The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-15
LETTERS TO
TIE EDITOR
OUR WATER SUPPLY sVcTEm.


FAlRMONT. Juiy i3.-l Editor The
y at Virginidal RE rocelt advance
in the water rates in this city has
raised storm Oi protests and Il is
perhaps al CppOriune time to bring
up discussion IS 10 whether or not
ihis r2isc |ss justified on tbs
s.Cgnds of necessity o. expcdiency.
Perhaps a very small percentage o.
| The water users in the city are COLIe~
SAINT with the situa ION in reference t.
orr water supply system as ii exists
lay and a 0r,cf description o. the
plant in general may not be amiss.
q Tie H-Gt reservoir consisted OF ths
: two s,eel tanks on the summit OF what
/ was known a. HsmitOn's Iiill and
these tanks. with capacity Of about
/ 100000. served until the present res
! riyoir was built.
! The main reservoir when ccmplet-
n hsl a ca)acity @ about q million
: T,!lons and The filte. basin adiacsn.
- il held a5cut one million gallons.
oiiner basin his, been cleaned cut
nee their contraction and there IL
/ obably Q GoSolit Of mud, slime and
r.a"ba wosse ihings TO a depth Of ssV.
III feet IN the bottom OF the main
! '1c'n 80 that their combined capacities
( VJ-d be coIserva;iye,y rated OF
c55ut IS million gallons. or about fOu.
/ @nd hall days supply in case OF TO.
~ failure at the plnpinS station.
The old pumping plant in the First
rard. Just across the river from Fifth
I street. WAS operated until the fiat
/ rart OF the year 1912. II was equip.
| ped with old style boilers and ver.'
inefficient pumps which we're Of an
Obsolete design when purchased.
Two IL inch lires led from the old
pumping plant TO the present reser
vcir. one q. which was the pumping
line lnl the oiher the supply main TO
/ the city. Both I'll these lines are noT
utilized rs supply mains. one runnin;
under the river - Fifth street ard
Castor avenue and tie other 10 the
river bridge and alcng Madison street.
The new pumping plant was con-
structed in 1911 cn TygartI Valley
liver about half mile above the river
! junction and q, tho same time a 20.
inch pumping main was laid from the
new plant TO the reservoir. a distance
q about mile AID NJ a rise OF nearly
soc Get above lie river The equip.
I meRt a. th.i plant consists OF two go
/ H. 7. water tcOc boilers. one triple
/ expansion dif3ct-actirg dup,ey con
I Lcpsins and one ogs-comp0uEd Coz
densilg fly wheel 3amp. e2ch havir'
. capacity o. ( million gallons per -
hours. Thee pumps and boilers were
~ 10 dale when purchased. and st.!i
c,c. and he pant has proved 10 have
been i very soo1 Investment for the
C,.y. 4 few miaOr Improvements have
ncen made during the past iCur o.
, I've years and there have been No &c.
( rious break-doUns or shui'downs du.-
Ing this period.
Either pump will furnish enough
water TO supply the present needs =,
Ecrmal demands. but when II Is re.
. membered that there il only aboat
iour and half days supply in the res
! cryoir when u Is full. and Il Is not
usually so. and considering the pros.
I poctive Increase in demand. il is ap.
I parent that The day is not far dis.
liant when the pumping capacity will
I have 10 be increased or the consump.
I ton and wastage reduced.
Additions nave been made 10 the
: distributing maius in the streets from
time TO time TO keep face with the