Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-08
WATER SHORTAGE NEEDS
! NEW MAIN FOR HELPING
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA
Section, Now Dry Above Second
Floor, Should Be Supplied
by Separate Pipes
and Plant
COST WILL BE s5,sOo,OOo

The bitterly complained Of water short
age In South Philadelphia is condition
that city officials frankly confess they can
not successfully cope with for a long time
20 come or until the citizens authorize a
loan OF at least s5,soo,oOO. to be expended
on an express main and pumping station
20 carry water from Torresdale directly to
points south and east.
Many suggestions designed TO remedy the
shortage and TO give Southeast Phlladel-
phia the same adequate supply furnished
more fortunate sections have been au-
vanced. but ali have been eliminated with
the decision that an express main south
Of Third and Market Is the only thing that
will bring permanent and definite relief.
In the S42. 600 general loan there Is an
item OF $500. 600 for extension Of the water
anrvice and this money will be used mainly
20 strengthen the methods OF distribution
south of Market street. This will AFFORD
some Improvement, but not enough to
equalize conditions all over the city.
Tentative plans for new pumping sta
tion and new express main have been dis
cussed by Director Datesman, Of the Dc
partment of Public Works, and Chief Carrie
ton E. Davis of the Water Bureau, but
the manifest improbabilty OF any money
being borrowed for this purpose In the near
future makes the work done so far OF little
avail
The one ray OF hope held out to the
people suffering from the lack OF an ade-
ouate water supply lies In the fact that
municipal financiers have already taken
mn in a more or less definite way, the idea
of having the city authorize future loan
20 provide the s5.5O0,000 needed for water.
an almost similar sum for a new Blockley
and a provision for the continuance OF the
work on the sewage disposal plant
water shortages are always felt the most
keenly In the summer months. a19 as this
is the season when the demands IRE heav-
Test In the central and northern sections OF
the city, conditions are always aggravated
at time when sanitary and health reasons
would dictate the necessity for the largest
supply Just now the water records show
daily consumption averaging from 2lO'OOO,-
900 to 32O 1000. 900 gallons, which is the out
side capacity of the plants with the single
exception OF West Philadelphia which still
has a working margin TO go upon
South Philadelphia. the section farthest
removed from the base of supplies at Tor
resdale Is naturally the part OF the city
20 suffer and at one time 1t was proposed
TO establish a pumping station somewhere
near the middle of the city TO force the
water south. This plan has been abandoned
because II has been pointed out by engineers
that the supply is small when II reaches
and leaves the central section Of the city,
and that pumping station therefore would
Mt best be a makeshift proposition. The
imposslbtIity of establishing a filtration
plant with direct service along the shores
OF the Delaware south Of the city has been
agreed upon because OF the filthy condition
of the water after it has passed through
the city
The question Of waste enters to some ex-
-kent in the trouble which South Philadel-
phia is experiencing at this time. Accord
Ing 20 Chief Davis, water users OF this city
have never been taught TO husband the
supply and use care in order that others
may not be inconvenienced Steps to put
a stop to this evil are not being taken, and
during the next six months 200 worth
Of meters will be installed in factories be-
Iieved TO be wasteful Of the supplies al
lowed them through the old spigot rates.
The prevention of waste would give a bet
ter supply for the most distant points.
In discussing the water shortage Chief
Davis today said: "Of course those people
who cannot get a supply in the upper
stories of their homes and tenements are
dissatisfied. 1t certainly must be annoying
and inconyenient, but the hardest time is
over for them this year. The demands on
the water supply are heaviest in July, and
IN August and September records show the
supply is more nearly adequate. The Ques-
tion has been gone into and the only way
20 bring about an equalization appears TO
be the laying OF an express main especially
10 serve the southern section of the city.
Inb LdylnB OF buCu Il IMAM Npulu IIdhc
necessary additional pumping facilities and
this undertaking win cost the city about
$500. 600. I estimate the financial need
at So OO0. 900. but Councils have given us
100000 which will be used mainly in
South Philadelphia.
.rWe have 1900 miles of water pipe in
the city and the demands just now are way
above normal II is hard 10 blame present
conditions on any one cause. OF course II
big users would exercise care there would
be just that much more water 10 go around.
but this saving would help only, not remedy
entirely. What we must have is an express
main south, That would place every section
OF the city on the same plane and would
put a stop 10 any further trouble l sym
pathize with any perRons who suffer from
lack Of water, but fist now there seems
no adequate remedy at hand Just as soon
as the money Is provided the work can be
undertaken, but until that time the central
and northern sections OF the city will con-
tlnue 10 have an advantage over the south
ern-"