The Delta independent., 1921-10-28

Ine itn lnSt. LOT tne purpose OF eX-
amining and reporting on the condi-
tion of the City Water Works, and
advising in regard to improvements
that may be considered necessary
Delta obtains it's water from Dough
Spoon and Dirty George creeks, the
sources being on the rim of the Grand
Mesa, almost due north of town, dis
tant therefrom 1915 miles, and ia
miles, and 4440 feet, and 1920 feet
higher, respectively.
The system is gravity one, the
water being conducted from the
creeks described to Orchard Mesa,
where the controlling elevation is
pressure tank '29O feet higher than
the lower part of the city; from which
the water flows directly to the dis
tribution mains. the surplus rising to
the Garnet equalizing reservoirs
through an S-inch pipe. These reser-
voirs are 81 feet lower than the pres
sure tank.
On the Sth inst, accompanied by
yourself, DIR. Miller, and Messrs. Nell
son and Cook, I went over the Dough
Spoon supply line to the small reser-
voir near the source of supply; and
thence across country to a point on
the Dirty George supply line about
As miles from its source. From here
the pipe line was followed more or
less closely, to its junction with the
Dough Spoon line. From the latter
point the line follows a less pre-
cipitous course to the pressure tank
ard oh
north of the city.
The outstanding features of the sys-
tenn appeared to be a shortage of
water for actual service, and high
damaging pressures in the lower
areas of town. 1t is also apparent
that Delta is fortunate in having at
command an ample supply of water
of excellent quality.
Water Supply
It is reasonable to assume that the
period of maximum run-off of the
drainage basins tributary to the in
lets of the pipe lines is co-incident
with the months of May, June and
July, of maximum discharge of the
Gunnison river, and other streams of
the region.
The period of maximum demand on
the system, when the draft for garden
and lawn irrigation Is the greatest,
covers the months oi May, June, July
August and September. Probably one
half of the mean annual precipitation
: occurs in these months. 1t will be
noted that three of the months of
maximum demand coincide with the
Actual gaugings of the two sri cams
under review are lacking. and no rec
ords have been kept of the supply
pipe discharge.
Dough Spoon Supply
1t is assumed the city has the right
p to the use of the entire flow of Dough
Spoon creek.
The sources of this supply are from
II to 13 miles from the city, and at
attitudes varying from 5000 feet to
$3.50 feet. The altitude of Meeker
avenue and First street is 4,965 feet
The length of the line to its juno
tion with the Dirty George line is ap-
proximately 6.75 miles, comprising
10000 feet of 6-inch and nearly 21 900
feet of 8-inch vitrified clay pipe, with
reinforced cement-sand collar joints.
The pipe is not, or is not supposed to
be, operating under. pressure and
when in good order its capacity is
not less than 2.25 cubic feet per sec
ond.
Investigation displayed many evi.
dences of a general lack Of attention
to maintenance details. Water was
wasting, in relatively large amounts,
at several places through defective
connections and broken joints, and
was not being taken up by, or IVES
wasting from, wrecked or partially.
wrecked conducting or gathering
pipes. From the points of view of
sanitation and operating safety the
stand pipes are altogether too ac-
cessible> and at more than one point
the pipe itself was, although fimsily
covered, open to receive rocks or
other matter which might be acci.
dentally pushed into 1t by the move
ment and pressure OF an animals
foot. The danger of such defects can.
not be minimized in the face of the
steep grades the pipe is laid on, and
the high resulting velocities.
At point on the first steep ascent
in the vicinity of an old cabin, and
about 35 miles from the junction
with the Dirty George line, esti
mated the flow of the pipe at 1.3O
cubic feet per second. This result
was based on 6-inch pipe running
half full of water, and on a grade
OF 1876 per cent as indicated by the
profile Of the line. Near the point
OF observation water was overnowine
and wasting from the pipe to an esti