Arizona republican., 1919-02-18
WATER USERS HEAR REPORT ON NEEDED
 DRAINAGE SYSTEM

That drainage of the surplus under ground water in parts of the Sat hlVer valley is both necessary ana ieaSlpie was emphasized in report oellNefeu at a meeting of the board of governors of the Water Users association yes terdav by General Superintendent W R. Elliott and consulting engineers D. w Murphy and W. H. Code. The method to be used in getting rid or the water recommended by w. k. Eiilott differed from that of City Engineer Hitchcoclls in that the Water Users men declare that pumping plants must he utilized, while the city engineer holds that the water should be removed by the use of closed tile drains. El- liott's report showed the impractcabil- itv of using the latter method, although he admitted that it could be done m certain small areas Following is the text of the report:
 First: The rise in ground water dur ing the past few years and Its present proximity to the surface indicate clear lv that drainage is needed 10 protect the surface soils over large areas from becoming water-logged and alkaline and ultimately unfit for cultivation. Second That drainage is feasible both from the economic and rom an engineering viewpoint.
 Third: That pumping generally may be regarded as the most feasible means of drainage. but there are some areas where the effectiveness of pumping has not been proven, and where drains may be required.
 1 Fourth, The quantity Of water which 1 must be removed during the next few years. it is estimated, will amount to | about 1000 acre feet per annum. Fifth: That to remove this quantity l 33 wells in addition to those already l provided for will be required.
 | Sixth: That a more economic use Of water will reduce the amount of drain age that will ultimately be needed. The report also showed that it is 1 necessary to reduce the water level | eight feet. at the least, in order that 1 the soils be properly protected.
 The present articles of incorporation ! of the Water Users association does not permit it to enter into drainage operations, as the purpose of the asso- citation is for the development of water only. An amendment. making 1t pos sible for the organization to do drain age work, has been drafted and will be 1 acted upon at meeting to be held Monday, February "A, when it will re
 
 citation to pass the bill. After the amendment is passed by the legislative body of the association, which it is thought it will undoubtedly be. the shareholders of the project will vote 1 upon it at the annual election in April.
 In showing the impractica bility Of draining the land by means of lined canals and laterals, the report showed that such a course would require an expenditure of sS,712,000 and the seal ing of 800 miles of main laterals and canals. A part only of the accumu = lation of underground water is caused by leakage from the canal system, the report went on to say, and the ce- menting of the system would not do away with huge underground supply.
 A large portion of the underground water. the report said, is caused by the use of an excess amount of water in ir- rigating the land. Tests made by the associat tion on 219 farms throughout the valley show that ranchers are wasting, on a conservative estimate 10000 acre feet of water yearly
 Experiments were made on the south side from May to October with pump ing apparatus resulted in a fall of 9 feet in the pumped area. Tests made at the same time in the north side, re- suited in drop of 1.6 feet in the water level, a difference of 2.5 feet between the pumped and unpumped areas.
 The meeting yesterday was presided over by Vice President Steward in the absence of President Wilkinson. Use The Republican Classified Page for Results-Read for Profit.