Report of the city of Somerville 1922, Part 17

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 472


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1922 > Part 17


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ropolitan district


94 gallons


The following table shows the daily per capita consump- tion of water in the cities and towns in the Metropolitan Water District for the year 1922, as registered by the Metropolitan meters :


City or Town


Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Year


Arlington


55


53


51


50


60


58


55


56 58


54


55


50 57


51


54


Belmont


50


51


53


54


60


59


58


107


109


108


110


107 72


113


110


Chelsea


82


80 89


74


70


77


78


78


77


73 85


75 87


85


90 53


66


Malden


51


50


51


49


48


52


Melrose


61


59


61


61 43 74 86


64 48 117 88


71 53 55 66 47 197 90 72 79 68 92 77 58


53 47 66 42 204 85 80 78 66 100 78


65 43 216 85 81 74 66 107 75


56 52 61 46 175 86 74 71 66 88 75


77 64 69 75


78 64 59 77


81 76 56


76 65 74


Watertown


78


74


69


64


71


73


Winthrop


.....


51


50


50


50


54


65


67


57


51


49 92


49 96


54


Met. Dist.


....


101


98


92


91


90


95


93


95


93


94


54 53 53 60 49 62 79


56 53 58 45 57


45 120


Nahant


78


Quincy


85


83


87


63


71


Somerville


78


74 64


74


59


63 71 57 60


76 65 72 69


Swampscott


59


59


62


81


85


87


87


84 66


70


65


55 53 63 50 93 79 69


61


66


70


Revere


72


67


71


76 48


69 51


64


55 54


62


60


57


57


Boston


121


117


108


107


103


109


75


76 86


Everett


92


65


66 50


48


53


Milton


42


43 97


42 70


75


84


Stoneham


64


85


Lexington


Medford


51 62


...


94


262


ANNUAL. REPORTS.


The district, in order of per capita consumption, beginning with the lowest, stands as follows for the year 1922:


Gallons


City of Town


Milton


436,000


45 .


100


Malden


.


2,698,000


53


97


Arlington


1,059,600


54


100


Winthrop


902,400


54


99


Belmont


673,200


57


100


Stoneham


523,200


65


98


Lexington


440,000


66


99


Revere


2,202,200


70


82


Watertown


1,621,800


73


100


Swampscott


629,800


74


100


Chelsea .


3,416,500


76


99


Somerville


7,357,300


76


82


Quincy


4,253,700


84


91


3,648,900


86


75


Boston


85,871,000


110


65


Nahant


172,300


120


76


Total District .


119,267,100


94


77


Construction - Maintenance - Operation.


The construction work of the department is divided roughly into three classes, viz : installation of (1) water mains ; (2) water services ; (3) meters.


In the first two classes there has been a notable increase of activity during the 'year, while but comparatively few meters have been installed.


Details of construction work are given in the tables printed in this report ; suffice it to say here that more feet of street mains to supply new buildings have been laid and more services have been installed during this year than in any other since 1914.


The following table is of interest as it gives the


Class of Premises Covered by Service Installation.


Automobile Sales Building


1


Bakery


.


.


.


1


Chemical laboratory


1


Dwelling houses


173


Factories


3


Factories; fire pipes .


3


Garages; private .


8


Garages; public .


1


Garage; fire pipe


1


Gasoline filling stations .


6


.


Total Per Day


Per Capita


per


Day


Per. Cent. Services Metered


Medford


.


2,193,400


51


100


·


1,167,800


62


99


263


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Lumber yard


1


Lunch cart


1


Milk station


1


Office


1


Paint shop


1


Stable


12


Stores


2


Storage warehouse


2


·Storage warehouse; fire pipes


Tenements and stores; block .


1


Total service installations


221


Maintenance and upkeep may also be divided into several classes, viz : (1) general operation : (2) street mains and at- tachments (hydrants, valves etc.) : (3) services and fittings ; (4) meters and boxes: (5) tools and equipment: (6) trans- portation.


The principal job on maintenance of street mains was the completion of replacing the old 6" pipe in Linwood street in anticipation of the street paving.


The hydrant and valve system has been as well looked after as labor and transportation conditions would permit; it is hoped soon to be able to institute a systematic method of inspection.


The increasing use of motor trucks is causing a notice- able addition to our work in the upkeep of the fire hydrant system, as many hydrants are broken by the operation of these vehicles in our streets. In most cases the department is able to obtain a settlement for the amount of the damages.


Other hydrants are put out of order by contractors and other inexperienced men using them without authority.


Our fire service system, covering about 1.200 hydrants, has been installed at large expense for protective purposes only and should not be used except by firemen in the discharge of their duties or by authorized waterworks employees. Our city ordinances prescribe penalties for unlawful use of fire hydrants and it may be necessary to bring offenders before the Courts for punishment. Some contractors argue that because the city gives them water without charge in doing work for the city that they are entitled to get it by operating the fire hydrants. In every such contract made by the city it should be clearly stated, so that there can be no misunder- standing, that the fire hydrants must not be opened by con- tractors.


The service branch of our department work, with its nearly 14.000 pipes, demands a large share of our labor and


1


264


ANNUAL REPORTS.


equipment and we have found it very difficult to keep up with the calls for improved water supply.


As each succeeding year adds to the amount of corrosion and filling up of the older pipes and fittings the problem of keeping them clear and satisfying the legitimate requirements of our water-takers becomes more and more difficult.


It is certain that more men and equipment will have to be provided for this work.


In anticipation of the permanent paving of a portion of Beacon street all the service pipes appearing to need re- newal between Buckingham and Park streets were replaced with new lead pipes.


With nearly 12,000 water meters in operation the main- tenance of this branch of our work keeps several men with equipment busily employed.


Our meter system sprang into intensive existence twenty years ago and has steadily increased in volume and impor- tance. Besides the periodical reading of the meters and the accounting necessary for billing and collecting the rates, which are handled in the general office, there is a large and constantly expanding shop expenditure for the upkeep of the meters installed and this will grow with increased installation and advancing age of the meters in service. Ample provision must therefore be made for carrying on this permanent branch of the department work.


It is the custom of the department to own the meters and to furnish them without charge to the property owners, but to require payment from them of the cost of installation of the meters.


In most cases the rate-payers find their payments for the period of a year on metered consumption considerably less than on the old "annual" rate basis, although to secure this benefit proper attention must be given to leakages and other waste of water.


Under the law requiring all new houses to be metered 181 meters were installed. The general installation, however, eased up on account of the unusual activities in other direc- tions, and there were but 67 of this class installed, making the city at the close of the year 82.68% metered.


Repairs must soon be made to some of our machine-shop tools and additional equipment must be provided for carry- ing on our service cleaning work.


Additional transportation in the form of at least two new trucks must be provided very soon to take the place of old and worn-out motor vehicles. Certain of our transporta- tion equipment is of ancient date and, costing the city but little in the first place, can well afford to be laid aside now


265


WATER DEPARTMENT.


in favor of heavier trucks, better fitted for our requirements.


The general operation of the department is under the direction and control of the water commissioner. This in- cludes the supervision of all branches of the work, extensions of the distribution system, purchase of supplies, employment of labor and settlement of the many problems arising in d water system supplying a population of nearly 100,000 people.


Pitometer Survey.


During the year a survey has been made by the Pitometer Company of New York of the entire high-service district of the city and of one section of the low-service district includ- ing the packing houses and railroad yards. The results were very satisfying as showing the generally tight condition of the water mains and services in the two portions of the city surveyed.


The general scope of the survey covered the following points : (a) A subdivision of the section to be surveyed into districts and measurements of the consumption throughout the twenty-four hours: (b) Subdivision of the districts where excessive waste was indicated, and investigations of all blocks on which high rates of flow were indicated to determine the cause; (c) A test of the Metropolitan Venturi meters for ac- curacy ; (d) A check on large consumers for a period of twenty-four hours; (e) A test of all meters 4" and over for accuracy ; (f) A report of the work done and results accom- plished.


Methods of the survey : The entire high-service system was divided into four districts, containing about 301/2 miles of street mains and a population estimated at 30,000.


District 1 of the low-service system, embracing in a broad expression that part of the city lying south of Somerville avenue and Washington street, was also divided into four districts covering about 18 miles of water mains and an estimated population of 17,000.


Each district was formed by closing a line of boundary gates around the area to be tested, supplying that area through but one pipe. A pitometer was then inserted into this supply main through a 1" corporation cock and a continuous meas- urement of the flow through it was made for a period of twenty-four hours.


As a general rule in districts where the minimum night rate is less than 50% of the average daily consumption the condition is considered satisfactory. However, in this survey all residential districts were investigated by sub-division at .


266


ANNUAL REPORTS.


night. by supplying the district through the same or a smaller feed and by closing interior and opening exterior valves ; then, by noting the corresponding drops in the consumption indi- cated by the pitometer, the rate of flow for each block was determined.


In high rate blocks where the rate could not be accounted for by large consumers, the underground waste or leakage was located with various forms of listening devices.


In the tests of the Venturi meters, a pitometer was set up on the main leading from the meters and readings were taken from the Venturi charts and compared with the pito- meter records for a period of twenty-four hours.


The large city meters were tested by placing a pitometer on the main or service pipe leading into the meter and measur- ing the flow for a period of twenty minutes.


The results of investigations on the total supply showed that during the period of the test the total consumption of the high-service system was 1,587,000 gallons a day and the minimum night rate was 1,047,000 a day. On a basis of the estimated population the per-capita consumption was approxi- mately 53 gallons a day.


The total amount of leakage disclosed in the survey of the high-service was 228.000 gallons a day. Of this amount leaks of 106,000 gallons a day were discovered and were be- ing repaired by the water department. The remaining 182,000 gallons a day represents the real saving due to the pitometer survey. All of the leaks were on house services and one of them was discharging out of holes in the pipe and running into a nearby sewer at the rate of 110,000 gallons a day. There was nothing on the surface of the ground to indicate any leakage but the earth filling around the leaking pipe gave every indication that the water had been escaping and running into the sewer for some time.


Respecting the valves in the high-service system the report states: "Most of the valves were found to be in very good condition. About 70% of the valves were operated. The majority of the valve boxes were covered by a tar paving making it difficult to locate them. The division gates and check valves were almost 100% tight. The water department is to be commended for this excellent condition of the division gates, because it is highly important in cities that have bothi high and low-service to keep the two entirely separate."


Of the hydrants the report reads: "Only a small per- centage of the total number were operated during our sur- vey; however those we did operate were in first class con- dition."


267


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Regarding the mains the report says: "The mains were found to be very clean and free from loose sediment. Very few complaints were recorded during the survey which, in most cases, reversed the flow entirely and would have dislodged mud and all loose sediment if present."


The report on the high-service system concludes as fol- lows: "As a whole the high-service system was found to be in very good condition. During our survey we observed that leaks large and small were attended to without delay, and the desire of the water department seemed to be to keep the system in the best condition possible at all times."


The following recommendation was also made: "In order to have two large mains feeding West Somerville the 12" main in Dearborn road and College avenue should be extended west along Talbot avenue and connect with the present main therein."


In that section of the low-service system which was in- vestigated and which has been previously referred to, the average daily consumption was found to be 3,190,000 gallons and the minimum night rate was 2,200,000 gallons or 69% .of the average daily rate. This is largely an industrial section of the city and considerable water is used nights in the several packing-house plants and in the extensive yards of the Boston & Maine Railroad, the figures showing an industrial and mis- cellaneous consumption daily of 1,975,000 gallons. The aver- age daily rate of consumption per capita in the residential sections of this district is shown to be about 56 gallons.


The leakages discovered in this district by the pitometer survey were scattered and mostly small but amounted in total to 108,000 gallons a day, or 6,000 gallons per mile of street mains.


Of the meter tests in Section 1 of the low-service system the report of the Pitometer Company reads: "About two- thirds of the consumption of Section 1 is taken up by Districts No. 3 and No. 4 and practically all of it is actually accounted for by meter registration. This condition is very commendable for the water department. All the tests on the meters were made during normal flow. Two of the four-inch meters had been recently repaired and overhauled by the water depart- ment and were found O. K. The 6" Worthington meter was found to be registering exactly. This meter registers the greatest flow of any of the large meters. An average daily flow through it is 250,000 gallons. It was impossible to test the remainder of the large meters at this time due to intricate piping adjacent to them." The report also shows a 4" Gem meter and a 4" Trident Compound meter to be registering accurately on a test covering a period of 16 minutes.


1


ANNUAL REPORTS


268


Concerning the valves the report states: "About 80% of the valves in the section were operated. They were found to be in very good condition." Of the mains the report reads : "The mains are also in first-class condition. The average pipe coefficient obtained from the tests was .82"


The report on this section of the low-service system con- cludes : "As has been stated before, the industrial consumption accounts for practically two-thirds of the total consumption of Section 1, and the same is mostly metered.


The water waste in and around these large plants is very low and we consider the existing conditions very good. No large leaks were discovered in the residential districts ; however the average rate per block is higher than it need be and there is probably quite a little unmetered fixture leakage. A rigid inspection of all plumbing in unmetered buildings would un- doubtedly bring results. A thorough investigation was made on all blocks having a large rate of flow and in almost every case small fixture leaks were discovered. In general the con- dition of Section 1 of the low-service is very good and the water department is to be commended for the excellent con- dition existing in and about the plants of the largest con- sumers."


The Company makes the following recommendations : (1) All valves and hydrants should be operated at least once a year. (2) Gate boxes should be maintained up to grade so that they can be easily located in case of emergency.


As the city is now about one-half covered by the survey of the Pitometer Company I recommend that the remaining portion be tested out during the coming year.


Financial Statistics of Cities.


From a census report issued by the Department of Com- merce as of December 31. 1920, showing the total and per capita water revenue receipts from earnings, and the total and per capita expenses and outlays, the following figures, in- teresting from their very favorable comparison with other cities of about the same population. are taken :


City: Somerville, Mass. Rank in population : 78


Water Revenue receipts from earnings ; per capita $2.74 Water Payments for expenses and outlays ; per capita $1.12


Additional High-Service Supply.


The Metropolitan District Commission has nearly com- pleted the construction of an additional supply main from


269


WATER DEPARTMENT.


near the reservoirs at Spot Pond to a point near their present connection with our local high-service system in Broadway at Cedar street. It is hoped that this will materially strengthen the conditions at present existing in our high-service supply. I think it would be wise now to extend our own high-service main through Cedar street from the water-works yard tota connection with the existing main at Hudson street in order to boost the delivery of high pressure water at this central point of the city and equalize its distribution throughout that district.


I also recommend the early construction of a 12" water main in Talbot avenue, connecting the two existing dead ends in order to bring in a larger supply to the West Somerville high-service district.


Our low-service supply also is in need of building up in Joy and Poplar streets and I recommend that the old mains in these two streets be replaced with larger pipes during the coming season·


Water Income.


The water income for the year was the largest ever re- ceived, amounting to $284.126.62. Notwithstanding the heavy outlays of the department, construction account showing more than double that of the previous year, a substantial surplus of over $48,000 is recorded on our books.


As usual, all department bills contracted during the year were paid from the amounts appropriated and the year closed with no current liabilities and no funded indebtedness.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK E. MERRILL,


Water Commissioner.


Street mains, Gates, Hydrants, Etc., Laid, Set, and Removed in 1922


PIPE.


GATES.


HYDRANTS.


BLOW-OFFS.


WATER POSTS


LAID.


DISCONT'D


SET.


DISCONT'D


SET.


DISCONT'D


SET.


DIS- C'T'D


DIS- O'T'D


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


No.


Size.


NO.


No.


NO.


Alewife Brook Parkway


Street Main: From connection with 12" main in the Parkway at point 12' south from south line of Gordon Street to connection with old 12" main at point 274' south from south line of High Street; completing the pipe line in the Parkway between North Street and Gordon Street.


12" 1479


Section Gate: On south line of Fairfax Street, 5' west from east line of the Parkway.


12"


Smith


Section Gate: On north line of High Street, 5' west from east line of the Parkway.


12"


Rens.


Blow-off Gate: 9' south from centre of sewer man-


hole in sidewalk near north line of Woods Avenue and 10' west from east line of the Parkway.


4"


Rens.


-


t


On north line of High Street, 12' west from east line of the Parkway. (Connection is with tee in 6" hydrant branch running to hy- drant on west side of the Parkway opposite High Street.) Blow-off Gate: 4' south from north line of High Street, 10' west from east line of the Parkway. (Connection is with tee in the Alewife Brook Park- way main.)


Rens.


1


1


Rens.


1


Hydrant: On west side of Alewife Brook Parkway, opposite High Street.


52


6"


Chap. |


6"


Rens.


! 6"


Rens.


SET.


STREET.


DESCRIPTION.


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 4' out from the hydrant on west side of the Parkway opposite High Street. Gate on Hydrant Branch: 4' north from north line of High Street, 13' 6" west from east line of the Parkway. (On branch running to, hydrant on west side of the Parkway opposite High Street.)


(These two blow-offs unite in one pipe entering the sewer manhole at High Street.)


4"


19


Blow-off Gate:


Beacon Street


Boston Avenue


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 77' north from north line of Fairfax Street, 5' west from east line of the Parkway. (Hydrant not yet installed.)


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 28' west from west line of Buckingham Street and 4' out from hydrant. Gate on Hydrant Branch: 8' west from west line of Waldo Avenue and 4' out from hydrant. Gate on Hydrant Branch: 79' west from west line of Calvin Street and 4' out from hydrant. Gate on Hydrant Branch: 26' east from east line of Washington Street and 4' out from hydrant. Waterpost and Gate Removal: 135' east from Wash- ington Street.


1


5


Smith


6" Rens.


¡Rens.


:


6"


Lud


6"


2


1


-


Lud.


2" Chap.


10"


48


Mat.


Street Main Replaced: near School Street, 6 feet; near dead end of Bradford Avenue, 12 feet.


2". 18


'2"


18


5


2" Chap.


1


6"


20


6" Corey


Cady Avenue


Chapel Court


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 145/ west from west line of Simpson Avenue and 4' 6" out from hydrant. Street Main Replaced: From connection with main pipe in Sycamore Street to gate on west line of Sycamore Street.


2"


22


11 11


2" Chap.


2" Chap.


Corinthian Road


Gate and Gate Removal: 1' 10" north from south line of Chapel Court, on west line of Sycamore St. Street Main: From connection with main pipe in Corinthian Road at point 331' south from south line of Broadway to connection with main pipe in Cady Avenue: completing the pipe line in this street. Gate: On north line of Cady Avenue, 13' 4" east from west line of Corinthian Road.


8" 242


Street Main Replaced: From connection with main pipe in Cottage Avenue to point 4' west from west line of Cottage Avenue.


31 Gate: On west line of Cottage Avenue, 8' 4" north 1 31 from south line of Cottage Circle. 1 4" Rens. 2" Chap.


8" Rene.


Cottage Circle


Street Main: From connection with main in Boston Avenue at point 10' south from south line of Prichard Avenue to dead end 58' south from south line of Prichard Avenue.


Boynton Yard (Glass House Ct) Bradford Avenue


Hydrant Removal: 360' west from Water Street, near corner of Windsor Street. (1916)


10


Blow-off Gate: 151' east from east line of School Street 13' south from north line of Bradford Ave. Hydrant: 145' west from Simpson Avenue.


Rens.


11


PIPE.


GATES.


HÝDRANTS.


BLOW-OFFS.


WATER POSTS


LAID.


DISCONT'D


SET.


DISCONT'D


SET.


DISCONT'D


SET.


DI8- C'T'D


SET.


DIS- C'T'D


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


No.


Size.


No.


No


Ž


6"


14


6" Hol. G.


6" Rens.


6" ,9


6


:6" Hol. G 6" Hol. G.


6"


20


6"


Rens.


Cross St. East


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 8' north from north line of Otis Street, in sidewalk 4' 6" out from hydrant. Street Main: From connection with main pipe in Pennsylvania Avenue to point 12' north from north line of Pennsylvania Avenue.


12"


40


12" Rens.


5


1


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 206' west from west line of Curtis Street and 4' 4" out from hydrant.


6"


Ren.


6"


23


6"


Rens.


8"¡ 949


Gate: On east line of Alewife Brook Parkway, 13' 4" north from south line of Fairfax Street.


8" Rens.


Cross St. Place


Hydrant: 7' west from Cross Street. Gate on Hydrant Branch: 7' west from west line of Cross Street and 3' 6" out from hydrant.


Cross Street


Hydrant Removal: 32' north from Cross Street Place. Hydrant Removal: 6' north from Pearl Street. Hydrant: 8' north from Otis Street, on schoolhouse lot.


6" Corey


Section Gate: On north line of Pennsylvania Avenue, 13' 4" west from east line of Cross St. East. Waterpost and Gate Removal: 64' north from Broad- way.


Curtis Avenue Curtis Street


Street Main: From connection with main pipe in Curtis Street at point 10' south from south line of Upland Road to connection with main pipe in Upland Road.


Gate: On east line of Aldrich Street, 13' south from north line of Delaware Street. Street Main: From connection with main pipe in Fairfax Street at gate on west line of North Street to connection with main pipe in Alewife Brook Parkway.


Delaware Street Fairfax Street


DESCRIPTION.


STREET.


1


6


Section Gate: 566' east from east line of Alewife Brook Parkway, 13' 4" north from south line of


Fairfax Street. Hydrant: 80' west from North Street.


6"


1 1


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 80' west from west line of North Street and 4' out from hydrant.


6"


3


Rens.


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 569' east from east line of Alewife Brook Parkway. (Hydrant not yet in- stalled.)


Gate on Hydrant Branch: 148' of Alewife Brook Parkway. stalled.)




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