Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-12
USING ELECTRICITY WHILE
+: WATER POWER is WASTED
water Works Publication Also Criti-
cixes Use OF Small Mains In Ttich-
DrondIs Dietributiou System.

Richmond's water works system is
reviewed and to a slight extent criti-
cized in yesterdays convention doings
daily bulletin issued by the tech
meal publication. Fire and Water En-
cheering. during the convention of
the American Water Works Associa-
ton which has been in session this
week at the Jefferson Hotel The
sketch says:
The water for domestic and manu-
featuring purposes for the city of
Richmond is taken from the James
Rivrr. The river water is purified by
allowing II to run into sedimentation
and coaGulation basins. These settling
basins are one Of the most valuable
additions to the plant. From them
the pumps are furnished with clear
water At all times and in sufficient
quantity to provide an ample daily
supply. Regular examinations are
made of the raw and treated water
to insure a satisfactory supply Of good
quality. -'' 80
The pumping station has two sets OF
pumps. plunSer and Centrifugal The
first consist Of nine water driven
plunEer pumps. with a capacity OF IL
oo0,06 gallons per "a hours The pow.
erSis obtained from drop in the water
In THE canal from the river. Tile CEN
trifugal pumps are driven by electricity
generated at tho city electric plant
cannot be driven by water power from
the canal as at least 500 horse power
Is going TO waste over the spiliH.ay
The water is pumped into three
services: Standpipe from the west end
section OF the city; the new or middle
service reservoir is used for the shop
ping and center district: while the old
or lower service reservoir is used. 10
supply the business and manufacturing
district. The story OF the water works
OF Richmond would not be complete
without reference to the efficient
superintendent. Il. z. Davis who has
devoted his. life TO the development Of
this system:
"Mr Davis has met the objection
OF some users of city water as to
poor service by showing that small
mains were mostly responsible for low
pressure In certnin districts. He says
that some of the present 4-inch mains
had not been changed In 50 years and
that some 6-inch pipes should be laid
to improve The pressure in the sec
lions complained Of He said that there
was money ready to procure 2o-inch
main to be laid from the new reservoir
which was delayed owing to.the high
cost of pipe. The installation of
auxiliary pumps. at a cost OF between
$4,000 and $4,000. is also recon-
mended.
On account OF the increasing de-
ma hds made by the fire department
now using modern pumping apparatus
Instead Of the old machines with
limited capacity. water pipes should
| be enlarged and the pressure incrcas-
ed The water system was built when
| fire engines pumped at a rate OF 500
or 400 gallons a minute. while the
engine Of to-day pumps at a rate. OF
| 1000 gallons in sixty seconds. Council.
| man Mills thinks that the present
water mains are in an unsafe condi-
ton. and that the fire hazard by reason
OF this Is unusually great. lie con-
tends that a thorough investigation
| should be made to determine what the
condition is. and that II should be done
by an expert hydraulic engineer, not
connected with the city government"
| The convention closed its business
yesterday with an inspection. OF the
local plant. going by special train to
the settling basins and pumping
stations.