
one-half for both domestic and fire
purposes. assuming the fire as before
stated. 10 occur when the domestic draft
is heaviest
| MIDDLE AND HIGH
SERVICES ARE CONCERNED
1t must be understood that the fall
ure or tho high service under these
conditions does not mean that no water
would he available under the contIn-
eencies mentioned. for the reason that
the high service mains are connect.d
through check values with the middle
service supply and these valves would
open automatically and maintain The
delivery of water at "A lower pressure
believe II to be practical to In
crease the delivery OF 100000 worth
OF our pipe lines by so per cent bv
| increased pressure. If the necessity OF
thls increased pressure Is conceded the
next question Is. how shall We obtain
the same? To raise the present rescr-
voir fifty feet Is deemed practicable
To construct new concrete reservoir
OF ample capacity and TO change our
pumps to pump against this Increased
height would cost not less than $780,
Oo0.
To install an auxiliary pumping
plant located between the reservoir and
the delivery mains would be relative
~ inexpensive, and could be equipped
In the best manner, with adequate re-
serve, for approximately $4,000 or $40
900, and ] believe that the advantages
or such system are not confined TO
its relatively low cost. AS power
proposition 1t makes very little diff
ference whether this water be pumped
| first to the elevation OF the new reser-
! voir and subsequently, to such addi-
tional elevation as may be desirable
or whether the same is pumped In one
operation into higher reservoir.
ADDITIONAL STANDPIPE
WOULD DE UNNECESSARY
The pumps would be designed for
automatic regulation, and no standpipe
or additional reservoir would he neces-
sarE. ms the pumps would automatlcal-
~ supply any quantity OF water de-
sired at any predetermined elevation.
The matter OF additional power for
this pumping Is quite an insignificant
one under our conditions. For the
/ larger part OF the day and the larger
part OF the year, the City Electric
Plant has power to spare, and we know
we have large quantity of water
power continuously going to waste at
the New Pumphouse. ] estimate that
the cost of power, II furnished BY tho
City Electric Plant, would amount to
the expenditure of some $4,000 a year
for coal ut times when the river is
ahnormally low.
I do not say positively at this time
that we will be able to combine our
high and middle service. but we should
work to that end. The change in pres
| sure on the middle service should be
developed gradually, so that II any
| they may be remedied, and. ultimately.
when these weak spots are eliminated,
our high service could be abandoned.
RECOMMENDS RESTRICTION
OF HIGH SERVICE DISTRICT
In conclusion, I believe that the
method which I have described Is Of
very great Importance and worthy
your best consideration. and, pending
determination OF tho same. am unable
to recommend the purchase OF add
/ tional pumps for the high service and
the extension OF this high service to
other districts. ! would rather recon-
mend that the high service district
, should be restricted and ultimately
abolished in favor of q new service,
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