Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-24
DROUGHT HAS NOT
AFFECTED WATER
SUPPLY OF THE CITY
Though There Has Been Ne Real
Rain Storm Since
May As.
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS

Although this city is experiencing
one of the longest droughts in its his
tory. there has been no appreciabie
dimunition of the water supply from
the Brandywine. according to officials
OF the Water Department this morn
ing. The stream is very low, in fact,
lower than it has been for several
months, but the flow is said 10 be suf-
ficient for all immediate needs and
for all future needs. unless the present
dry spell continues or an emergency
should arise
The Rrandywine draws from a long
watershed extending well inro Penn
syivania. IL was explained. and while
the drought seems 20 be general in
this section of the country, the Water
Department has had no report of any
Of the wells or small tributaries dry
Ing up. should the drought continue,
however, the situation may become
serious and in such event the city
may find il necessary TO take steps to
conserve the water supply.
The average daily consumption %
water in Wilmington is reported by
the department to be about normal
There are many residents using gar
den hose streams to water lawns. gar
dens and truck patches in their yards.
but this consumption is offset by the
fact that there is a weekly saving Of
from l0.00o.00o to $4,000 900 gallons
because OF the many factories about
the city that normally use much water
being closed down.
The Water Department records
show there have been longer dry
spells in this section OF the country.
but they have occurred later in the
summer. Should the present drought
have occurred later in the season re-
suits might have been different, il
was explained. because in the early
summer or late spring all the tribu-
taries 10 the Brandywine are usually
hlled from the winters rains.
Records of the city Weather
Bureau. as maintained at the Street
and Sewer Department. Offices. show
what is regarded as a remarkable
situation. There has not been a ram
storm in Wilmington since The night
OF May 4-s, when the total fan
amounted TO 1.19 inches. This is con
sidered a normal rain storm for this
section Of the country. Anything less
than an inch fall is hardly more than
= shower
The records show there have been
oniy a very few light showers in
June. as follows: June IL, .0s of an
inch; June II, 50; June s. .02
since May there has been yer1,
little rain. The fall according 10 The
weather Bureau has been as follows
May /, is; May As, 1.7s: Nav IL
10: May Is. 81: Max, IA, .o4: Nav 1e
.oe; May %. p; May %. .0S.
IL was stated today by a man wbo
started TO do some planting i, ~
garden that he had dug to 4 depth
oi eisht inches and found The soil
baked dry and absolutely no moisture
All growing things are said. 10 have
been damaged with the prospects tha,
conditions VIII become, worse if tn,
drought continues. II is estimated 2
ram, TO do any real good. will have
10 continue for SO or As hours.
All expectations of rain for TODAY
based upon the threatening aDDear-
ance Of the sky last evening have
been banished by today's weatbe,
forecast, which states that the dry
weather will continue.
The thermometer at s O'Clock YES.
terday morning registered "a, al moor
81, and at p. m. IS. AT midnight
the mercury stood at IS. Although
the thermometer did not register
quite as high. YESTERDAY saa-,aE
warmer than Wednesday.
At O'Clock this morning the ner-
curry was up to 81. advancing to 81
at noon.