New Britain herald., 1927-02-02
City Using Raw Kater Filler
 Needed, Commissioner Asserts
J. F. Lamb Also Tells Ex- change Club Members Larger Supply Will Be Required.

| Joseph r. Lamb, of the board of
 water commissioners, addressing the
 New Britain Exchange club last eve- ming at it's regular weekly meeting at
 the Burritt hotel, said that New Britain was at present taking the risk of using raw water, unserved by ! filtration or sun bleaching. He em- 1 phasized the immediate need of a ! filter and stated that steps would be taken to provide a suitable pro-
 lection for water from Shuttle
 Meadow lake.
 The chairman also stated that I plans for the raising of Shuttle
 Meadow were nearing completion
 and gave the figures submitted by | Allan Hagen, the engineer who has
 been surveying the situation for
 some time. Defending the abandon
 ment of the Burlington dam site
 question, Lamb stated that condi-
 tions were found to be unfavorable in that district for the erection of a dam.
 New Britain's water consumption
 was estimated at between seven and
 eight million gallons daily. Beyond question, the speaker said. 1t was vital that the water be kept free from contamination and maintained at an amount which would assure adequate pressure in all sections.
 Water should stand quite a long period to receive the effects of the suns bleaching powers" MT. Lamb stated. "The new inlets to Shuttle Meadow from Burlington and Whig- vile open almost directly into the outgoing mains. This means that New Britain is using almost raw water. We have had no trouble in the past and it is probable that there would arise no emergency from the situation but the fact re-
 mains that we are taking risk. We need a filter and l feel safe to say that we will have one within a short time"
 Supply Must Be Augmented Supporting the move for expansion of New Britain's watersheds, MT. Lamb advocated the raising of Shut tie Meadow by means of a new dam which would be constructed in front of the present dam which would raise the water supply to an ade- ouate amount. He further, stated that figures show that providing for the same ratio of increase as in the past 10 years, New Britain's water supply would be exhausted within the next four years In case of two dry summers following each other, as nearly occurred during the sum- mers of 1924 and 1925, Mir. Lamb as- sured the gathering that grave sit uation would result, unless some action were taken towards the ex- pansion of the present sheds. New Britain's present capacity in all the reservoirs and pumping stations amounts to 1,761, 100000 gallons which will be able to care for the city until 1881, barring the fact that any large fires or droughts occur which would deplete the supply. Less llidll Hull lllc WiltI siN 10 uopu, no storage for the rest being ready. The raising of Shuttle Meadow would give increased pressure, and, by it's greater length of storage, a purer water supply.
 This, of course, will be eXpen- siye," Mr. Lamb concluded, but it would not be any great burden. The water rates would not advance ap- preciably and the cost could be so financed and apportioned that no great deal would fall on individual shoulders"
 Following the address Superin- tendcnt of Health Richard w. Pull len gave a motion picture entitled "The Water We Drink" showing the operations of the health board in analysing the water. Views of the reservoirs and pumping stations were also flashed on the screen.
 Next weeks meeting of the club will be held at the home club in Meriden. The members will meet in the Silver City at 6:30 o'clock. The Berlinites and East Berlinites have made transportation arrangements.