Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-11
OFFICIALS FEAR Il
WATER SHORTAGE
Neglect to Extend Capacity
and Increased Consump.
ton Blamed
WAR ADDS TO DEMANDS
Early Loan for Bureau and
Greater Pumpage for South !
Philadelphia Planned

A water shortage in the central ana
southern section of the city is little less
than a certainty. Two factors enter into
the present situation. One Is Councils
failure to provide loan money for needed
extensions and the other is the increased
consumption by war industries.
Twice each year the Bureau of Water
finds itself unable to keep supply equal
with demand and the arrival of the sum.
,ner months bids fair to result In a
shortage even greater than was ex-
perienced in past years. Last winter
open hydrants to keep pipes from freez-
ing was the. reason given for shortage
that caused general complaint from
business houses in the central and south.
ern section of the city.
Chief Davis. of the Bureau Of Water.
with very limited amount of money
on hand has repaired most of the pump
ing and filtration apparatus at Torres
dale and Lardner's Point and hopes to
be able to run both monster plants at
capacity all summer. Capacity at these
and other plants means an outside limit
of 350.000,000 gallons of filtered water
each twenty-four hours. Already con-.
sumption has nearly reached that point
and steady increase is predicted as the
summer progresses.
In addition to high rate OF consump-
ton the daily increas sing demands of
shipbuildng industries and war NUM-
tion plants places the bureau in a posi-
ton Of being unable to supply all de-
mands in sections south of Market
street. Director Datesman, Of the De-
partment of Public Works. estimates in
creased consumption because of war ac-
tivties at 50,oo0.oo0 gallons daily.
Where this extra supply is to come from
no one knows.
Ss.O0O,OOO Loan Planned
The after-the-war program of ac-
tivities tentatively mapped out by city
authorities calls for an early loan for
the Water Bureau and plans have been
completed for extensions and new pump
ing service for South Philadelphia.
which will cost the city in the neighbor-
hood Of sS.000.000 under before-the war
prices. In the meantime little or nothing
is being done to meet what is admittedly
one of the greatest emergencies resulting
from Philadelphia's sudden growth as a
shipping and manufacturing center for
war supplies. =,
In discussing the water shortage and
the probability of greater trouble as
the summer progresses, Director Dates
man said:
"Our desperate situation , has been
forced upon us directly by the war. The
war demands have increased. until Chief
Davis, correctly claims that they amount
to about Is per cent of the capacity
of the works. In the northwest section
therS is an establishment which Is do
ing dental work for the Government. 1t
wants twice as much water as It is get
ting. and the chief says that 1t Is inn
possible for him to respond to the call
in that section. Take the Brill Works
alone: it has called for al! increase
of 150.0O0.G00 gallons year. half
million gallons daily. in its supply. >,
West PhiIadeIpI,is's Peril
IF the Fairmount Dam breaks, all Of
West Philadelphia will be out of water
at once. Doubtless Councils soon will
be able to find the $65,000 which has
teen asked to repair II, but other breaks
can occur which would be hardly less
serious, and $65,000 is drop In the
bucket compared with the big needs of
the system. Chief Davis has presented
program of improvements and extern
sions of the works which could be car
ried out in four or five years, which
would cost $4,000 and which would
mean a capacity of 400.000,000 gallons
a day. 1t is not a case like that of the
elevated railroad system. where the ex-
penditure of s2,700,000 on the Arch and
Locust streets loops would be useless
without $34, 900 for the entire Broad
street system. The water works extern
sions can be built In units capable Of
rendering full service II we had $2,000,-
900 or 100000 year. 49,