El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-27

demand OF $50 gallons per. capita psr
Gay would not be unreasonable for a
city located as IS FL Paso. This
would mean use varying from per
haps 200 gallons per capita per day
IN the summer time. TO 125 gallons. per
capita per day IN the winter time or
~ 1871 sumner daily use of o.
5ov.oeV. and by 1925 a summer daily
demand Of from 5Ss000,000 TO 10000
900 gallons.
Source Of Water supply.
me city Of Fl Paso derives most
OF It's present supply from wells on
the mesa The water is pumped with
ar lit pumps from a depth varying
from 225 to 255 feet The total Weld
OF these wells Is limited TO probably
not much IN excess Of the present de-
mand- The air lift method Of uump-
Ing water from wells. although eff
cient IN the production OF water, Is
inefficient in the use OF power. and
hence the cost Of pumping from these
deep wells is very heavy. From in
formation furnished by the manager
OF the city waterworks. pumping op-
erations alone cost nearly 6 cents per
1000 gallons. This cost does not in
clude interest. deDreciation. dIstribu-
ton or overhead charges.
To supplement its present supply.
me city. through contract with
Layne & Bowler CORPORATION. Is de-
Veloping water east OF town II the
new wells do not draw their supply
from level below that OF the river.
the water VIII probably be similar to
that now furnished by the mesa wells.
What the effect OF pumping from
these wells wiz have upon the pres
emf mesa supply is problematical
Continued pumping from lower levels.
provided the same source Of supply
IS furnishing both the mesa wells and
the low level wells. win probably both
reduce the supply which comes 10 the
mesa and Increase the lift at that
point. This can only be determined
oy either a very careful study OF uu-
foreground water contours. II they are
ootallable. or by study OF the results
obtained after the nsW wells at the
lower elevations have been operated
for some time.
Elephant Butte Reservoir Supply.
some years ago an analysis made
OF the water at Elephant Butte res
ervoir showed practically the same
amount OF solid matter per 1000. 900
parts as carried by the mesa water.
The quality Of the water in the reser-
voir, provided the analysis remains
the same or improved, as the reser-
yoir fills Is practically the same as
that Of the mesa water. The duantf-
ty Of water available viii be all that
the city OF Fl Paso would ever re-
quires whatever its future growth
might be Between Elephant Butte
dam and the head Of Leasburg canal,
II the water were carried in the
stream bed itself, there would be
very little chance Of poilution-at
least Tor many years-oWinE to the
absence OF towns. The carrying
channel Of all water supplies taken
from surface sources, should be pro-
teeteo' patroled and reasonable re-
strlctions enforced. TO revent poIlu-
ton OF the stream between the dam
and the points OF aversion
The water IN the Rio Grande Is
now as clear as a trout stream for
nearly 30 miles below Elephant Butte
dam, and IS clearing up at the rate
OF from 10 to Is miles per year. It
should be clear as far as LeasburE
dam IN about 2 year, OF before ths
necessary canals can be built. From
Leasburg dam to the city OF FL Paso.
the water would then pass in concrete
lined canals. There would Be less
chance OF pollution Of this supply
than OF the best water supplies OF
the greatest eastern citels.
A Lined Canal.
"A lined canal having 4 capacity OF
about 100 second feet should connect
with the high line canal above the
power plant at Cauutillo and carry
Fl Paso's water TO q reservoir as
large and as near the city Of FL Paso
as r0uoErlnhfe conditions hermit The