Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-07-27
SUGGESTS DIVIDING
| CITY INTO DISTRICTS
Public Service Commission
Says Salemites Use Too
Much Water


Salem water users have been using a
thousand gallons each day during ir,
rigating season more than the average
water user is allowed in the majority
of cities, according to an investigation
of the public service commission into
the water supply of the city which was
conducted quietly during the past week.
Water users have been allowed to
use from one thousand to twelve hun
dred gallons With this great waste of
water there has been consequent low
water pressure throughout the city and
total lack of water in the higher por-
tions.
As result of this investigation, the
commission has suggested to manager
Parks that the city be divided into
districts in order that the water supply
could be controlled so that those who
use the water can secure sufficient
pressure. The commission said that
with this waste eliminated there would
be sufficient pressure for all require
rnents. 1t is planned 10 have certain
portions of the city use water one
evening and another portion another
evening. II is pointed out that water
ing in such large quantities each and
every night is not necessary in order
to keep a green lawn.
The commission took Manager Parks
TO task for being too lenient with the
consumers in allowing them to use as
much water as they pleased He agreed
that it was good plan to district the
city to regulate the use of water, but
he thought the worst of the season was
over now and that there was little dan
ger of the shoratge becoming acute.
Analysis of the water was made at
the request of the commission and the
tests show it to be good. The water
has been tested every two weeks for
indications of germs but none has been
found.
Considerable criticism was found in
the pumping arrangements of the COM
pany by Engineer Green, who made an
investigation covering period from
July 10 to July "a. The report of the
engineer to the commission is as fol
lows:
Engineer Biames Company.
"Attached herewith please find re-
port of the Salem Water, Light & Pow
er Company of their pumping statistics
from July 10th to the 23d. Data for
the cath was not yet obtainable:
"The feature which would deserve
the most criticism is a failure to start
the steam pump on July 14th. The
reservoir consumption of the evening
previous shows a drop. of one foot and
the increasing temperature Of that day
would indicate increased sprinkling use
the rate of which would indicate that
additional pumping facilities would be
needed.
"The following day with high tenn
peratures and additional loss of ] ii
feet in reservoir supply should have
made the use Of this steam pump i'm
on the 18th. While ordinarily
such conditions might be later met if
there were drop in temperature, the
failure of the water power supply on
the 18th indicates that such con-
tingency may make the condition even
more serious. :,
"The use of the engine as an auxil-
iary to the water power from mia-
night to 5 a. m. on the 18th demon
strates the availability of this auxll
iary. 1t is stated by Mr.. Park that
often the water supply is interrupted
as on this date, but seldom continues
for SO long a period and heretofore 1t
has been found unnecessary to start
the engines as an auxiliary.
feThe use of the Sinch pump on the
island starting on the 2lst and giving
only an additioial inch vacuum shows
that there probably would be consider
able loss in energy if used with a
vacuum less than ten inches.
aft is suggested by your engineer
that whenever it seems necessary 70
supplement the pumpage Of the orol-
narilv driven hydraulic triplex pump
and the electric pump, that the steam
nunn should he run between 300 and
. 100 n. M. not only boosting the pres
sure when most needed, but making the
use Of this pump at reduced pressures
most economical. ;,
"Your engineer also wishes to call
10 the attention of the Commission Tue
,yo,,;sion in order U-F-45 requiring
tests of the integrity OF
III snetion pipe. 1t should not be nee
assarv for requests for this test TO pc |
nade None have been submitted to
,is Knowledge for probably a year.
some steps should certainly be taken
~ the utility by penalizing wastefm
,sors = n reduce the daily consumption
,ben i is indicated that at least SIX
million gallons of water must DC
bumped daily. This is at the rate OF
Ia thousand gallons per day per
customer. ...a.adI
"You will note that the estimateu
,umpage for the high system and n tne
wo island pumps is not given. rms
night be later indirectly estimated
rom the kilowatt hours used "