River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-12-15
River Falls Now USING
New Water Supply

River Falls are now being supplied
with the finest quality of water to be
found in this state, pumped at the new
station located near the Pritchett
} formerly the FOSTER sand pit.
\ Probably but few people of this
community realize what River Falls
lis getting from its investment of be-
tween eleven and twelve thousand
dollars in the new station.
\ In the first place, they are getting
a wonderful quality of the purest wat
Ger. 1t has been examined three dis
tinct times by the State Board OF
\ Health, and every return has not only
been commendatory but highly COM
rlimentary As stated in this paper
/ before, the water in the new well is
more pure and of softer quality than
that of our excellent wells. The rur-
ity of the supply is protected by a
! 60-ft. square filter that has been pro-
nounced perfect by the chief of the
State Board of Health inspectors. This
grand supply of cure water is, in it
self justification for the expenditure
of the eleven or twelve thousand dol
lars, in our estimation.
Next in order of considera ton is the
important fact the city is now assur-
ed of an ample supply of water for
fire protection. With the new pump
ing station the Fire Department could,
if necessary, keep in use for twelve
hours at stretch full dozen y Inch
fire hose streams. In case of a big
fire this city could summon help from
Hudson and Ellsworth and use all of
the hose equipment available from
those cities in connection with our
own without fear of gripping the
water supply.
The two Midwest 4-stage centrifu-
gal pumps at the new station are
really marvellous examples of engin-
eering ingenuity. 1t is an item worth
considering that either one of these
pumps will, on 80 k. w. of power, turn
out between $50 and 400 gallons of
water per minute, while the upper
main street plant, using IL k. W., and
and the power house plant, using ~
k. W., together will pump about 230
GAL rer minute. (The Two pumps In
the new station are Identical and will,
therefore. pump together between
seven and eight hundred gallons per
minute.)
TIL city's average daily consumption
of water is between 200 and $50 gall
Ions per minute. Either one of the
new pumps, running but IL or Ia
hours day. will furnish far more
than the ordinary needs. 1t is there
fore not necessary to keep this power
bin use at all times, for even if the sup
sply. in the. reservoir should get low,
these pumps can soon fill it to over
flowing again. This is great adj
vantage at the power house at that
time of day when lights are being
turned on throughout the city and all
motors are running-the peak load, as
the electricians call it--for at that
time the pump motors can be turned
off and their power consumption re-
lieved from the other service.
There is no lost power in the opera
tion of the centrifugal pumps; no line
shafts, no pulleys, no connecting rods,
etc. They are of surprisingly SIM
pie construction and there would seem
to be no limit to their life of service.
They seem to have an uncanny gift
for automatically handling their work
under different conditions. If the
mains and reservoir should be filled
the pumps will continue to function
without danger of bursting pipes,
for at 140 lbs. pressure the propellers
will rotate in the water that is held
around them without increasing the
pumping force. If pressIr, is qui. k
ly relieved they will immediately pick
it up and hold it TO the proocr level.
Each pump has its own 40 h. p,
motor with remote control from the
electric light plant. The switch box
at the station is equipped with a
safety device arranged so that the
POWER cannot be applied from the up
per plant when an electrician might
be working on the wires at the pump
ing station.
The we'll which supplies the water
is in reality the basement of the
pumping station. 1t is Is feet square
and twelve feet deep. This normally
is filled to depth of ten feet with
water. The lowest draw that has yet
been made on this supply is six feet
leaving four feet of water in the pit
After reaching the four-foot level il
is harder to reduce the supply, be-
cause with the pressure above les
sened the flow into the pit is faster
AROUND the plI is IllIef Sixty Iee'
square through which all the water
must pass before it reaches the pit it.
self. This filter. of sand and gravel
is said by the chief of the Wisconsin
Board of Health to be perfect and will
allow absolutely no contamination.
The interior of the station, wher
the few finishing touches are added
will bring the entire plant to state
of perfection in the mater of santa
tion without the necessity of extra
precautions which are now exercised
for with oil drainage and the new
sloping floor, ETC.. the temporary work
row used to safeguard the pit can be
dispensed with and rerfect sanitation
will be automatically attended to.
As soon as it can be arranged the
combined pressure of the pumps is to
be used in flushing out the entire city
voter system. a job which has long
hean held over because of the shortage
O. the water supply. With tho force
Of nraesrre row qvsi'a'le the flushing
will be thorough and nut the whole
system info use a"sin as rood as new
A view of tho nit while the pumps