Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-03
Use Electricity to
Pump Bath Water

}
der the three big boilers of the Nc
quasset pumping station of the Bath
Water District in 1894, they were
drawn last week. the day marking the
er for the pumps. Hereafter e:ectrici-
ty will be depended upon with gaSo-
line as an emergency auxiliary.
I \ combination Defaval turbine CEN
trifuga! pump, SO arranged that mo-
tive power may be FURNISHED either by
electricity OF gasoline. has just been
installed. This is considered TIE last
word in water pumps and is attracting
great deal Of attention among en-
gincering experts. The engine is the
well known Ste ring make. six cylin-
ders. developing 145 horse power and
(, capable Of pumping 1850 gallons of
| Water per minute. This engine is
equipped with the necessary batteries
and dynamo all compactly arranged
! by its side ami IN case of emergency,
especially at night when there might
be a sudden lapse in the electric cur
rent. all that .hC engineer would have
to do would De to turn on miniature
batteries, push his Uumb on the self
starting device and away goes the en-
CINE without less of time.
1t was during the winter of 1yl1-lS,
when the coal shortage brcame acute.
that Supt. Abbott OF the Balh Water
District proposed t. the truStt es that
they equip The plan with eiecric pumps
as matter of economy and two were
accordingly ordered They were in
stalled III september, 1918, and since
that time the steam pumps have only
been used for emergencies. Banked
fires under the boilers have been MAIN
tanned All Inns time, howeI er, with Il
fuel consumption of 500 pounds daily.
The electric pumps have proved
satisfactory every way and the cur
rent has been constant with a few
exceptions when unavoidable trou-
b!eS have oeen encountered and it
has become necessary to rely upon
the steam pumps. But steam does
not generate any too rapidly from
banked fires. The record develop
ment in this respect has been 40
minutes but often it has taken long
er than this and considering periods
OF crisis this would be too long 50
Supt. Abbott decided that another
substitute capable of immediate
response in case of emergency
should be provided This resulted in
the introduction of the gasoline en-
gine and combination pump by which
the motive power can be furnished
from he
Slde or the pump or from the electri-
city developed through q motor on
the opposite side.
Under ordinary circumstances on
~ one OF the electric pumps is nee
eSSarE to maintain Il sufficient pres
sure at the rate of 800. 600 suIluns
day. Sould leak Ceyelop. how
ever. and the pressure drop. tba
second pump is brought into play.
ana IN case a break down should
happen to either one of the pumps;
there VIII still be left the new elnc
trlc pumps just installed But. sun
posing something should happen ia
the electric current which would in
leftere with the operation of either
or the pumps, the. recourse would be
had TO the new susolnr pump. 1t is
ou' 'he work of a few seconds to
turn on the switch. press the auto
matte starter and the engine is in
immediate action. There would
scarcely be any perception of Il low
erlng of pressure during the interim
between the cessation of the electric
current and the operation of The
gasoline engine.
1t was more than three years aeo
that the big coal shed at the pumn-
ing station was filled. Between four
ana I'VE tons OF coal are required TO
keep the big steam pumps going
daily and it can be readily seen at
the current cost of bituminous the
e>Iense is tremendous Electricity
IS much cheaper and with the install
latlon of the gasoline engine q ser
vice has been introduced that can
always be depended upon. There is
an economy of room by tie Use ofthe
electric or gasoline pumps. for they
take up but very little space. less
than Il dozen feet each and only half
rms distance in width The operat =
Ing costs are Very much lesseneJ
"hlie the certainty of always main
tanning standard pressure is guar
anteed
The installation OF the gasoline en-
Slne necessltated an engine erine pro
biem III taking care OF the exhaust
rms IS now piped to the outside of
the building and SO muffled that the
annoying "Sput. sput" OF the gasoline
engine is eliminated. Big gasoline
tanks with a capacity of 900 gallons
each are to be sunk so that there
VIII at all times be supply Of 80
hours operation at least.
visit to the pumping station Of
the Bath Water District OF the
shores of Lake Nequasset in Wool
Wich in intei sting. The plant itself
is one of great tidiness. The grounds
are cleared from all rubbish and un
der the direction of :5upt. Abbott
small lawns have recently been soWn
to grass seed. Since the District
took over the plant OF the Maine
Water Co, cement has been laid
throughout the station in place OF
the lod plank floors. No grease. or
oil spots are to be found anywhere.
End Hearings on
American Valuation