Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1925-09-25

larged district and the compare.
| tive low head under which the
main distribution system will OPP
Icrate.
When the demand for water in.
creases beyond the capacity Of the
proposed rams, it will be possible
to supplement the water delivered
by the installation Of a pumping
plant located part way down the
|hill, thereby easily doubling the
discharge from the rams.
The installation Of a pumping
|plant on the creek itself would
also be possible.
Owing to the high head against
(which pump in the creek will
have to operate, the first cost and
maintenance will be much higher
than the pump working under
lower heads.
Elevations
The topography of the district
is such that the Vashon Corners
are as high as any portion Of the
district and too nigh to permit Of
the installation of anything but a
pressure tank or tower tank
which can be located at Vashon,
The elevation of Vashon is ap-
lproXimately 270 #. above the in
take for a ram or electric pump
ing station intake. A head of APP
proximately 100 #. is available
below this point for operating
rams.
Water Rates
The question Of water rates is
always the first thing prospective
patrons or voters of the district
think of. Other districts studied,
have rates ranging from $500 to
5000 per month for water SER
vice based on 10000 gallons per
month. The chief difference is in
the density of population, length
OF mains per customer and cost Of
Operating a pumping plant.
In the case of this district we
will, at least for time, have n
condition of long mains with ex-
pensive pumping and storage g.
Equipment as Cy.aplred with the
number of families served, but
these conditions will change as the
community becomes more density
populated and more in the com
munity avail themselves of the op-
portunity of water service.
/ Ii the rams are installed it is
believed that the operating cost,
(neglecting interest and deprec.
iation) will be less than $4,000 a
month the first six to ten years or
until the water demand has reach
ed more than 10000 gallons day
(which means that large part of
the water rentals can be applied
to the bonded Indebtedness of the
district.
In conclusion wish to state
that, although the first cost of
this system seems rather high for
the limited district it will serve.
the supply Of pure water is unlim-
lited for domestic purposes and
will be comparatively economical
to maintain.
, That the fact if water system
of this kind will draw people to
this district and that the sanitary
and health conditions as well as
the living conditions will be i'm
measurably improved, is not open
to question.
If it saves the community from
one epidemic which can easily be
caused by the use of surface wells,
the expenditure of money neces-
sary for this system is well spent.
THE surface waters which drain
through the barnyards, garbage
dumps, septic tank, cesspools, out
houses, door steps, etc. and satur-
ate the ground, filling the wells
nearly to the surface, cause these
surface wells to become more and
more a menace as the population
increases. An epidemic started by
contaminated wells in the densely
populated districts, can easily ex-
pose the whole community.
believe, therefore, that this
project is worthy of your heart
lest support as the Commissioners
of this district.
Very respectfully submitted,
j. G. Eernisse-Engineer.
The above Comprehensive
scheme" is hereby approved by
the Commissioners of Water Dis