USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1898 > Part 27
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515
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
I recommend that the cement-lined pipes in the following streets be replaced with iron mains the coming season :- Adrian street, Berkeley street, Bow street place, Broadway westerly from Cedar street, Chapel street, Conwell avenue, Cooney street, Curtis street, Curtis avenue, Elm street, Elm court, Grove street, Howe street, Jenny Lind avenue, Line street, Main street, Marion street, Miller street, Moreland street, Oxford street, Park street, Professors' row, Quincy street, School street, Smith avenue, Villa avenue, Winslow avenue, Wyatt street and sundry connections, making a total of about 16,000 feet.
EXTENSION OF STREET MAINS.
Less call than usual has been made during the year for extension of the pipe system into new streets, owing largely to real estate depression and falling off in building operations. Several hundred feet of mains were laid on construction account in Cross street and Temple street, at the time the renewal work was in progress at those points, for the purpose of establishing a circulation for the high service, thereby doing away with a number of dead ends. The connecting up of dead ends and perfecting the high service circulating system should be made a special feature of the work of the coming season. Dead ends in water mains have come to be considered not only disagree- able, but an actual source of danger to the health of those who draw their water supply from them, and a speedy effort should be made to free our entire system of them.
The works have been extended during the year by the addi- tion of 7,536 feet of pipe of various sizes, as shown in the tabu- lar statement thereof. The total pipe mileage of the city is approximately 78 miles, 2,442 feet.
I renew my recommendation of last year that high service circulating mains be laid in Medford street, Central street, Munroe street, Bow street, Elm street, Beech street, and Cedar street, a total length of about 5,550 feet. As stated in another place, these mains can be advantageously extended to form a portion of a high pressure fire-pipe line. I also recom- mend that a 12-inch main be laid in Broadway over the B. & M. R. R. at North Somerville to carry a supply easterly from the
516
ANNUAL REPORTS.
48-inch Metropolitan main near that point ; also that a 20-inch main be laid in Broadway westerly from Willow avenue, for the purpose of giving to that district the benefit of the connection with the Metropolitan main.
Now that we have a large connection with the Metropolitan main in Webster avenue, it would, in my judgment, be wise to extend a line of 16-inch pipe from the Webster avenue main through Glass House court into the packing-house district, and I recommend that this main be laid the coming season. Pipe should also be laid from Clark street through the new Lincoln Park before the roadway is completed, the contract date for which is July 1st.
SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
The service department of the works has made 205 new connections during the year, laying therefor 7,651 feet of pipe. One of the above services was transferred from the mains of the City of Cambridge to our own. The total number of ser- vice pipes laid to December 31, 1898, is 9,806, and the total length of pipe used in making the connections is 61 miles, 3,536 feet.
The usual amount of work has been required in the mainte- nance of the service system, repairing broken pipes, cleaning out sediment, lowering and raising boxes, etc.
METER DEPARTMENT.
The proposition made by the City of Boston for the disposi- tion of their water meters in this city not having received your favorable consideration, they were all removed by this depart- ment early in the year and new meters were set in their places. A number of requests have been made by consumers to take water by meter instead of on annual rates, but in accordance with your policy, meters have not been generally set except for manufacturing or business purposes, or where schedule rates could not readily be assessed.
The efficiency of the meter-testing plant constructed last year has been thoroughly demonstrated, and it has proved a valuable adjunct to the work of the department. The following
517
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
cut of the apparatus used is from the " Engineering Record" of October 8, which contains a description of the plant.
6"High Service Inlet.
Flange connection for 4"and 6"Meters.
Sink, Valves for connecting Meters. Flexible connection for "2"and IE"Meters.
(4Way Cock;}"1"1"2"
4"Low Service Inlet.
- 8 Way Cock, 64 32 16 8 4 8 2 8 Iron Tank, 4'0"x4'0"x4'0".
6"Connection and Valve for Motor Pipe.
2" Feed Pipe for Meters.
Clamping Apparatus, 5" "and "Meters
Plan.
Scale. ?' 3'
I"Connection between High and Low Service. For Durability Test.
Discharge to Tank.
Clamping Apparatus,) 51 3 11 for & 4"and I"Meters.
2" Connection between High and Low Service.
"2"Feed Pipe for Meters.
Sink.
4"Low Service Inlet.
"6"High Service Inlet.
Flange connection for 4"and 6" Meters. 2"Discharge from Tank:>
6"Connection and Valve for Motor Pipe.
THE ENGINEERING RECORD ..
Elevation.
Meters are read monthly and billed quarterly. Other tables in connection with this report will give the revenue accruing from metered water and the class of premises on which meters are used.
The number of meters belonging to the City
of Boston which were removed is 138
Number set in place thereof . 134
Operating meters added during the year 12
Meters removed during the year 3
Total number of meters in operation Dec. 31, 1898 143
Motor and Elevator Clocks in operation Dec. 31, 1898 7
Number of meters added to commence Jan. 1, 1899 51
Total number meters set 194
1
518
ANNUAL REPORTS.
METERS IN USE DECEMBER 31, 1898.
5 / 8 "
3 /4 "
1"
11/2"
3"
4"
Total
Crown
5
6
5
1
2
1
1
1
22
Gem
1
1
Hersey
17
Hersey Disc
1
10
1
3
15
Trident
11
19
16
5
4
1
2
58
Union
10
10
2
5
1
2
30
Totals
17
35
51
10
17
6
6
1
143
HYDRANTS, GATES, BLOW-OFFS, ETC.
The fire hydrants have been carefully inspected, imperfect ones replaced, necessary small repairs made, and their efficiency well maintained. The city has been divided into districts and competent men have been entrusted with the duty of examin- ing monthly each hydrant in their respective districts, so as to reduce to a minimum the liability of their being out of order when most wanted. In connection with this duty, also, the men are instructed to watch sharply for protruding service boxes and main gate boxes, and to see that they are brought to the proper grade, thereby obviating the danger of accidental tripping over them.
Notwithstanding a city ordinance and department regula- tions, it has been a long-standing custom for the fire hydrants to be used for other than fire and water department purposes. Efforts have been made to regulate the use of the fire hydrants for these outside purposes, but without success. It may seem a hardship to deprive those who have been accustomed to use them of the privilege which they have so long enjoyed, but if, in your judgment, this freedom shall be continued, your super- intendent should be relieved of the responsibility of any hydrants found in a damaged condition when they are needed for their legitimate fire purposes.
The gates of the water system are in good condition. Two 12-inch check valves have been set between the low and high-service systems ; one in Broadway, opposite Temple street,
10
1
3
3
519
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
and one in Holland street, opposite Gorham street. These valves are expected to open automatically in case the high ser- vice becomes disabled or cut off, and to allow the low pressure water to enter the mains, thus keeping the districts supplied ; they have already demonstrated their usefulness. One 14-inch valve has been set on the line of our force main in Broadway, opposite Cedar street, by the Metropolitan Water Works and at their expense. An additional 8-inch connection has been made with the Metropolitan Water Works 30-inch supply main in Gilman square.
Two new water-posts have been set for the convenience of the street-watering department -one on Broadway, near Willow avenue, and one on School street, opposite the Cummings school. The post on Highland avenue, near Willow avenue, has been moved to Grove street, near Highland avenue; the post opposite No. 241 Highland avenue has been moved to a point opposite Crocker street, and the post on Broadway, corner of Melvin street, has been moved to the opposite side of the street on the park grounds.
It has been my policy to set these necessary structures, so far as the convenience of the watering carts will allow, abutting on public property, thereby removing the objections advanced by those who consider them unsightly and in the nature of a nuisance in front of private houses. One water-post was set on Wheatland street for the Metropolitan Park Commission at their expense.
Nineteen blow-offs have been constructed during the year. Fourteen of these have been placed on the dead ends of pipes and answer the useful purpose of clearing out the sediment which accumulates in such localities, and also of flushing the sewers. In my opinion, every water main in the city which cannot be made a portion of the direct circulating system, should be provided with a blow-off pipe, and I recommend that the number be largely increased the coming year.
The net increase in the number of fire hydrants during the year is 42 ; in main gates, 64; in water-posts, 3 ; in blow-offs, 19; check-valves, 2.
A relocation of all hydrants and water-posts has been made, from which it appears that 10 public hydrants should be
520
ANNUAL REPORTS.
deducted from the lists previously published ; 1 private hydrant and 1 water-post should be added. The following table is believed to be correct : -
Total number of public hydrants in the city 822
Total number of private hydrants in the city .
41
Total number of gates . 1,033
Total number of check-valves 2
Total number of water-posts .
57
Total number of blow-offs
52
HIGH SERVICE.
The high service has been operated in an economical and satisfactory manner. During the year the pump has run 3,186 hours and 287,760,000 gallons of water have been pumped into the system. In December the Metropolitan Water Works made connection between their 16-inch delivery main and our force main in Broadway, opposite Cedar street, as a part of the general scheme of eventually supplying our high-service terri- tory from the new Metropolitan reservoir in the Middlesex Fells. Until the completion of that reservoir, the Northern high-service district is to be supplied by the combined pumping of the several stations included therein, of which ours is one.
Advantage has been taken of these conditions to give the high-water service to the College Hill and Clarendon Hill sec- tions of the city, by making a connection with the Metropolitan main at the corner of Boston avenue and Professors' row. This will give an immediate increase in the water pressure of about 30 pounds per square inch in the district thus supplied, and this pressure will be still further increased when the system reaches completion.
The elevation of the new Fells reservoir will be sufficient to give an average static pressure of about 100 pounds per square inch at the hydrants in the principal squares and busi- ness districts in the city, and I would recommend that during the coming season, lines of pipe for fire hydrant service be laid in the following streets, viz .: in Bow street and Washington street, from Summer street to Bonner avenue, connecting thereto
521
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
the fire hydrants in Bow street and Union square ; in Medford street and Pearl street, connecting the hydrants in Gilman square and vicinity ; in Holland street and Elm street, connect- ing with the hydrants in Davis square and vicinity ; and in Broadway, from Temple street to Walnut street, connecting thereto the hydrants in that business district. An auxiliary fire-pipe line might also be extended through Medford street, from Washington street to the large packing houses, affording to their hydrant and sprinkler systems the advantage of a largely increased pressure. These pipes could easily be made a portion of a dual system, should it ever be considered advis- able to establish one.
METROPOLITAN WATER.
On January 1st, 1898, the Mystic Lake water was shut off from our mains and the supply from the Metropolitan works was introduced. There is now in operation, one through line of 48-inch pipe from Chestnut Hill to Spot Pond, and another of the same size is operated as far as the Mystic reservoir on College Hill. We are at present receiving our supply from these mains through a 20-inch connection in Webster avenue and a 16-inch in Pearl street on the former line, and a 12-inch connection in Elm street on the latter line.
Branches have been provided for connections at other points when needed. The system has been in successful operation throughout the year, and water of excellent quality and abundant quantity has been furnished us. During the early part of the year some complaint was made of the oily or fishy taste of the water ; inquiry at the office of the Metropolitan Water Board elicited the information that this was caused by the appearance of a harmless vegetable organism in the water which develops at times and cannot be foreseen or prevented. This disap- peared in a short time and has since given no trouble.
The water is not at present so clear and colorless as that which came to us from the Mystic Lake, but is improving in that respect slowly ; it is expected that when the new Wachu- sett reservoir is completed and the water has an opportunity to bleach, it will be very colorless and will show a favorable comparison with that obtained by any municipality.
522
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The Nashua River was diverted into the Metropolitan system of water works on April 1st and has since been flowing through our streets and on tap in our houses; the quantity brought down being, on December 31st, approximately fourteen billion gallons, or nearly enough to supply this city alone for ten years at the present rate of consumption.
The following analysis of the water now furnished us and that formerly supplied by the Mystic system will be interesting, a comparison showing the greatly superior quality of the Metro- politan water for all domestic purposes.
523
ANALYSIS OF WATER MADE BY STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
PARTS IN 100,000.
APPEARANCE.
ODOR.
RESIDUE ON EVAPORATION.
AMMONIA.
NITROGEN. AS
ALBUMINOID.
Turbidity.
Sediment.
Cold.
Hot.
Color.
Total.
Loss on
Fixed.
Free.
Total.
In Solu-
In Suspen-
Chlorine.
Nitrates.
Nitrites.
Hardness.
METROPOLITAN WATER.
1899. February 2.
Very Slight.
Very Slight.
0.33
Very Faintly Vegetable.
Faintly Vegetable.
4.10
1.35
2.75
.0012
.0124
.0102
.0022
.28
.0200
.0001
1.4
MYSTIC LAKE WATER.
1897. December 1.
Very Slight.
Slight.
0.12
Distinctly Vegetable.
Distinctly Vegetable.
12.80
2.25
10.55
.0436
.0218
.0172
.0046
1.57
.0630
.0005
5.3
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
DATE OF
EXAMINATION.
tion.
sion.
Ignition.
524
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The sanitary analysis of water has for its object the deter- mination of the amount, character, and condition of the organic matter and amount of mineral matter contained in solution and suspension in the water, for the purpose of ascertaining its fit- ness for potable purposes. In order to make the foregoing table more readily understood, the following explanation is given of the several determinations which are obtained in the chemical examination of surface water.
The general appearance of a water under examination is first observed for the character of its turbidity and the amount and nature of the sediment which it contains.
The color of water is due principally to organic matter pro- duced from dissolving leaves and other vegetable matter, and is expressed by numbers which increase with the amount of color. The storage of water in large reservoirs for a long period of time has the effect of bleaching the water or eliminating from it a large amount of the coloring substances.
The odor of water varies at different seasons of the year and under different conditions. It is caused by infusoria and other micro-organisms, and is generally stronger when the water is heated.
Residue on evaporation is the solid matter, mineral and organic, remaining after evaporating water to dryness. By properly heating this residue the organic matter is burned off, the amount of which is indicated by the "loss on ignition." The fixed residue is the portion remaining after ignition and represents the amount of mineral matter in the water, being largely in the form of carbonates of lime, soda, etc.
Free ammonia is produced by the decomposition of organic matter. As ammonia in this form is one of the characteristic ingredients of sewage, its significance in a water analysis lies in the fact that its presence may indicate sewage pollution.
Albuminoid ammonia in suspension and in solution is derived generally from vegetable growths in the water, but may be of animal origin. It represents the nitrogenous elements of such matter before decomposition has begun.
Chlorine determinations express the amount of common salt in the water. Above a certain normal, which is, in the vicinity
-
WATER WORKS BUILDING - SOUTHERLY SIDE.
-
--
525
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
of Mystic Lake, about .35 part in 100,000, the presence of chlorine in surface waters is indicative of sewage pollution, and its excess may be considered a measure of such pollution.
Nitrogen is found in water in the form of nitrates and nitrites. The former is a combination of the completely oxidized form of the nitrogen of ammonia with alkalies or lime, and produces an excellent food which is readily absorbed by growing plants. In unpolluted water the nitrates are, there- fore, always low and frequently entirely absent. High nitrates, in connection with nitrites or with free ammonia, indicate incomplete oxidization of organic matter.
Nitrites are formed by the combination of nitrous acid with a soda or other base. In unpolluted waters their presence is in very minute amounts. When the quantity is large, say .0005 part per 100,000, associated with high free ammonia, it is an evidence of considerable sewage pollution.
The hardness of water is expressed by numbers which indi- cate the degree of hardness shown in terms of an equivalent amount of carbonate of lime in parts per 100,000 ; the hardness increasing with the number.
An interpretation of the two analyses given herewith indi- cates a practical freedom from unsanitary conditions in the Metropolitan water, while the water from Mystic Lake shows a high degree of pollution.
BUILDINGS.
On the 28th of May a contract was awarded by you to Rufus E. Lord for the construction of a stable, wagon shed and workshop in connection with the pumping-station building on Cedar street, on plans furnished by Aaron H. Gould, architect, for the sum of $10,173.00, exclusive of excavating, flooring, heating, plumbing, lighting and grading. The first earth was thrown out for the foundation on May 23rd, and the completed stable was occupied on October 15, the old building on Prospect street which had been used as headquarters for the department for twenty-one years, being abandoned and the keys turned over to the City Council on that date.
The new structure is a brick building, and consists of a stable of seven stalls, harness room, toilet room, closets and
526
ANNUAL REPORTS.
office, connected with the pumping station, with commodious loft and sleeping room overhead. Adjoining this is a wagon shed, with wash-room opening out of the stable and a storage loft over the whole. At the extreme end of the wagon shed is a large storage room on the ground floor, and over this is the machine and carpenter shop of the department.
The stable, wash-room and work shop are heated by steam ; the entire building is lighted by electricity. Hot and cold water are in the harness, toilet, and wash-rooms, and a fire pipe with three hose attachments extends through the building.
The entire floor of the stable is composed of granolithic, and that of the wash-room is asphalt on a concrete base built on I beams. Under the wash-room is the manure pit, to which all the soil pipes lead so they can be readily cleaned, the stone floor of the stable proper being constructed on solid filling. The stall basins are constructed of granolithic, on original designs, and are very simple and cleanly, all iron work being dispensed with.
The building as a whole is of pleasing architecture, com- plete in all its appointments, and is a creditable addition to the public buildings of the city. A large amount of filling was needed to bring the surface up to the required grade ; the loam was stripped from the plot covered by the building, and has been used for a top dressing on the street side. The entire cost has been $15,513.55, apportioned as follows : -
Building : -
Contract
$10,173.00
Additions and alterations
775.36
Architect : plans and services 670.00
Floors and filling for same .
767.43
Plumbing and heating .
900.86
Electric wiring and fittings .
184.09
Stable fittings
165.44
Sundry materials and ex-
122.02
penses
.
Amount carried forward $13,758.20
527
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
Amount brought forward
$13,758.20
Labor : Excavating, filling and
grading 373.72
Materials : Filling and grading
grounds
1,381.63
$15,513.55
I recommend that the open lot between the buildings and Cedar street be filled in as the opportunity offers, and that the grounds be graded and laid out in an ornamental manner.
The pumping station building is in good repair ; the stand- pipe should be painted inside and outside as soon as conditions will permit. The grounds about the standpipe have been still further improved by setting out trees and shrubs, furnished by florist Howard, and by next summer should present a very attractive appearance.
For further details concerning the work of the department during the year, I ask your attention to the tables appended hereto.
I beg to acknowledge the continued courtesy which you have shown me in the performance of the manifold duties entrusted to me, and also to express my appreciation of the interest shown in the work by all the employes under my charge.
FRANK E. MERRILL,
Superintendent.
LOCATIONS OF NEW MAINS LAID, LENGTH AND SIZE, NUMBER OF GATES, HYDRANTS, ETC., SET IN 1898.
PIPE LAID.
GATES SET.
HYDRANTS SET.
BLOW- OFFS.
CHECK VALVES.
NAME OF STREET.
FROM
To
Size.
No. feet.
Size.
No.
Kind.
No.
Size.
No.
Size.
No.
Allston st.
Hydrant
6''
6
Mathews Holyoke
1
Arlington st.
Hydrant
Ashland st.
Gate
6//
4
B. M.
1
Ashland st.
Hydrant
4 !!
25
4 !!
1
( Mathews
2
Belmont st.
Hydrants
21
Holyoke
1
8''
317
Benton road
Con. with Westwood road
Con. with 8'' pipe
6//
7
Holyoke
1
Benton road
Hydrant
Chapman
1
Bond st.
Hydrant
20
Chapman
1
Bowers ave.
Main in Cottage ave.
Dead end, near Elm st. Con. with Paulina st.
204
6''
1
Broadway
Con. with Packard ave.
363
Broadway
Hydrants
19
Mathews Holyoke
1
Broadway
Gates
12/
2
Broadway
Check valve
Con. with 24" supply main
12//
102
Mathews
1
Broadway
Water-post
4//
200
4''
1
Broadway pk.
Hydrant connection
6ª1
6
Chester ave.
Gate
Columbia st.
Blow-off Main in Highland ave.
Con. with Francis st.
329
6ª
1
Holyoke
2
6"
1
Cross st.
Main in Medford st.
Con. with Chester ave.
308
6/1
1
Cross st.
Gate
Cross st.
Blow-off
12
6//
1
6//
1
Curtis st.
Gates
1
2
Curtis st.
Hydrants
32
§ Mathews Holyoke
1
528
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1
Broadway
Con. with Temple st.
6''
8
Broadway
Hydrant
2/1
35
2/1
1
Broadway pk.
Chauncy ave.
Pond in park
1
4 !!
1
Conwell st.
Crescent st.
Blow-off
6//
.
1
12//
1
§ 12/7
1
1
6
6//
1
Bedford st.
Blow-off
1
WATER-POSTS.
1
4//
53
8
2
12//
LOCATIONS OF NEW MAINS LAID, LENGTH AND SIZE, NUMBER OF GATES, HYDRANTS, ETC. - Continued.
PIPE LAID.
GATES SET.
HYDRANTS SET.
BLOW- OFFS.
CHECK VALVES.
NAME OF STREET.
FROM
.
To
Size.
No. feet.
Size.
Z No.
Kind.
No.
Size.
No.
Size.
No.
Dane ave.
Gate
Dane ave.
Blow-off
6
6//
1
1
Durham st.
Gate
6''
1
Durham st.
Hydrant
6''
20
6//
1
Elmwood st.
Hydrant
6//
7
Coffin
1
Fairlee st.
Gate
2 !!
200
1
Florence terrace
Main in Jaques st.
Dead end
Garfield ave.
Dead end
Easterly
6//
84
Garrison ave.
Main in Broadway
Dead end
6//
466
1
B. M.
1
George st.
Main in Highland ave.
6//
356
1
Greenwood ter.
Main in Beacon st.
2 !!
179
2''
1
Hanson st.
Hydrant
6//
12
Holyoke
2
Hanson st.
Gate
4''
30
4//
4//
1
Hathorn st.
Gate
6//
10
6''
1
Mathews B. M.
1
Holland st.
Hydrant
32
Mathews
1
Holland st.
Blow-off
16
6''
1
6''
1
12//
1
Hunting st.
Blow-off
4//
25
1
4//
1
Jaques st.
Gate
Jasper st.
Con. with Pearl st.
5' S. from S. line Virginia st.
6//
250
1
Mathews B. M.
1
Josephine ave.
Hydrant
6/1
7
Kidder ave.
Con. with Liberty ave.
32
6''
1
Lawrence st.
Main in Hinckley st.
Con. with Richardson st.
207
366
S !!
1
Leland st.
Main in Washington st.
Con. with Dane ave.
6//
7
Chapman
1
8//
250
Liberty ave.
Con. with Francesca ave.
N. line Kidder ave.
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