Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-03-14
on at the next regular meeting.
10 the Common Council.

TO the Common Council:
The question of obtaining an adequate
supply Of good water is one which must
be seriously considered at once, due 70
the fact that we have for the past month,
and are at the present confronted With q
shortage.
1t became necessary to pump river water
into our mains for fire protection and com
mercial purposes, rendering the water from
the system unfit for domestic use. Wate4
stations were established at the Edisoc
school on 10th ave, the German Lutheran
school on Mckinley ST., and at the city
hall Spring water is hauled daily to these
4Our stations.
On the east side however it was not
"Onsldered necessary TO maintain any
water stations, as the east side is well sup
piled with good wells and the city springs
are located more conveniently to the ma
jority of the consumers
The water department has caused several
samples Of river water to be tested by the
University Of Wisconsin chemistry depart
ment, and fnd that the water contains
the sulphate deposited in the river by the
paper mill at Mosinee. It seems that poIlu-
ton Of natural streams with this poisonous
substance should not be permitted WHERE
water, as it is very difficult to purify the
water from sulphate. l would recommend
that you instruct your city attorney -
thoroly investigate this matter to ascertain
if the practice can be stopped.
The city now has three pun ping stations.
| The one on Rosencrance st. on the west
b. p. steam pump and boiler in good con
dition. The plant was used for pumping
the water supply for the west side previous
to the consolidation of the cities of Cen
traEa and Grand Rapids. 1t is practically
useless IN its present location, on account
| Of its supply being taken from the river.
In 1902 the city constructed q line of
gravity flow wells emptying into the reSer
vOirs on Third st. In 1911 additional graY-
ity hOw wells were built along the North
western tracks which also empty into the
Third st. reservoir. In 1915 it was found
necessary to increase the supply of water
and the well at Oak and 18th streets was
built in the hope that this would give It's
an ample supply, but without result
The water flowing from these several
lines is not sufficient to supply the present
demand. lnaSmuch as this method is pri-
marily dependent on the rainfall, / do not
think it is advisable to spend more money
| in extending the system now in use
Numerous methods have been suggested
| whereby the city would be assured of an
| adequate supply of suitable water, among
| the plans suggested are the following:
1. TO acquire d suitable location on the
| -Four Mile or Two Mile creek where a dam
| can be built to create a reservoir and build
! a conductor pipe from the dam to the 3rd
/ street station reservoirs and provide for u
! sand filter bed near the station, thereby
! using the equipment at this station which
consists of two 100 gallon Smith Vail
motor driven pumps. The quality of the
water in either of these creeks is consid-
| cred good and would not have to be chem
/ icdlIy treated The quantity is dependent
/ only on the now III the creeks. In COunec-
| ton with this project it has been suggested
! that sufficient head may be created on the
| -Four Mile creek by means of a dam that
! would permit enough power to manufac-
| tUre our own electric current. If the cOun-
! ell wishes to consider this project it seems
| advisable to consider the two propositions
| Jointly.
| > To construct "A settling basin and fill
| tering tank whereby the river water may
/ be used after it has been purified. In con
t neCtion with this process, it has been sug-
1 Il HIT nah ti,,yl
would be at the Third street station. The
natural reservoir between the Northwest
| erntracks and the Sand Hill can be used as
! 4 setting basin and by natural liberation
| empty i'll to the wells now constructed on
| this land and empty into the two reser-
| yOirS now in use. After passing through
| the natural sand filter bed it would be
necessary to chemically treat the water by
! using a chlorinat0r at some point on the
| pipe line between the settling basin and the
reservoir to eliminate the sulDhate in the
water. The machinery now located at the
west side pumping station on ROsencrance
| street can be moved to the Third street
| river to the settling basin.
! ;. BY securing, if possible, point near
| the river which is COMPOSED of gravel
foundation and driving a deep well, so the
| supply to the well would be from the river
| filtered thru space of gravel between the
| river and the well.
Recommendations
In connection with the proposed system
! l. j
| city engineer to take levels from the Four
| Mile and Two Mile creeks to the Third st.
! pumping stations to find the difference in
| elevation of the two nOintS and find out
! how much head of water can be created,
| and to estimate the cost of the project
| In connection with pronosea system No
! :, / recommend that YOU instruct the
| water department to take several samples
| IF Wisconsin river water from point near
! the Third street station and send same TO a
! wafer plant using the method of puritica-
! ton outlined in this section and have same
! treated; the samples to be tested before
treatment and after treatment. BY this
means we would get a fair idea of tic
| .fciency of plant Of this kind i'll treating
his particular water Also to ascertain the
| cost of installing this system.
In connection with proposed system No
;, | would recommend that you instruc1
! the city engineer to investigate several 10
| cations which have been suggested ana
| earn if it is possible to obtain a sufficient
supply of good water by this method.
! l suggest that you instruct the city en-
| stneer and water department to act in
| nediatcly in this matter and report at the
| next council meeting. as it is very urgent
nat the people of this city be given suit
! bile water in sufficient quantity at the
| earliest possible time.
Respectfully submitted,
E. w. ELLIS, Mayor.