Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-10-05
need OF new WATER
MAINS POINTED OUT
BY COUNCIL MEMBER
Election October 10 Viii
Determine Fate of Pro-
posed Improvement
BY C. e. JOHNSTON

On October 10 the city OF Plen-
tyWood will hold an election 10
enable it to replace most of its
water mains. Those 10 be enewed
are the steel mains which have de-
Perforated to such an extent that
the cost OF repairs ana pumping
the water which is lost through the
leaks is becoming %prohibitiye. The
city has been making these repairs
Tor the past four years or so but
they are becoming more frequent
n eight repairs in the steel mains
We're made within thirty
days.
The city is pumping many times
the amount of the water sold. Five
hours pumping will furnish all of
the water used, but it is necessary
to run the pumps more than Is
hours a day at the present time.
After the larger leaks have been
repaired there is considerable diff
terence in the time of pumping. un-
III new leaks are formed.
Because of our porous soil the
water will drain to one side or
downward, and many of the leaks
are not located for a long time and
some not at all. 1t is only when
the water is forced upward or he
ground becomes saturated and the
water rises to the surface that the
leaks are located.
When the mains were installed
some 70 years ago, steel pipe was
used Not because it was lower in
cost, for the steel pipe and casr
IRON pipe We're selling at approx
mately the same price at the fac
tory, but the steel pipe is only
one-eishth of an inch thick. whtrs
the cast iron pipe Is one-half an
inch thick and about two thousand
dollars was saved in freight.
Steel pipe gives good service
where soil conditions are right. but
the alkali and similar chemicals in
III soil causes 1t to corrode. Last
year the city replaced some 2.05u
Ieet OF mains with cast iron pine.
Within that distance IL leaks were
found and after the work was com
there was a saving of % ner
- RAAA1Rth5 1DGlS.
There Is plenty Of water IN he
wells south Of town to furnish soft
water to all users, If there il no
waste, but when the leaks occur 1t
necessary to pump from the
hard water wells to maintain the
proper pressure.
The city will have to replace the
mains. Ii funds are not &C.
cured from outside, the work will
nave to be done a little at a time.
.aklng several years before the lob
$ finished and before much saving
be made by eliminating repairs
loss of water.
We can ecure the funds now
rom the government if the bonds
IND work Is authorized. 1t will
give US 100000 outright: this
Toes not have to be paid at any
line. An additional $1,000 90
VIII De required and we may have
rom 20 to 80 years In which to
1t at not over 4 per cent inter
The project is se%lf-liquidas-
ng and will not be raised through
axes. Every cent will be used for
purchasing the cast iron pipe and
or the labor of placing 1t. There
III not be any cost for survey ais
ne new pipe will be placed where
ne steel mains are now. There
I'll be no expense for supervision
$ the present superintendent OF
water department will oversee
ne work without any additional
ost. This work will NOT be let
y contract, but every cent will be
aid for hour labor at a good wage
nd in cash.
Water rates are entirely too
Ugh. The city has been trying to
aduce them, but cannot until il
u reduce the cost of production.
the expense Of repairs and I'M
ecessary pumping Is eliminated
'e rates can be reduced to about
alf, possibly lower, for lower
ties mean additional users. The
ty wants to make 1t possible to
apply every user with plenty of
alter Tor lawns and gardens at a
nominal cost