El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-27

ONE practical way OF furnishing an
Oabundant supply OF water 10 the
city for Industrial and domestic
purposes, which the engineers have
pipe line from the base Of the dam
Just above the city through which
water from the Rio Grande would
be pumped into big reservoir on the
mesa where IL would be filtered, puri-
fled and distributed 10 the consumer
through the city mains.
Opposed BY semple.
Although the superintendent Of the
city Waterwor5s and other experts In
the employ OF the city believe the
reservoir project IS the best solution
70 Fl Paso's water problem the pro-
iect does not meet with approval Of
city Councilman r c Semple who has
charge OF the waterworks department
for the city
Mr.. semple says his idea Of gsttiug
water for the city IS 10 sink a series
Of wells in the viciEity Of washing
ton park and punD water into the
city from these wells w hat is the
use TO 20 10 expense OF filtering wa
ter on the mesa" said Mr. Semple,
when water mar Washington park is
available by urtlling wells where ma
ture does the flterinE
well Temporary Proposition.
However. others hold that a well
water system for a big city is tenn
porary proposition the wells having
more OF less a short life While. on
the other hand. a reservoir getting its
supply OF water from g perpetual
stream like the Rsp Grande could pc
relied upon as long as there is water
In the river
The proposed reservoir would be
big enough for the city for long
time TO come. and should more water
be desired for constant use the i'll
tration plant would be built so an
additional unit could be added at any
wouId Cost $4,000.
such a project could be carried out
Including the cost OF the pipe line
reservoir. pumps, buildings. filtration
ulart completed and ready for use fOr
less than 500. 600. according 10 some
enthusiastic advocates
Under this system and figuring
thu cost nf Ss00, 600, water could
he distributed to the consumer Mt
sum between IS and 20 cents
per 1000 GALLONS il IS sid
This water rate would provide
enough returns 10 pay for the inter
est on the bonds which i TOOK 20
build the project and would provide
enough money in the form Of a sink
ing fund which would pay the princl-
naI OF the bonds and nquidate the
debt at the end OF 50 years and in the
auce. operation and distribution
The present water rate is p = cents
per 1000 and the supply is limited
Under the proposed plan water would
be abundant and would be consider I
ABLY cheaper
Engineers and others who are in
terested in the municipal work, esti- /
mate that q 30 inch cast iron pipe I.
line from the dam 10 the mesa a dis
rance Of about a nile. would cost ]
t90, GEO. including material and labor.
Would Be Adequate for City.
These men also figure that 30
100000 gallon reservoir would cost
s350.o95 OF less. Within all probabil- /.
itv Il would take considerably less !
20 build the reservoir. especially II /
no big engineering problems were en- ]
countered such as difficult formations /
70 pass through or leakages through 4
rock assures They estimate also /
that 4 reservoir which would impound I
ao.0o0.000 gallons OF water would be 4
large enough for the city for years 4
and years 20 come
WITH an electrical pumping equip I
men1 installed with q unit efficiency D
Of ar least p percent. figuring the .
and the pump at so percent water
could be pumped At one cent per 1000
salons. figuring electricity at one
cent per kilowatt hour A pump and 4
motor would cost approximately So
600. they estimate An additional
cost o. 500 is allowed for a steam
plant 10 fan back on
The Possible Cost.
Buildings for the pumps and other
machinery would cost $4,000 Il IS es-
limated-
A filtration plant which would
day would cost approximately $685.
These figures total ssoo.o0 and in
clnue all the costs Of such a system