USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1901 > Part 6
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Further investigations made soon after this reply was sent you, indicated that the trouble with the water was almost wholly due to its action upon the service pipes nearly all of which were of galvanized iron, and not to action on the cast iron mains, and it was suggested to you to try the effect, at various places where com- plaint of the quantity of iron in the water had been made, of changing the service pipe and introducing a service pipe of some other metal or one lined with some other substance that would prevent the water from coming in contact with the iron.
148
In accordance with this suggestion you have re- placed several service pipes of galvanized iron where such complaint has been made of the character of the water at nearly all times, and where analysis showed the presence of excessive quantities of iron in the water, with pipes lined with cement or tin, and after a long period of use it appears that no further trouble from iron has been observed in the water and only an insignificant quantity is found by analysis.
As a result of its investigation both at Attleborough and many other places, the Board is of the opinion that trouble from iron in the water of the Attleborough water supply can be largely and wholly avoided by discon- tinuing the use of galvanized iron service pipes such as those which have been used in the past, and using pipes lined with cement or some other substance not acted on to any noticeable extent by the water.
The Board would especially caution you against the use of lead or lead lined services in connection with this water, since the carbonic acid and oxygen when present in the water in such quantities as are found in the Attle- borough supply, have been found to take up lead in large quantities from pipes of that metal when they are used as service pipes, and many severe cases of lead poisoning in other places in the State have been traced to the use of such waters through lead service pipes.
While the expense of changing all the service pipes in the town would be considerable, it nevertheless seems probable that this will be the least expensive way of avoiding further complaint from the presence of an ex- cessive quantity of iron in the water.
149
It may be also said that the trouble from iron has probably not yet occurred in a large proportion of the service pipes to such an extent as to make the water seriously objectionable, and it is probable that by re- placing a portion of them in the beginning, and gradually replacing the remainder as complaint occurs, trouble from the presence of iron in the water would soon be prevented.
By order of the Board, SAM'L. W. ABBOTT, Secretary.
The Commissioners have found it necessary to stop the connecting up of more than one house to one service connection unless when conditions should make it abso- lutely necessary, then only by permission of the Water Commissioners. This conclusion was arrived at after a careful study of the situation and for the following rea- sons :
First, to protect the purity of the water in the main pipe and second, to give equal rights to all people in re- gard to the price of water.
In explanation of the first, a water pipe is laid on a street for the accommodation of three or four houses, each having a separate connection and later the property is bought by one person and all connected together and taken through one connection from another street, thus entirely abandoning the main on the street that the pipe was first laid to accommodate, and so becomes a dead letter to the town, only for fire protection; and if that happens to be a dead end the water lays there so long that it becomes stagnant and must contaminate the water
150
flowing near that pipe. Later, if some one should build on the other side of the street, it would be almost im- possible to use the water unless by flushing the hydrant at the end of the street every week at the expense of the town. We have just such cases in town, one of them is where there were several houses taking water from the dead end of a pipe and as there were a number of houses the water was very good; later, the owner decided to take the water through one connection, some 1,500 feet further down the street at the other end of his row of houses and in this way it left only one house on the 1,500 feet of pipe, consequently the water was so poor that they could not use it and in order to furnish water for this house the department had to lay 571 feet of cement lined pipe from another street ; and, besides, the 1,500 feet of main so abandoned was bringing in no income to the town. After this experience the Commissioners decided that something must be done to prevent a recurrente of this trouble in the future.
In explanation of the second, in the past a person who has several houses connected together through one service connection has been given the benefit of the slid- ing scale of water rates, thereby getting water much less than those who were not fortunate enough to have their houses in one vicinity. In some cases the town has been to the expense of making a connection to a house and later the owner would decide to connect up the house with another and the town would be the loser. In the last six months there were several who wished to con- nect up several houses in order to get the lower rate and the demand for so connecting houses convinced us that
151
it must be stopped immediately and the following rules were adopted to cover such cases :
After January I, 1902, no person or persons will be allowed to connect two or more houses together through one service connection with the main water pipe unless by special permit from the Water Board; and if any are so connected in the future without permission the water may be shut off from the service in use until a new ser- vice connection is made with the connecting house.
On all services where two or more houses are now connected through one service the owner shall not have the benefit of the sliding scale of water rates until the average of each house so connected amounts to the same as allowed by the same rates for a single house.
For the last few years the coal shed at the pumping station has been altogether too small to hold the annual supply of coal which is about three hundred tons while the shed held only about one hundred tons. This made it necessary to make a contract for the year and have it delivered from time to time as it was needed. At times the contract would expire when coal was high so that it was impossible to get a low price for so long delivery ; at the same time realizing that if we had the storage ca- pacity for the year's supply to be delivered at one time we could take advantage of the market when low and thereby make quite a saving to the town.
The old shed was so constructed that all the coal had to be shoveled in, thereby costing twenty-five cents more a ton for delivery than if there was a chance to dump it, as most of the coal comes from Pawtucket in carts that dump in this way. Realizing this disadvant-
152
age the Commissioners decided to build a new coal shed large enough to hold the year's supply and arranged so that the coal could be dumped.
Work was begun in July and an excavation was made in the hill at the north of the station and a bank wall put in with a stone foundation under the whole shed which is thirty-five feet by fifty feet with ten feet posts making a storage capacity of four hundred tons. The hill was then leveled off so as to make an easy incline and very convenient both for putting in and taking out coal. In September Olney & Payne Bros. of Pawtuck- et put in two hundred and sixty-five tons at a price twenty-five cents a ton less than they would have deliver- ed it in the old shed. The Commissioners now feel that the town has one of the most complete stations, for economy and management, there is in New England.
The well at the station has given ample supply for the last year and at no time in the year has it been necessary to use the pond water, although every precau- tion is taken to keep the pond water as pure as possible that in case of a large fire we should be enabled to use it.
We are more than pleased with the change from the faucet to the meter system entirely and are satisfied that there was a great waste by the faucet, which is certainly shown by the pumping records. In 1900 we pumped 165,174,450 gallons, in 1901 the total gallons were 147,- 946.520 or 17,227,930 gallons less than in 1900. This, together with the new business taken on, shows very clearly that the change has been a benefit to the town and gives general satisfaction to the water takers, as all have equal rates.
153
We have taken every precaution to prevent the un- necessary waste of water and we think all of the town departments will co-operate with us to that end. We intend this year to put meters in all of the public build- ings and keep as correct account as possible of all water used for public purposes and in this way it will be much easier to discover leaks and prevent waste.
The prospects for the coming year would indicate a call for a large amount of pipe extensions. There are guarantees already signed for 3,700 feet on North Main street, about 1,500 feet on Peck Plat, with probably 14,800 feet more on Washington street and the St. Jean Plat, making a total of 20,000 feet. There is also talk of extension on North avenue and Maple street. There is no doubt but there will be more asked for on Thacher street and in that vicinity. Owing to the fact that the town is growing so rapidly we believe that extensions should be made where the required guarantee is given. While it may not be a profit to the Water Department at first it will certainly be a benefit to the whole town in increasing the valuation and thereby bring an income to the town.
Probably the income for the coming year will not be as large as this on account of changing from the annual to the semi-annual collections of excesses, for by this change we have collected for a year and a half excesses while for the coming year we shall only collect for a year. From the income we have been able to pay all running expenses, and also build a coal shed and make other re- pairs without taking it from the construction fund.
154
We wish to call the attention of the voters to the fact that the total cost to the town for the public water is only $5,000.00, and that amount is placed in the sinking fund to pay bonds when due, and this year we shall ask for $5,000.00 from the town and recommend $5,200.00 for the sinking fund. Below is a statement of credits that the Water Department should receive from the town based on the lowest amount charged by private com- panies to towns.
278 hydrants @ $30, $8,340.00
Street sprinkling, 1,200.00
Public buildings,
1,100.00
Drinking fountains,
100.00
$10,840.00
We would recommend an apropriation by the town of $5,000.00 for the sinking fund for maintenance together with the receipts from the department. For the coming year we estimate the receipts and expenses as follows :
Receipts.
From water rates, $25,000.00
Appropriation by town for sinking
fund.
5,000.00
$30,000.00
Expenditures.
Pumping expenses, $ 3,700.00
Repairs, incidentals, labor, sal- aries, and insurance, 7,000.00
Interest account,
14,100.00
$24,800.00
155
Sinking fund, 5,200.00
$30,000.00
Respectfully submitted,
WM. M. STONE, GEO. H. SNELL, D. E. MAKEPEACE, Water Commissioners.
SUMMARY OF MAINTENANCE.
Pumping Expenses.
Coal and wood,
$1,949.09
Engineers' salaries, oil and pack-
ing,
1,973.25
$3,922.34
Repairs.
General repairs on pipe system, .. $208.08
Repairs at pumping station, 102,88
Repairs on meters, 324.84
Repairs at work shop, tools, etc., 86.22
Repairs on telemeter,
95.80
$817.82
Incidentals.
Telephones, $125.00
Pumping station inc., 52.78
Service, pipe and hydrants inc. 44.II
Printing and book supplies, 190.51
Freight and express, 45.94
Fittings at work shop, 69.14
156
Postage, 85.60
Lighting purposes, 13.94
General incidentals, 104.29
Clerk hire, 600.00
Rent, 125.00
Teaming,
31.92
Extra help at station at fire alarm calls, 54.00
$1,542.23
Labor.
Pay rolls,
$2,913.32
Tools.
Tools,
$268.16
Salaries.
Superintendent and Registrar, . . $900.00
Water commissioners, 131.25
$1,031.25
Insurance.
Insurance,
$168.88
Team.
Horse keeping and rent of stall, .. $167.68
Pipe System.
Service pipe, fitting, etc.,
$2,211.09
Coal Shed.
Coal shed, $1,174.56
157
SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION OF ITEMIZED BILLS.
Services, hydrants, pipe and lay-
ing same, $12,190.62 Meters,
3,238.50
$15,429.12
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER WORKS.
To the Water Commissioners of Attleborough :-
Gentlemen :-
I submit my report as Superintendent of the Water Department. During the year we have extended the main pipe system 8,229 feet and the table on the fol- lowing page will show the kind, size and length of pipe laid on the several streets.
We have laid 6,503 feet of cast iron pipe to replace cement pipe on the following streets :
Street. 8" 6"
4"
Union street, 919 415
East street,
I350
Pleasant street,
I324
46
Forest street,
55
Oak street,
1.5
Gustin avenue,
5I
Angell street,
14
Starkey avenue,
I5
Park street,
1006
997
Parker street,
296
Totals, 3304 3119
80
158
Table Showing Kind, Size and Length of Pipe Laid on the Several Streets.
Cast Iron Pipe.
Cement Lined Pipe.
Street.
12" IO" 8" 6" 4"
I1/2" I1/4" H
Jefferson,
73 74
Seekonk,
344
Cambridge
190
Pearl,
279
Henry & Garden,
312
Franklin,
347
Dunham,
92
Dennis,
225
Major,
144
Hazel,
667
Washington, .
213
Fourth,
164
Prospect,
216
8
Martin,
36
Mulberry,
...
332
West Maple,.
304
III
Hebronville, .
303
James,
474
18
Pleasant,
208
Emery, .
98
Park Place, ..
478
County,
352
Thacher, 23 56 1039
24
East,
3II
John,
549
Hodges, ยท
158
-
-
Totals, .. 23 56
1039 4841 26
I404
264 576
159
During the year one hundred new service connec- tions have been made and cement lined iron pipe has been used in all of these as far as the service gate, which is laid at the expense of the department and for this work we have used 1,680 feet of pipe. We have also laid cement lined pipe from the service gate at the street line to the cellar for the owners where they desired us to do so and have laid the pipe to the cellar of 92 houses using 3,814 feet of pipe, making a total of service laid by the department of 5,494 feet or one mile and 214 feet. The total amount of pipe laid during the year, both service and main pipe amount to 20,226 feet or 3.8 miles. We have also sold to plumbers 1030 feet of cement lined pipe which they have laid from service gates to cellars.
There have been a few houses connected up with galvanized pipe but in every case we have tried to per- suade the owner to use the lined pipe both outside and inside of the houses, but very few have used the lined pipe inside, and nearly all have used galvanized iron hot water boilers instead of copper. There is certain to be rust in iron hot water boilers as the water has much more effect on iron when at a high temperature and in many cases the only trouble from rusty water is from the hot water faucet.
During the year there have been 28 main gate boxes brought to grade and II old ones replaced with new ones also 88 service boxes brought to grade. There have been 32 new main gates put in and 192 service gates and in replacing the old cement pipe with iron pipe we put in 77 new connections to sidewalk line including new service gates. There have been 22 old hydrants re- placed by new ones and 15 new ones added to the system,
160
making a total of 278 hydrants. There have been 9 new stand pipes placed for the sprinkling department, and ~ changed, all at the expense of that department. There have been 2 sprinkling service connections made for fire protection for buildings, making in all 15 now in use.
At our work shop 319 meters were taken out and tested, 44 were found correct and 275 repaired. There has been an inspection of every hydrant four times during the year and 43 have been repaired and all have been flushed, the dead ends being flushed as often as required during the summer months. We had 19 leaks in all, 6 on the main pipe, 6 on gates and 7 on services. The number of leaks on the main pipes have been very smail only one to each 5.5 miles.
May 30th we put a 14" gate on the force main on County street just north of Fourth street so in case there was any trouble on County street between Fourth and Park streets the town could be supplied through Fourth street.
Appended will be found tables showing a condensed statement of the pumping records for the year and copies of the analyses made from samples of water taken from the well.
G. H. SNELL, Superintendent.
REPORT OF THE WATER REGISTRAR FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1901.
Dr.
Uncollected bills, January 1, 1901, $ 459.80 Charged for meter allowances,
January 1, 1901, to July, 1901, 3,245.25
161
Charged for meter allowances,
July 1, 1901, to January I, 1902, 3,376.50
Charged for meter rents, January I, 1901, to July 1, 1901, ..... 969.37
Charged for meter rents, July I, 1901 to January 1, 1902, .... 1,004.25
Charged for excess water for the year 1900, 9,355-37
Charged for excess water, Jan. I, 1901 to July 1, 1901, 5,677.41
Charged for repair of meters, Jan- uary 1, 1901 to July 1, 1901, . . III.55
Charged for repair of meters, July I, 1901, to January 1, 1902, . . 68.49 Charged for sale of meters, Jan- uary I, 1901 to July 1, 1901, . . 141.00 Charged for sale of meters, July I, 1901 to January 1, 1902, .. 49.00
Charged for guarantees, January I, 1901 to July 1, 1901, ...... 43.60
Charged for guarantees, July I, 1901 to January 1, 1902, .... 47.93
Charged for miscellaneous, Jan- uary 1, 1901 to July 1, 1901, 1,336.12
Charged for miscellaneous, July
I, 1901 to January 1, 1902, .. 1,581.75
$27,467.30
Cr.
Abatements, January 1, 1901, to
July 1, 1901, . . .
. .
$ 12.99
162
Abatements, July 1, 1901 to Jan-
uary I, 1902, 31.35
Cash paid Town Treasurer for
the year 1901,
27,325.34
Uncollected bills, December 31, 190I, 97.71
$27,467.39 GEO. H. SNELL, Registrar.
January 23, 1902.
Examined and found correct.
BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, F. L. LeBARON, FREDK. G. MASON,
Auditors.
163
TABLE SHOWING RAINFALL FOR YEAR 1901.
Departure
Month.
Rainfall.
Normal.
from
Normal.
January,
1.88
4.18
-2.30
February,
.76
4.06
-3.30
March,
8.44
4.58
+3.86
April,
8.14
3.32
+4.82
May,
7.19
3.20
+3.99
June,
.60
2.99
-2.39
July,
3.51
3.78
- . 27
August,
2.35
4.23
-1.88
September,
4.29
3.23
+1.06
October,
3.20
4.4I
-1.21
November,
2.55
4.II
-1.55
December,
8.21
3.71
+4.50
Total,
51.12
45.80
+5.33
Monthly average,
4.26
3.81
.44
Synopsis of Pumping Records for the Year Ending December 31, 1901.
1901
Total Pumping Time per
Month.
Average Pumping Time
Total amount of Coal used
Average amount of Coal
used per Day.
? Total number of gallons of
water pumped per Month.
Average number of gallons
of water pumped per Day.
Hrs.
Min.
Hrs. Min.
Pounds
Pounds
Gallons
Gallons
January,
163
00
5
15
42,120
1358
11,408,880
368,028
February,
149
00
5
19
39,370
1406
10,836,280
387,010
March,
165
45
5
20
39,495
1274
11,409,760
368,056
April,
147
45
4
55
37,060
1235
10,415,920
347,197
May,
165
45
5
20
40,930
1320
12,035,240
388,233
June.
203
45
6
47
46,080
1539
14,612,120
487,070
July,
196
30
6
20
47,210
1522
13,976,640
450,859
August,
182
15
O
52
43,305
1397
13,259,000
427,709
September,
183
00
6
6
44,315
1477
13,278,200
442,606
October,
168
30
5
26
45,430
1466
12,299,600
396,761
November,
164
00
5
28
43,665
1445
12,159,920
405,330
December,
169
00
5
27
45,645
1472
12,254,960
395,321
Totals for Year,
2058
15
514,625
147,946,520
Daily Average for Year,
5
38
1409
405,348
Average Duty for Year, Including Banking, - 55,600,000 foot pounds.
Average Duty for Year, Without Banking, I 37,800,000 foot pounds.
NOTE-Amount of coal used for lighting purposes and machine shop, 16,425 pounds. Leaving total amount for pumping, 498,200 pounds.
164
.
per Day.
per Month.
MONTH.
WATER ANALYSIS-ATTLEBOROUGH. Commonwealth of Massachusetts-State Board of Health. (Parts in 100,000)
1901
DATE OF
APPEARANCE.
AMMONIA.
NITROGEN AS
Hardness.
Oxygen
Consumed.
34379
Jan.
8|JJan.
9|None |None
.00 3.00.0006 .0054 .37.020
1.0000 1.61.0040 .01
34741
Feb.
12 Feb.
13 None | None
.00 3.20 .0000 .0024 .38.0140.0000 1.6 .0040.01
35081
March 12 March 13 None | None
.01 4.60 .0004 .0052 .39 .0150 .0000 1.7 .0050 .02
35381
April
9|April
11 None SI't
.00 3.60 .0000
.0028 .25 .0160 .0000 1.7 .0050 .02
35611
May
6 May
7 None | None
.00 3.00 .0000 .0020 .34.0160.0000 1.6 .0080 .01
35946
June
10 June
11 VSI't SI't
.01 3.80 .0000 .0024 .31 .0140 .0000 1.8 .0220 .02
36300
July
8|July
10 None|None
.02 4.00 .0000
.0026 .31.0080 .0001 1.4 .0100 .05
36729
Aug.
9|Aug.
13 None | None
.00 3.60 .0000 .0016 .29 .0100 .0001 1.8 .0050 .04
37135
Sept.
9 Sept.
10 None | VSI't
.00 4.90 .0000 .0016 .28 .0070 .0000 1.7 .0040 .07
37511
Oct.
8 Oct.
9 None None
.00 3.90 .0000 .0030 .31 .0140 .0001 1.8 .0050 .02
37925
Nov.
10 Nov.
13|None None
.01 4.30 .0000 .0026 .33 .0080 .0000 2.2 .0050 .01
38284
Dec.
10|Dec.
11 |None | None
.00 3.60.0002 .0024 .40 .0080 .0000 1.8 .0050 .02
Average
.00 3.79 .0001 .0028 .33 .0125 .0000 1.7 .0069 .03
No.
Collection.
Examination
Turbid- . ity.
Sedi- ment.
Color.
| Residue
on evap - oration.
Free
Albumi. noid Total.
Chlorine.
Ni-
trates.
Ni- trites.
IRON.
165
166
ATTLEBOROUGH WATER WORKS.
Water Ordinances.
Section I. Water Commissioners shall, at their first meeting after the annual town election, choose from their number a chairman. Two members shall be & quorum for the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties of the Water Commissioners. The Com- missioners may appoint and remove at their descretion a clerk, who shall also be Water Registrar, a superin- tendent and such employees or agents as they may deem necessary, and may prescribe their duties. They may fix the salaries of such clerk, employees and agents sub- ject to the instructions and control of the town.
Sec. 2. The Water Board shall have the exclusive and entire charge, superintendence and oversight of all lands, structures, works and apparatus designed and provided for obtaining and supplying pure water for the uses of the town. They shall have the exclusive control and management of the uses, repairs and extensions of such works and structures, whether newly determined upon or otherwise.
Sec. 3. The Water Board shall have control and jurisdiction over all sources of supply possessed by the town, and all lands appurtenant thereto, owned or law- fully controlled by the town, and they may exercise all rights as to entry upon and passage over private prem- ises which now are or may become vested in the town, belonging or relating to the management of the water works and supply of water.
Sec. 4. The Water Board shall use diligent care for the protection and security of all sources of water from
167
which a supply is obtained, so that the purity thereof may not be impaired.
Sec. 5. The Water Board shall, as often as once in each calendar month, meet and examine all bills and claims incurred by them in the prosecution of their duty and all claims approved shall be certified by them before payment of the same by the Town Treasurer.
The Water Board shall keep a full record of their proceedings, and they shall at the annual town meeting make a report in detail to the town of their official acts and doings for the year preceeding, with estimates of ex- penditures and receipts for the year succeeding, and such suggestions and recommendations as may seem to them for the benefit of the town.
Sec. 6. The Water Board shall make all proper ar- rangements for the sufficient supply of water for use at fires, and for furnishing the same in the most efficient and suitable manner. They shall, in consultation with the Selectmen arrange for such supply of water as may be required for operating any public fountains, or orna- mental public water works, for flushing and cleansing public sewers and drains, for sprinkling streets, and for any other use clearly distinct from that of ordinary water takers.
Sec. 7. The Water Board shall have exclusive charge of the supply of water, may make all the necessary arrangements therefor, and such rules and regulations and rates as they may deem to be judicious.
Sec. 8. The following rules and regulations are hereby established, and, together with such rules, regula- tions and rates as shall, from time to time, be made by the Water Board, under the authority of the preceding
168
section, shall be considered a part of the contract with every person who takes the water, and the fact of taking shall be considered as expressing assent on the part of the taker to be bound thereby.
Whenever any of them is violated, although two or more parties may receive the water through the same pipe, the water shall be cut off and not let on again, ex- cept by order of the Water Board, and on payment of one dollar, and in case of such violation, any payment for the water by the person committing such violation, shall be forfeited.
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