The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-06-27
Soft, Filtered Water Is Prom
, Used to Residents of the City
as Soon as the New Plant Is
Completely Over the Test
ing Period - Additional
Fire Pressure Is Provided
in the New Plant-MethOd
of Making Wholesome Wa
ter Out of Raw River Water
Is Told


filtration plant in operation, will got
clear soft, water at the tap as soon
as the work of cleaning reservoirs
and flushing of mains is completed,
and the test period in the new plant
has passed, according to city engin-
ears.
The new plant, it is declared, isl
complete in every respect, and will
be one of the best in the Northwest.
The complete water works system,
owned and operated by the city, will
represent an investment of upwards
of 100000, and will be operated COM
plete by the city, even to the gener-
ating of electricity for the power
needed in pumping the water.
The old plant of the Bismarck
Water Supply Company . will be
abandoned entirely as soon rs the in
take pipe for the new plant is COM
pleted. At the present time it is
used only for receiving water from
the river and pumping it to the fill
tration plant. The new plant is a
short distance from the Missouri
River, is seven feet above the high
est known high water mark, and in
cludes sedimentation basins, litter
plant and pumping equipment. The
reservoirs of the old plant on the
hills west of the city will be used.
One important change which will
be made with the new plant is in
respect to fire protection. Hcrefo-
fore, to increase pressure it has been
Eecessary to operate booster pump
located between the reservoirs and
the city. In the new plant, water can
be pumped direct to the city without
going to the reservoirs, and this will
be done in case of fire. Formerly
1T was necessary to have a man at
the booster pump to increase fire pro-
\ lection, while under the new meth cd
van engineer in the new plant can pull
lever and increase the pressure.
Under Various Contracts
The new plant was built under var
lous contracts. The DeGraff Wifi
company laid the mains, the Wood
rich Construction Company built the
filtration, plant building, F. G.
Grambs and hte Midwest Company
installed pumps, Mr.. Grambs install
ed the heating system, and the Nc
Farland Engineer Company of Kan
sas City, with l.. c. Roberts in charge
installed the filter equipment. The
acknowledgements Company, furnish
ed Diesel engine. --..a.--,.r
The process of the water in the
new plant is as follows:
The low life pumps will discharge
water into a roughing chamber, hav-
ing capacity of $4,000 gallons,
which, at the normal rate Of oper-
alton, gives period of 80 minutes
for settling out the heavier sediment
before chemical treatment.
From The roughing chamber the
water flows to the mixing chambers,
three in number, SO arranged that
any one can be cut out for cleaning
without interference with the oper-
alton of the others. Each chamber
ia Is feet by 20 feet in size, and II
feet deep, and is provided with baf-
files, arranged to cause the water to
travel alternately up and down. The
battles will be movable, and can be
arranged to provide velocities rang
ing from one foot per second down
to one-half foot per second. The
( time of travel, through each basin,
is at the normal. rate of 2,250,O0O
gallons per day, 20 minutes for each
= chamber, or one hour when all
chambers are in operation. The
length of travel can be carried from
500 feet to 900 feet for each cham
Der. The velocity will not be the
same in all parts of the chamber.
Both the roughing chamber and the
mixing chamber are inside the fill
tration plant building, as are all
valves and sluice gates which con-
troll their operation, including drain
valves for cleaning.
The sedimentation basins are of
reinforced concrete, with concrete
roofs, covered with 16 inches of earth
to prevent freezing. There will be
two basins, each with a capacity of
100000 gallons, or four hours sedi-
mentation for each basin at the nor
NAL rate, with the water passing
first through one basin, and then
through the second. The basins may
also be operated with the water divid-
ing, and half passing through each
basin, in which case the flow will be
slower. In either case the time of
passage through the two basins will
~ eight hours.
The eight-hour period of sedimen-
tation was chosen with view to
providing sufficient time for the
chemical reactions involved in water
softening. During the summer
months, water softening will prob
ably be unnecessary, in which case
Ahe four hour period of one basin
will be sufficient for coagulatiOn.
Chemical Treatment
The chemical treatment is describ-
ed in an official report to the state
board of health as follows: Sedi-
mentation is augmented by the use
of coagulents. Either sulphate OF
alumina, or sulphate of iron and lime
may be used. Three dry feed mach.
ines are provided, one for the coag-
ulent, one for lime, and one fol
soda ash, the latter to be used fol
These machines will be operated by
electric motors, and will be adjust
able for various rates of feed.
large room, forming the second story
of the filtration plant, Will provide
for the storage of chemicals, which
can be unloaded at q platform at the
rear of the building at the level ,ot
the chemical storage room, and dis
s,eharged into hoppers leading direct
L., ~ +Io mo cl,inac halouy