Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-10-07
GOOD WATER is
COMMUNITY NEED

Continued from page one)
appreciated as whole for this reas- !
on.
A large percentage of the cost Of
the system is hidden in the ground
in wells and in the streets in street
mains, hydrant connections, valves,
service connections, etc, and, although
almost entirely hidden, it is a most
vital part of the system.
II must afford, first of all suit
able carrying capacity for all water
that may be required at any point,
not only for domestic use but also for
fire protection.
II must also be strong enough TO
take care of unusual pressures in
case of fire and that due to the un-
usual loads that come from streets
settling or other unexpected condi-
tons.
The extent of the distributing sys-
tenn even in small city is rarely
appreciated as it runs up into large
number Of miles and represents a
large expenditure of money.
One of the important functions of
water works is fire protection and
the whole city derives this benefit
and should pay for il. Were it not
for this use the system could be much
smaller in many parts and would cost
but about one-half as much, but it is
better to pay small amount into the
city for this protection than to pay
several times the amount to some
outside insurance company.
Fire service is not based upon the
amount Of water used for fires, but
the ability and capacity of the system
to furnish at any time and any point
large volumes Of water when necess-
airy. -.s ; ee scSss r-tis~ issit AssA
1t is an old and obsolete idea that
the water supply is only for putting
out fires, flushing streets and sewers
and such things and that for other
purposes you should put down a well.
You should require and demand that
the water that goes through the city
mains shall be the best and cheapest
water obtainable and the most salts
factory for all purposes for which
water is needed. The ease with
which supply can be secured here
gets the people to think it is not
worth anything nor worth while to
do anything. Were it necessary
to go ten or twenty miles for the
water supply and then to build large
reservoirs at much expense and then
perhaps filter and treat the water to
make it satisfactory to use, they
would be willing to do it at any cost,
but because it is so easy to secure
good water here it seems against the
deception of the idea that it should
be improved.
The city of Saginaw only recently
voted to bond for about four million
dollars to get satisfactory water
supply.
One of the first inducements held
out toward getting a new factory in
terested in city is that it has a good
water and sewer system. This is one
of the first requirements, as no one
cares to move to a community where
1t is necessary TO carry water a
whole block or more and perhaps
have the wife or children go out into
the cold winter winds and snow TO
get this, when it should be possible
to draw it from the tap.
The thirsty transient who comes
TO Alma expects to be able, as in
I other cities, to go to one of the
several drinking fountains along the
street and get a good cold drink of
water. What about the farmer who
brings his family, on a hot dusty
day, to Alma to get his weeks pro-
visions and expects to be able to get
the dust washed from throats when
they get here. Water alone will
quench thirst. Where are they to
go? Why is it that a city of 5000
people cannot afford to spend less
than a dollar apiece a year to pro-
vide suitable supply of good water