The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1948-02-05
ENGINEERS MAKE
REPORT ON CITY
WATER SOURCES
Recommend Drilling of Ad-
ditiOnal Well or Wells at Present
Instead of ImpOunding Dam

1HSICdu vi IHlpOuiiuIItS DdH
Augmenting of Oakand's water sup
ply by the drilling of additional wells,
but consideration of the ACCESSIBILITY
of developing a surface source of
supply from a long-range outlook,
were recommended to the Mayor and
Town Council of Oakland in thirty
page report of the Chester Engineers,
of Pittsburgh. which has just been
completed
The City Council accepted the re-
port as submitted at its regular
monthly meeting on Monday night
and prepared to contact well drillers
for the cost Of new we'll near the
Wilson dam, northeast Of Oakland,
with an 8-inch bore, with a depth of
from 200 to 300 feet. The site Sc
lected was the first recommendation
of the Engineers. All water at
present is supplied from wells and
springs.
Other specific recommendation
were the drilling of second new
well as soon thereafter as the need
arises, preferably east of lower
Eighth street; the saving of electric
energy by installation of automatic
controls between reservoirs an d
pumps, improvement of the distri-
button system piping layout to better
the fire protection facilities and save
/ water now used in blowing off dead
ends; installation of proper size cleo
trical transformers close to present
the motors.
A study Of the population trend led
the engineers to state it was reason
able to expect $500 or 1000 persons
here by 1855. With maximum yield
of 216.000 gallons of water per day
from present sources, it was pointed
out the future pumping needs would
reach 100000 gallons Present pump
ing equipment is capable of handling
100000 gallons per day, sufficient
for years to come.
1t was not considered economical
at the present time to secure the adj
ditional water from impounded sur
face sources, due to prohibitive costs,
but suggested such a procedure in
the long range program. Bradley run
was considered by far the most eco
nomical and practical, with low
earth fill dam on Bradley run north
of the municipal golf course and the
Sang Run county road crossing This
has drainage basin of 335 acres, free
of pollution, with a gravity flow to
a filtration plant which could be
erected near the present spring house
A dam located about 80 feet up
stream from the center of the Sang
Run road crossing, with the spillway
crest Is feet above the valley floor
level, would impound body of water
about 20 acres, or approximately so
million gallons Of water, or enough
for over four months supply for Oak
land. The cost of the impounding dam,
reservoir and filtration plant was
estimated at 100000
The engineers also investigated
other water supplies with the cost of
obtaining water from the Harrington
Manor lake section at 100000. Deep
Greek Lake, various nearby runs,
Landons dam at Mt. Lake Park, the
Little and Big Youghiogheny rivers
were all studied, in addition to well
sites.
Arrangements for this study by the
Chester Engineers were made several
months ago by the City Council when
the quantity of water needed during
the late summer and fall months
could not be supplied by the present
system.
1t was pointed out that new con-
struction probably this year would in
crease the need for an additional
water supply, and that if there was
SullICiGHI wafer llldI several lHQuS-
/ tries would locate in this area.
A study of precipitation showed an
average of 1880 inches with only
3S13 in 1916 and 1857 in 1947.
Quality of Water
A physical analysis of a sample of
water collected on June II, 1947, by
the Maryland State Department of
health, shows it to be excellent in
turbdity and color, free of pollution,
non-corrosive, low in total solids,
satisfactory in iron content, and quite
soft with very little permanent hard
ness"
The detailed report is on file at the
Council Chamber
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