USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1904 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
FUTURE CONDITIONS.
Population and Use of Water.
All structural improvements must be based on future necessities, and in case of a water supply the future growth of the town must be estimated.
The table of future population, as given in the report of the Sewerage Committee, 1901, appears to be reason- able and is herein adopted.
The following table gives the population, the gallons of water used per capita, and the total daily consump- tion at different periods.
Table No. 5. Table Showing Future Population and Water Consumed.
Year.
Estimated populution.
Gallons consumed per capita daily.
Total daily consumption.
1905
14,250
38
541,500
1910
18,000
44
792,000
1915
22,000
45
990,000
1920
26,500
46
1,219,000
1925
31,500
47
1,480,500
1930
37,000
48
1,776,000
1935
43,000
49
2,107,000
1940
50,000
50
2,500,000
150
ANNUAL REPORT.
As shown in table No. 2, the present per capita con- sumption is about 33 gallons. In the last table it has been increased to 38 gallons in 1905, on the assumption that greater pressure will lead to greater leakage and use ; to 44 gallons in 1910, with the idea that before that time a sewerage system will be installed.
These assumptions should certainly be ample, and if the present good management in your system is con- tinued, it is probable that the per capita used will never reach 40 gallons. At Brockton, with a sewer system and a population of about 45,000, the daily per capita consumption is less than 35 gallons.
In considering the additional storage based on the above figures, it is, therefore, well to remember that the estimates of future use are probably large.
Necessary Storage Capacity.
The limit of desirable storage can only be determined by the available topography and consequent relative expense. Leaving out of the question the element of cost, the larger amount of water stored at an elevation, the better. In a hilly country, a reservoir holding 10 days' supply may be economically possible near the point of consumption ; on a flat plain it may be necessary to adopt direct pressure without storage. Where a reser- voir is easily possible, a storage capacity equivalent to two to five days' supply is common, but where the use of a standpipe becomes necessary, a lesser amount is usually accepted, sometimes only enough to equalize the hourly variation, so as to permit a uniform 24-hour run of the pumps, sometimes enough to supply the town during such hours as the pumps are not in operation. In all cases the necessity of providing duplicate machinery depends upon the amount of water stored at an elevation ; with several days' supply in storage, one pump is safe ; with only a night's supply, machinery in reserve is obligatory.
151
ANNUAL REPORT.
At Attleborough, the highest point available is on Ide's Hill, which rises to an elevation 250.0, or about 125 feet, above ground, at the corner of County and Park streets. It is, therefore, evident that a reservoir is not possible if direct pressure is to be obtained. A standpipe is the only alternative; of what height and capacity this should be, remains to be considered.
Until 1915 the Barr pump will be capable of pumping the daily consumption in eight hours; after that time a larger pump will probably be installed and the run again limited to eight hours. It is, therefore, apparent that the storage should be at least equal to the consumption of water during the 16 hours when the pump is not in operation, at or near the end of the safe life of the structure. If to this amount is added one hour's fire draft of the maximum number of streams for which it is economical to provide, it is believed that the larger storage which can justifiably be attempted, will be found.
The experience gained with the present standpipe seems to indicate that the life of such a structure may be safely taken at not less than 20 years, and it will, therefore, appear that storage equivalent to the 16-hour night draft, 20 years hence, plus one hour fire draft, should be provided in a tank of such size and elevation that the surface of the water will not be lowered below the elevation necessary to give direct fire pressure.
The curve of hourly consumption shown in table No. 4 indicates that 50% of the daily use takes place in the 16 hours between 4 p. m. and 8 a. m., equivalent in 1925 to 740,000 gallons.
The maximum number of fire streams for which pro- vision can justifiably be made is largely a matter of expense and relative risk.
For Attleborough it is believed that 15 11/s-inch streams, of 250 gallons each, is a fair basis of design. Such a number will, in actual gallons thrown, be equiv- alent to 20 streams as noted by the ordinary observer. One hour's use of these streams would amount to
152
ANNUAL REPORT.
225,000 gallons, which, if added to the 740,000 consumed in 1925 during the 16 hours when the pump is not run- ning, gives a total storage of 965,000 gallons which is desirable to hold above an elevation which will give efficient direct pressure.
Assuming elevation 125.0 as an average surface of the business portion of the town and 65 lbs. as the minimum allowable hydrant pressure under the worst possible conditions, and allowing a 15-foot loss of head from the standpipe to the point of use, it follows that the above mentioned storage capacity must all be held above elevation 290.0.
A fire pressure of 65 lbs. will give, with 250 feet of hose, a stream of 220 gallons per minute, capable of reaching a height of about 60 feet. This pressure, which will result 20 years hence under the worst possible conditions of fire occuring after the pumps have been shut down for 16 hours and after 15 streams have been playing for one hour, is a better pressure than can be developed under the present fire service with eight streams in use. At all other times of the day and through all the intervening years from the construction of the tank to the time assumed in the above calculation, the pressure will be in excess of 65 lbs., ranging from this figure to 91 1bs.
A standpipe 50 feet in diameter and 100 feet high, constructed on the proposed hill, with its top at eleva- tion 350 and with a capacity of 14,687.0 gallons per foot, would meet the condition outlined as necessary in the preceding paragraphs. The following table shows the results in pressure from such a tank at different dates and under different conditions.
:
ANNUAL REPORT.
153
Table No. 6.
Table Showing Pressure Furnished at Park Street at Different Dates From a Tank 50x100 Feet. (An Allowance of 15 Feet Loss of Head in Pipe System Being Made.)
Year.
Pressure when tank is full, lbs.
Pressure when tank has sup- plied town for 16 hours and fire draft of 15 streams for one hour.
Average fire pressure.
1905
9I.I
76.5
83.8
1915
9I.I
69.8
80.4
1925
91.I
61.6
76.3
Any of these pressures will give effective fire streams and it is, therefore, concluded that a tank 50 feet in diameter by 100 feet high will provide Attleborough with fire pressure during the next 20 years, with the pump run limited to eight hours and without the neces- sity of starting the pump in case of fire. Such a tank is about as large as can well be constructed in steel; that it is not too large in view of the present and prospective growth of the town will, it is believed, be the opinion of your Board.
The character of the water supply of Attleborough is such that it has more or less corrosive action on iron, and although the present standpipe does not show such depreciation as to make the adoption of a similar struc- ture infeasible, the quality of the water naturally leads to a consideration of other means of storing water than by steel plates. Great progress has been made of late in combination of concrete and steel, the metal being embedded in the masonry and employed to withstand the tensile stresses. Standpipes of this type have been constructed at Fort Revere in Boston Harbor and Mil- ford, Ohio, neither of these as large as that proposed for Attleborough, but sufficient to indicate the possibilities of this construction.
154
ANNUAL REPORT.
The cost of a steel standpipe 50 feet by 100 feet high, roofed and including the foundation, will amount to about $37,500.00. The cost of a concrete-steel structure of the same size, with Guastavino tile roof, will be about $35,000.00.
The latter tank should not be attempted except by the most skilled and experienced builders and should be guaranteed by the builders one year. Under general plans and specifications prepared by your engineers, and with proper inspection of all materials and of the con- struction, it is believed that such a structure will meet all requirements and be capable of maintenance with practically no expense or depreciation.
We recommend the construction of a concrete-steel tank, provided a favorable proposition can be obtained from reliable contractors; otherwise that the tank be built of steel.
Pipe Lines.
The proposed location of the standpipe is favorably situated between the source of supply and the town. being about 10,000 feet distant from the corner of County and North Main streets. The distance from the pumping station to the standpipe, cross-country, is 7,300 feet ; via West and Thacher streets the distance is 9,700 feet from the pumping station to the point in the latter street where the pipe line starts off to the standpipe. It is obvious that when a new pipe from the pumping station to standpipe is laid, it should be laid by the direct line through private land.
The size of pipes from pumps to standpipe is eco- nomically based on the rate of pumping ; the size of the pipe from the tank to the point of consumption, on the amount of pressure which can be sacrificed in friction during the average maximum conditions of domestic use, and the assumed fire draft.
The present pump is of 3,000,000 gallons daily capacity and, as has been stated, will be capable of
155
ANNUAL REPORT.
pumping the consumption in eight hours until 1915. The pipe line through West and County streets is 16 inches and 14 inches, Class D. pipe-now subjected at times to a pressure of 125 lbs. The friction through this pipe line and the length of 24-inch pipe which it is pro- posed to lay from Thacher street to the standpipe, will amount, with the pump running at a rate of 3,000,000 gallons, to about 40 feet-resulting in a pressure on the pipe at the pumping station, when the standpipe is full, about equal to that at which the relief valves now operate.
It is desirable that the loss of head from the stand- pipe to the town be reduced to the minimum. The necessary size of pipe line is to be determined on the basis of a domestic draft in excess of the average, plus a fire draft of 15 streams of 250 gallons each. At times the hourly domestic draft will be more than double the average, but because of the fact that at such times the pumps will probably be in operation, it is believed safe to consider the pipe line between standpipe and town on the basis of a draft of 150% of the average domestic use, plus the above average mentioned fire streams.
The following table shows the friction loss in 1915 and 1925 with different combinations.
156
ANNUAL REPORT.
Table No. 7.
Table Showing Friction Loss Between Standpipe and Park Street With Drafts Equal to 150% of the Average Domestic Consumption at Different Dates, Plus 15 Fire Streams of 250 Gallons Each.
Pipe line.
Loss of head in feet. In 1915. In 1925.
24 in. from standpipe to Park street, 20 in. from standpipe to Park street,
8.8
10.5
18.5
22.0
24 in. to County street, 20 in. to Park street,
12.5
15.0
24 in. to County street, 20 in. to Dennis street, present pipe pipe system to Park street, . .
66.0
80.0.
From this table it appears that in order to reduce the loss of head to the limit set in the discussion of stand- pipe capacity, a 24-inch should be laid to County street and a 20-inch through County to Park street. Instead of laying 20-inch all the way in County street, it may appear advisable to divide this pipe capacity into several mains branching off to the right and left from County,. one through Maple street, and one perhaps through Dennis street.
It is to be remembered that the above calculations are on the rather extreme assumption of a fire draft of 3,750 gallons per minute. With 10 streams of 250 gallons each and a domestic draft of 1,000 gallons per minute. the friction loss with 24-inch laid to County street and 20-inch to Dennis street, using the present pipe system beyond this point, will amount to 38 feet. In 1910 the standpipe will be drawn down by the 16 hours' night draft to elevation 325, leaving a static pressure of 200 feet at Park street, and a net pressure, under the con- ditions just stated, of 70 lbs. It would, therefore, appear
157
ANNUAL REPORT.
that the laying of a new main further than Dennis street may be postponed for several years.
SUMMARY.
It is recommended that a standpipe 50 feet in diameter and 100 feet high be constructed- of concrete-steel if a favorable proposition can be obtained from experienced builders.
It is recommended that a 24-inch pipe be laid from the tank to County street, and a 20-inch pipe through County to Park street, but that for the present the 20-inch be not laid further than Dennis street.
Respectfully submitted,
SNOW & BARBOUR.
The Commissioners make their report to the town based on these recommendations, and after a careful and personal investigation which has been made by us, we feel justified in recommending the following im- provements.
We do not feel that the town can afford to take chances much longer under the present conditions. While it will incur quite an expense, we believe that the saving that can be made in operating the pumping plant and the regular increase in the income of the department will nearly, if not quite, take care of the interest and sinking fund necessary to meet the expense of the outlay.
We believe that the first work that should be under- taken is to increase our well supply. Already we have had a number of test wells driven on the town land near the pumping station, so as to locate the place where we could obtain the largest ground supply. We find the most desirable location is about 250 feet south of our present well, where there seems to be plenty of water and of the very best quality. The same has been examined by the State Board of Health, and we have
158
ANNUAL REPORT.
no doubt but what they will recommend locating the well at this point.
We, therefore, recommend the construction of a well 40 feet in diameter, 25 feet deep, to be located about 250 feet from our present well, as shown on the drawing, and conduit connecting the two wells so as to intercept all ground water running between them.
The estimated cost of this well and conduit will be $15,000.00. If this well and conduit is put in, it will give us double the storage capacity of our present well- the two wells and conduit holding 300,000 gallons, where our present well holds only 100,000 gallons. With this storage there would never be danger of having to use pond water for any cause whatever. This well proposi- tion has been under consideration for more than a year, as will be shown in the following letter from the State Board of Health, received after the Commissioners had requested them to make rules and regulations to pre- vent the pollution of the Seven Mile River and Orr's Pond, realizing it might be necessary to take from that source if a large fire should occur.
The following is a copy of the letter from the State Board of Health after investigation made by them :
Letter.
Office of the State Board of Health .. State House, Boston, July 2, 1903.
To the Board of Water Commissioners of the Town of Attle- borough.
Gentlemen :-
The State Board of Health has considered your request of May 23 that rules and regulations be prepared for the sani- tary protection of Orr's Pond in Attleborough, which is adjacent to the well from which your supply of water is now drawn, and has caused the locality to be examined by its engineer.
The Board is informed that the yield of the well from which your supply is now drawn is but little, if any, in ex- cess of the quantity of water used to supply the town, and
1.
ANNUAL RFPORT.
159
that you propose to use water from Orr's Pond at the point where the Seven Mile River enters it, where a pipe has already been provided for the purpose. In the opinion of the Board, it will be impracticable to enforce the rules now sent you so thoroughly as to prevent all danger of pollution of the Seven Mile River and Orr's Pond, except at a large expense, and Orr's Pond is not, in the opinion of the Board, a safe source from which to take water directly for the supply of Attle- borough. It is also of objectionable quality in other respects, and its objectionable qualities would be the more noticeable to consumers, since the water of your present well is at all times clear and colorless and of excellent quality when sup- plied through proper pipes.
The conditions in the region about your present well ap- pear to be favorable to obtaining water freely from the ground, and it is probable that another well or wells could be located in this neighborhood, which would materially increase the ca- pacity of your works and make it unnecessary to draw from Orr's Pond, and, considering the circumstances, the Board would advise that you make investigation without delay to determine whether it may not be feasible to increase the available supply of ground water near your pumping station and avoid any necessity for drawing water directly from Orr's Pond.
In view of the circumstances, the Board has adopted rules. and regulations for the sanitary protection of Orr's Pond and its tributaries, which you can enforce temporarily until you have completed another well or wells and enlarged your sources sufficiently to make it unnecessary to draw water di- rectly from Orr's Pond.
By order of the Board,
SAMUEL W. ABBOTT, Secretary.
The reason we did not take immediate steps, as sug- gested by the State Board of Health, was on account of other improvements that we knew would have to be made soon ; so we decided to wait and take up the whole question at the same time.
160
ANNUAL REPORT.
Standpipe.
After a thorough investigation of the concrete-steel standpipe and propositions from different builders who are experts in this line of work, we do not hesitate in recommending the building of a concrete-steel standpipe 100 feet high and 50 feet in diameter, holding 1,468,700 gallons, which at the present time would be about three days' supply.
The advantages of a concrete-steel standpipe over a steel standpipe are :
First .- The cost would be $3,000.00 less than a steel standpipe.
Second .- No cost for maintenance.
Third .- There seems to be no limit to the life of such a structure, or in other words, is as near being in- destructible as a structure could be made.
Disadvantages of Steel Standpipe.
The maintenance of a steel standpipe that size would be $400.00 a year, if kept coated on the inside and painted on the outside to prevent the action of our water on steel. It would then be a question where it would be possible to find any kind of paint or coating that would withstand the water for a year.
It would also be necessary to empty the tank when painted and let it dry out ; this would take from 10 days to two weeks. During that time water would have to be supplied by direct pumping, which means 24 hours a day during the time the standpipe is empty, and this method is expensive; also, the estimated life of a steel standpipe is only 20 years.
You can see by this comparison that there is much in favor of the concrete-steel standpipe over the steel standpipe, not only in cost, but from every point that could be considered.
The cost of concrete-steel standpipe will be $35,000.00.
161
ANNUAL REPORT.
Pipe Lines.
To connect this standpipe we would recommend a 24-inch main pipe running from standpipe to Thacher street, thence to corner of County street and Thacher street; and a 20-inch pipe from Thacher street on County street to Dennis street.
Estimated cost of this pipe line, with all connections complete, including land damages, will be $36,356.15.
This work, we believe, should be begun as early in the spring as possible, contracts to be made this fall, so as to take advantage of low price in material, thereby saving quite a sum over what we would have to pay in the spring.
We would recommend a 16-inch force main from pumping station to standpipe, but we do not feel that this should be put in until after the well and standpipe . and the main from the standpipe to the town is com- pleted, and might be put off for a year. Yet we feel that this should be considered under the same general plan and carried out as soon as possible to do so. This would give two lines from the pumping station to the town.
Estimated cost of this force main, including all con- nections and gate chamber at station, and land damages, will be $28,034.47.
Land for Location of Standpipe and Pipe Lines.
The Commissioners recommend purchasing or taking land on Ide's Hill to erect a standpipe and also enough to protect the surroundings. We believe at least 10 acres would be necessary, and more should be bought if a satisfactory price could be obtained from the owners. Also a strip of land 40 feet wide from standpipe to Thacher street, also a strip of land 40 feet wide from standpipe to Tiffany street, including land for a drive- way around the hill, as shown by plans.
We would recommend that the Commissioners be empowered to purchase other land, if they think neces-
162
ANNUAL REPORT.
sary, providing it can be bought at a fair market value. The reason for this recommendation is that the top of Ide's Hill is owned by several different parties, at least four. and some only a few acres. It might be possible to buy the entire lot for nearly the same price that we would have to pay for the 40-foot strip through it.
Total Estimated Cost of the Entire Recommendations.
If all of these improvements are made. the total estimated cost will be $113,390.62. And we feel certain that if the contracts for material can be made so as to take advantage of the present low prices, these estimates will be ample to cover the entire expense, and we hope to be able to do the entire work for less than the estimate.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM M. STONE, GEO. H. SNELL, D. E. MAKEPEACE, Water Commissioners of Attleborough, Mass.
New Work in Progress.
Soon after the special town meeting of September 6, we began to make a survey of the land that was to be bought and to locate the owners. This work, when completed, showed a plat of the top of Ide's Hill, and also of all the different parcels of land that we would want to buy, and all that we would pass through with the pipe line. There were found to be II owners; of these only four reside in Attleborough. To January I. we have bought five pieces of land, comprising 29 acres. at a cost of $1,025.00, and expect to purchase the balance of the land we need in a very short time.
We believe that the town should instruct the Commis- sioners to sell such land as they see fit, if in their judg- ment the town does not need the same, as we may have to buy more than we really need in order to get what we want at anywhere near a reasonable price.
163
ANNUAL REPORT.
Proposed New Standpipe.
August 10, 1904, bids were received for the new concrete-steel standpipe, and five bids were received, as follows : Babbitt, Barr & Davis, $33,679.60; Aberthaw Construction Company, $34,365.00; Eglee-Bunting Com- pany, $35,000.00; Tucker & Vinton, $40,000.00; Neff Company, $75,000.00.
After a careful study of all the plans submitted and method of construction that each bidder proposed, we considered that the Aberthaw Construction Company's bid was the one to accept for the following reasons: On account of their extra steel reinforcements, richness of concrete, method of construction and complete plans submitted. The contract was awarded September 7, and work will be begun in the early spring. When com- pleted it will be the largest standpipe of the kind ever built, and engineers all over the United States are tak- ing a deep interest in this structure, and we believe there is no doubt but that it will be a perfect success as a storage for water and a credit to the engineers, Snow & Barbour, who designed it.
November I, specifications were sent out and bids asked for to furnish the cast-iron pipe for the new force main and pipe line from the new standpipe to the town. The approximate amount of pipe required for this work is 1,160 tons, of sizes 16-inch, 20-inch and 24-inch.
Bids were opened November 15, and the following were received: Warren Foundry & Machine Company, $22.90 : United States Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Com- pany, $24.70; R. D. Wood & Co., $24.80; M. J. Drum- mond Company, $25.90.
The contract was awarded to the Warren Foundry & Machine Company.
We consider the town very fortunate in being able to buy the pipe at this low price, as it is about the lowest point reached during the year. All contracts have now been placed for the entire construction. All of the pipe is to be laid by the department.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.