The Ely miner., 1939-12-14

approves one year may De QlSapproVeC
a year or two later as sanitary engineer
ing progresses.
I'VE may think that the State Boaro
of Health is a little bit critical" DR.
owen w. Parker, city health officer
told the council, "but we must bear
in mind that for the past 80 years ii
has given us more protection than any
other organization"
DR.. Parker emphasized the Importance
of protecting our water supply to pro-
tect ourselves"
City Engineer Waino Somero pointed
out that many of the defects were in
the Oldest part of the system, and
that they are being corrected from
year to year."
Somero urged the council to keep
the report in mind when my office
submits requests for funds" and that
"some city funds should be spent every
year in correcting these defects"
Following are the 10 defects as listed
by the department of health engineer
and suggested corrections:
l. The treated-water and the water
wash pumps are located below ground
level in pits at the Shagawa filter
plant 1t is recommended that they be
put on the ground level, with the most
suitable place for the pumping plant
apparently being at the west end of
the settling basin.
The report pointed out that it was
understood that the work would be
carried out as agreed with the city
council in conference on Aug. 80, 1884.
It was on the basis of this agree
ment, it continued, that plans for re-
modelling the filter plant were approved
| by the State Board of Health on Oct.
80, 1884. This remodeling, therefore,
is not yet considered complete.
2. The raw water pumps at the
Shagawa plant for emergency use are
primed by direct connection to the
treated water lines. Untreated or partly
treated water under certain conditions
may be forced through these connec-
tions into the distribution mains.
Recommend breaking these connections
| (Which has now been done), and that
bther primary provisions, such as an
automatic printing tank with break on
the line or surge tank and auxiliary
printing pump be devised.
8. There are two flushometer-v valve
toilets in the plant which can be back
siphoned under certain conditions.
Recommended that they be equipped
with tank-flush equipment SO arranged
that neither the bowl nor the tank
can be back-siphoned.
Corrective measures are now being
devised to carry out this recommenda-
ton.
| 4. BURNSIDE raW-Water line is cross
! connected with filter effluent so that
water receiving only chlorine and am
monia treatment can be pumped di-
rectly into the storage reservoir. This
presents certain hazards from a sani-
tary viewpoint, and it was recon-
mended that the connection be broken.
Such action has now been taken
5. There are direct filter-to-waste
connections on both filters through
which, under certain conditions, waste
water may reach the bottom of the
filter or filter effluent lines. Although
this possibility is remote, these con-
nections add to the hazard in any
plant. Recommended that they be
changed as the opportunity presents it
self.
These connections were built into
the plant when it was erected in 1906
6. Several hydrants are drained to
sewers. Recommended that those con-
nected to storm or sanitary sewers pe
disconnected and that waste water be
pumped out of hydrants.
The water department has been fol-
lowing this recommendation for some
time whenever such connection il
found. Location of all such connections
is not known.
Z. Blow-offs from several dead end
discharge into sewer manholes. Recon-.
mended that they be removed and thai
an extension Or blow-off hydrant bt
located above ground Several such
corrections have been made
8. Some water mains and sewers anc
old water services and clay pipe build
ing sewers are laid together. There i
always danger of the ground settling
resulting in leakage of both lines. 4
partial vacuum, condition that oc
casionally arises, may draw contamin
alton into water pipe. Recommended
that water and sewer lines be laid il
separate trenches, 10 feet apart, unles
special protection is provided
9. In old construction, no additiona
safeguard against leakage of the waite
mains has been provided where waite
pipes and sewers cross. Recommends,
that proper safeguards be provide,
when the opportunity presents itself
10. 1t was observed during the cours
of the investigation that there wer
plumbing fixtures throughout the city G
faulty design and construction that con
stitute hazard to the water supply
| Outlets which can be submerged wi
permit water to be back-siphoned @
drained into water piping system
Draining piping system may cause
partial vacuum, causing contamina
tion to be drawn into the system whe
4 pluIuUulS S IaulGy III design or cor
Struction.
The report emphasized that all ne
plumbing should be installed in az
cordance with provisions of the stat
plumbing code, and that all existin
plumbing not properly designated {
installed be changed to conform wit
the code as soon as the opportunit
presents itself. Recommended that a
investigation be staged to uncovt
faulty plumbing so that a long-rane
Il rar.ncrr.a m fn,. its rarala nar,,o,at na..