The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-16
LAKE PURDY BANKS TO GO UP 2O FEET,
 ADDING ID SUPPLY
WaterWorkS Company Adds 1,948 New MeterS-8ig
 Expansion Planned

Plans are in possession of the Bir- mingham Water Works company for raising the banks of Lake Purdy 20 feet. This will give the lake water holding capacity of many billions of gallons, such supply, IT, IT. Horner, wee president and general manager of the company, said Saturday that Birmingham need never have the slightest fear Of an inadequate water supply, even though the city's popu- lation passes the million mark.
 There Is no intention on the part of the company of starting this work just yet for the present supply is such that Lake Purdy Is merely used as reserve in summer when the present used supply sources are low, but said Mir. Horner. 'it Is pleasant to know the city has an available sup ply equal to any demands that may be made on 1t regardless of what the population of Birmingham may be-"
 Because of the constant growth of the city, improvements are being made III the water service that in wolves the expenditure of many thou sands of dollars, and new mains are being built In many sections.
 1,94s New Meters In 1923.
 Continuation of the present in crease in customers of the Birming- ham Water Works company will give the organization 36, 900 consumers by the first of 1924. So far during 1923 there have been 1,s48 new meters in stalled. In the first seven months Of this year the increase in water con- sumption has been 5S3,054,00O gal Ions, compared to the corresponding preceding seven months.
 At the Rosedale high service sta tion the company Is preparing to in stall new 2,OO0OOo gallon centri- increase in population of that vicinity. Huge Western ReseFvolr.
 Another part of the territory served by the company, Ensley, Wy lam, Pratt City and Fairfield, the industrial district, is growing so rapidly it has become necessary to b,O0O,O0O gallon reservoir Is soon 70 be built. It's area will be five city lots and its building will give work to several hundred laborers.
 Additional filters are necessary as the demands on the company in crease, MT. Horner announces, and eight concrete filters are to be built ready by next summer.
 The Birmingham Water Works company Is now supplying water tc 100000 people. This has necessitsted tine laying of several additional maing during the past seven months 110,092 feet having been placed or are in course of laying now. Of this total 64.540 feet represent entirely new business. Fire protection has been increased by 45,552 feet of large mains.
 o O o
 Further Expansion.
 Despite the increased service of ;he year and provisions for more the company already has under ad- visement additional plans to meet the demands of the rapidly increas- ing commercial and manufacturing demands made by the new firms go- ing into business. Birmingham Is registering, even during the late summer, so-called dull months" a new incorporated business every two days. and every new concern Is, perforce, q customer of the water company.
 One phase of the additional busi- ness preparations going on is the building of a 42-inch settled water main at the Shades Mountain filter plant. This new main has 8 ca pacity of 32,0Oo.O00 gallons day.