The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-27
ENGINEERS URGE
WATER FILTER
PLANT FOR CITY
Reports of Five Investigating
Firms Are In.
KinkeI and Grady Alone Favor
Well System.
ONE COST ESTIMATE $3.50, 900
Reserve Reservoirs Are In
cluded in Reports.
Claim River Would Always Pro-
vide Sufficient Supply.
MAY HOLD BOND ELECTION SOON
Reports Will Be Submitted to
Civic Bodies First.
Investigation by Engineers Cost
the City S2,56O.
MAY HOLD BOND ELECTION SOON
Reports Will Be Submitted to
Civic Bodies First.
Investigation by Engineers Cost
the City $2,56O.

A filtration plant will solve Topeka's
water problem.
This appears to be the consensus of
opinion among the five engineering
firms engaged to make a survey of
local conditions and report back to
the water department. The reports
now are all in.
KinkeI & Grady, the local firm on
the investigating board. alone appear
ed to be opposed to the filtration sys-
tenn. They urge that the present sys-|
tenn be enlarged and ten new wells
be constructed north of the river.
The next step on the program will
he the submission of the engineers
recommendations to the various civic
bodies of the city. The consensus of
opinion as to which plan should be
adopted will be obtained. final Sc
lection will then be made by the city
commissioners and bonds voted for
the construction of the new system.
Consider Special Election.
The calling of a special election to
vote bonds is being considered. 1t is
pointed out that postponing the cleo
tion until the primaries in August
would simply be wasting three months
time. While there is no escape from
going thru another crucial time next
winter like that during the past winter,
neither the city officials nor the people
care to go thru it twice more; yet this
may be the result IL a special election
is not called, officials declare.
The consulting engineers are unan-
imous in their denunciation of the
present water system. They declare 1t
is inefficient. unbusinesslike and
menace to the health of the citizens
and the Industrial welfare of the city
They point out that. with increasing
population, Topeka is using more wa
ter every year and that the time has
already arrived when the present sys-
? EN- is far from adequate to supply the
demand.
-Four to One for Filtration.
Burns & Mcdonnell. of Kansas City;
Black G. Veatch of Kansas City. and
Hoad & Decker of Ann Arbor. Mich,
openly recommend the filtration sys-
tenn. c. A. Haskins also leans toward
this system. Kinkel & Grady or To-
peka however. recommend that the
present well system be extended and
enlarged.
The program suggested by the local
firm includes the construction of ten
now wells north of the river. with
combined capacity of 100000 gal
Ions daily, and the construction OF a
reserve reservoir with a capacity or
100000 gallons for emergencies.
rThev also recommend that the large
wells now In use be lowered four or
five feet; that the present suction
lines and centrifugal pumps be re
arranged and lowered five feet ana
that an additional electrical power
unit be installed in the pumping sta
ton. They estimate the costs of such
improvements would be about $751;
ESQ.
For S35O,OOO Appropriation.
Burns & Mcdonnell point out that
ample water supply may be obtained
with either the we'll or filtration sys-
TENS. They point out. however. that
the river supply cannot possibly fall
and that river water, being softer, is
much better for laundry and Industrial
purposes. 1t is slightly warmer in the
summer than the well water. The fill
tratfon plant, they assert, would cost
less than the North side well system.
and while the cost of operation would
be higher, the maintenance cost would
lie less The filtration plant can be ar
ranged to soften the water. If needed,
at little expense.
Their Recommendations include the
appropriation of $350,000 for improv-
ing the water supply. OF this, $4,000
should be spent, they say, in testing
for wells on the south side. If the
tests prove satisfactory. they urge that
the present system be enlarged to pro-
vide 10. .0OO. 900 gallons of water day
The remainder of the money VIII be
sufficient to cover this cost, they de-
clare In event the tests are not satis-
factory, they recommend the construc-
ton of a filtration plant with capac-
ity of 100000 gallons a day.
Urge Minor Changes at Once.
In comparing the two sources of
= supply. the firm of Black & Veatch
point out that soft water. obtained
from the river. effects an enormous
saving TO the consumer in soap and
plumbing bills. From a bacterial
standpoint there is no difference in
the two supplies. they assert, but they
estimate that the saving in pumping
from the river instead of wells would
be about $500 a year. There is no
question. they declare. but that the
river is the place to get an everlasting
and dependable supply. Their recon-
mendations include the building of a
filtration plant with a 100000 gall
Ions a day capacity and a 1000. 600
gallon storage reservoir.
Hoad & Decker. while recommend
ing the ultimate construction of fiItra-
tion plant, urge that minor improve
ments be carried out at once. includ-
keng installation of a Kiersted booster
pumping station. They also urge that
the city electric light plant be moved
to the waterw orks to effect greater