The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-19
THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.


to charge the newspapers of the city
with criminal negligence in failing to
expose the rottenness of the city wa
ter supply"
The State Journal has made a, thoro
investigation-an investigation based
on the existing conditions and on the
scientific reports of hydraulic engi-
neers.
Here is the trouble: The water at
this time has become impure due to
the emergency supply from the Harri-
son street station that stirred up the
settling of years in the mains. Now
don't misconstrue this statement. The
Harrison street supply. according TO
daily tes1s. is pure. But in adding this
main to the city system the reversal
of pressure stirred up the impurities
that have settled in the pipes, thereby
causing the muddy condition AMI
drinking purposes.
This condition is improving daily.
Constant flushing and pumping is
clearing the mains In a short time
the tests will show a supply that is
safe for consumption, City Commits
sioner Stanfield promises.
Here was the situation: The
west end plant has been fail
ing for some time. The city's
growth and the absolute necessity of
adding to the supply without drawing
directly from the river in case of a
fire or an emergency created a de-
mand for additional water. The old
Harrison street station was investi-
gated. State board of health tests
according to reports on file at the city
hall, proved that the water there was
pure. Wells were drilled. The water
was given a long, thoro archaeological
tryout. 1t was hard and carried a
large percentage of iron but it was
safe for drinking.
The plant was equipped, the mains
connected and last month the water
was turned into the city system.
Today the Harrison street plant is
pumping 60 per cent of the citys wa
ter supply. The old west end plant
that has been the oity's one source of
supply for so many years is pumping
only 40 per cent of the water in the
mains.
| Now about the Harrison street
plant. Years ago this plant was
closed due to public sentiment against
the city's water supply being pumped
| from below sewerage" There was
no state board of health at that time
From the plant to the river there was
an old river bed. This was used as a
city dumping ground. Today this
dump has practically filled up the hole
and is level with the waterworks
/ building.
This condition has aroused To-
pekans recently. A view of this loca-
Ition has been responsible for many of
the complaints that have come to The
State Journal
Upon investigation The State Jour-
nal finds, according to the reports of
engineers and experts, that the dump
does in no way affect the condition of
the water. The wells are 900 feet
from the dump away from the river
The water flow, it is found, comes
from the highlands and runs directly
|
serted by engineers, are protected
from any surface water that may
come from the dump or from the city
above.
Tests are made daily of the water
in these wells. They prove satisfac-
tory. Tests made uptown show the
water impure. This means, says Com
| mis- ia1d hof ho f,,1r ri
ties are from the unsettled mains and
not from the wells at the Harrison
street station.
| Topeka has voted a half million
dollars in bonds to build filtration
plant. Work will begin Immediately.
It should be completed in 1922.
| Meanwhile the city must depend
upon the west end and the Harrison
street plants. Otherwise water must
be pumped directly from the river.
| Topeka owes a debt of gratitude to
the men who pushed over this bond
issue. 1t should have been done five
years ago. to be sure. But it has been
done and there is great satisfaction in
the realization that at last Topeka is
on the way to twentyyear assured
supply of pure water.
The present city water commission
er, Mr.. Stanfield, has worked night
and day in an effort to save the city
from river water. The state board of
health is in absolute control of the
condemnation or approval of the city
supply.
1t is very evident that the city is
making the best out of serious situa-
ton. The State Journal believes this
to be true. 1t is an easy matter to sit
back and complain of the water that
comes from the faucet. To pump the
right Kind of water into the pipes that
supply the faucet under present condi-
itions is a difficult problem. It will be
solved only with the completion of the
Filtration plant