USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1930 > Part 9
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16,465,000
1,370,000
45,100
1920
20,509,000
1,709,000
56,200
1921
22,897,000
1,908,000
62,700
1922
24,734,000
2,060,000
67,800
1923
29,101,000
2,425,000
79,800
1924
30,660,000
2,555,000
84,100
1925
32,664,000
2,684,000
89,500
1926
36,945,000
3,080,000
101,300
1927
34,102,000
2,841,000
93,300
1928
35,024,000
2,920,000
96,000
1929
42,378,000
3,530,000
116,000
Future Per Capita Consumption. It is seldom that a community is able to maintain the total quantity of water used for all purposes at as low a figure as 30 to 35 g.p.d. per capita. Should an ample town supply be in- stalled, it is probable that the per capita consumption would increase ma- terially. For this reason, a future per capita consumption of 50 g.p.d. for the whole Town in 1960 has been assumed as a basis for these studies. The year 1960 has been adopted in this report as the limit for which construction should be planned. It is uneconomical to provide facilities for water supply whose capacity will be exceeded before the bonds used in payment shall have been retired. At the same time money should not be invested in works which will not be called into service for many years to come.
Future Water Consumption in Various Districts. Since the Town of Chelmsford is divided into villages which are of more or less dissimilar characteristics, it is essential that some idea be gained of the consumption in each of these districts. The 1925 distribution of population in the six precincts of the Town is shown in Table 5. The future distribution of population probably will vary widely from these figures as some parts of the Town are growing faster than others. As a basis for estimate the distribu- tion for 1960 has been forecasted as shown in this table, taking into account the various factors affecting growth.
TABLE 5. Forecast of Future Water Consumption in Various Districts
Distribu-
tion of popula-
Forecast of distri- bution of population
Forecast of water consumption * 1960
1925
1960
g.p.d.
Chelmsford Center
1
1,816
3,200
160,000
North Chelmsford.
2
2,696
4,200
210,000
East Chelmsford
4
688
1,500
75,000
South Chelmsford.
5
336
500
25,000
West Chelmsford.
3
347
600
30,000
Westlands
6
690
2,000
100,000
Total
6,573
12,000
600,000
*Based on 50 gal. per capita per day.
130
District
Pre- cinct No.
tion
EXISTING WATER WORKS SYSTEMS
North Chelmsford Fire District. The North Chelmsford Fire District was formed in about 1907 for the purpose of furnishing fire protection and water supply to North Chelmsford village. The source of the water supply is a group of thirty tubular wells, located along the edge of Crystal Lake. In a brick pumping station nearby are installed two Ramsay triplex single- acting pumps, each having a rated capacity of 316,800 g.p.d. These pumps, driven by General Electric 25-hp., 550-volt motors raise the water to a stand- pipe on the hill a few hundred feet distant. About 66 1b. per sq. in. pressure is developed at the pumps with an 8-in. vacuum. The pumps are run from 5 to 6 hours per day.
The standpipe has a height of 125 ft. with a diameter of 22 ft. and a capacity of about 350,000 gal. The top of the standpipe is at about 285 ft. above mean sea level. The principal distribution pipe of the Town is 12 in., extending along Washington Street and Gay Street. Other pipes are 10 in. and 8 in. with short branches of 6-in. pipe.
Chelmsford Water District. The Chelmsford Water District was formed in about 1914. The source of the supply is a group of fifteen tubular wells driven along River Meadow Brook near the end of Warren Avenue. A brick pumping station, containing two Goulds triplex double- acting pumps, is situated adjacent to Warren Avenue. These pumps, each having a rated capacity of 460,000 g.p.d., are driven by 25-hp. gas engines, and raise the water to the standpipe. Gas for the engines is supplied from a main from the City of Lowell. The average pressure developed at the pumps is about 101 1b., while the vacuum varies from 4 to 6 in. In general the pumping station is operated about 6 hours per day, although in the summer water may be pumped for 12 hours in order to meet the increase in demand.
The standpipe or reservoir which is situated on a hill southwest of the center of the village, is of reinforced concrete with dome roof 20 ft. high, 40 ft. in diameter, buried about 6 ft. in the ground with a capacity of about 190,000 gal. The top of the reservoir is at about elevation 325 above mean sea level or 40 ft. above the top of the North Chelmsford standpipe as computed from pressures at points of known elevation in the villages. The reservoir appears to be in good condition, except for spalling of the concrete in one spot and seepage through the walls over a considerable area.
The distribution system consists of a 10-in. force main from the pump station along South Street and High Street to the standpipe. A 8-in. main has been laid in Billerica Road and Golden Cove Road to Westlands and extending beyond the intersection of Lowell Street and Evergreen Street. The remainder of the distribution system is mostly of 6-in. pipe.
Fire Protection. In Table 6 are shown in parallel columns the fire flow requirements of the New England Insurance Exchange and a summary of results of actual fire flow tests made by the Exchange at various points within the territory served by each of the existing water systems.
Comparison of the figures in the table indicates an excess over the re- quirements of the Exchange at each of the points selected for test in North Chelmsford. It is understood that it is customary to keep the water level
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TABLE 6. Fire Flow Tests in Certain Parts of . North Chelmsford and Chelmsford Center by the New England Insurance Exchange
Pressure-lbs. per sq. in.
Flow-Gals. per min.
Point No. District
Street
Near
Initial
Final
At final pressure
At 20 lb. per sq. in .*
Requirement at 20 1b. residual per sq. in. pressure **
132
1 North Chelmsford State Highway
Middlesex
65
53
1380
2800
2,000
2
Newfield
Washington
.51
49
760
3330
1,000
3
State Highway
Gay
.59
50
1540
3400
1,500
4
Middlesex
Church
.67
43
1520
2180
2,000
1 Chelmsford Center
Westford
Littleton
.80
33
1180
1350
2,000
2
Lowell
Wildwood
.83
50
540
770
1,000
3
South
Warren
.96
74
690
1320
1,000
*Estimated
** Suggested by the New England Insurance Exchange
in the standpipe within 5 to 10 ft. of the top, with the result that at all times there is a considerable quantity of water available under excellent pressure to serve all parts of the district. Should this system be extended to serve West Chelmsford, the requirements of the latter village would be too great to enable the existing standpipe to serve both villages, and a new standpipe should be built in West Chelmsford.
Comparison of the figures in Table 6 for Chelmsford Center indicates a deficiency in pressure below the requirements in the Exchange at two points, although at all points reported the initial pressure at the hydrants was good.
Quality. It is understood that analyses made from year to year show the quality of the water drawn from the North Chelmsford wells to be approach- ing the quality of the water in Crystal Lake. Apparently, therefore, the water obtained from these wells is largely pond water drawn from the lake and filtered through a rather thin layer of sand. The most recent analyses from this source are shown in Table 7.
The analyses made in August, 1930, indicate an unattractive colored water, high in organic matter and iron with evidence indicating past pollu- tion. The State Department of Health has repeatedly called attention to these conditions. Although the filtering layer still prevents the entrance of harmful bacteria, on account of the camps and cottages along the shores the lake must be regarded as a hazardous source of supply and one which may at any time become contaminated. Furthermore, there is some population on the bluff above the wells.
Consequently the safety of the well supply depends upon the complete- ness of purification brought about by the process of infiltration to the wells. The analyses shows a considerably higher organic content than the Chelms- ford Center supply and it is problematical as to how much reliance can be placed on the natural processes of purification. As a matter of precaution we have assumed in the studies herein reported that the existing North Chelmsford wells and pumping equipment should be held in reserve for emergency use only or that chlorination equipment will be provided.
The quality of the Chelmsford Center water is excellent, as indicated by the analyses in Table 7. The drainage area of the River Meadow Brook at the well field is approximately 10 sq. mi. The stream itself is underlain by a rather thick layer of hard pan which is pierced by the tubular wells. and the water is drawn from a coarse sand stratum below.
AVAILABLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY
As previously mentioned, the existing North Chelmsford well system is assumed to be held in reserve for emergency use only or to be chlorinated.
Certain test wells were driven in 1927 by the City of Lowell on the flats bordering the Merrimac River near the Southwell Wool Combing Company's mill in North Chelmsford. Although there was not sufficient water for the City of Lowell, the Town of Chelmsford could be served adequately from this area. The quality of the water from this source is good, as is indicated by analyses made during the tests and reported in Table 7. To utilize this
133
FIG. 2
TABLE 7 ... ANALYSES OF WATER SAMPLES ··· BY MASSACHUSETTS DEPT. OF HEALTH ( PARTS IN 100,000)
Number
Source
Date
Color
Chlo- rine
Hard- ness
Iron
Free
Albu.
Nitrates Nitrites
221722
No. Chelmsford -Driven Wells
Mar.1930
00
.0180
.0038
45
0050
.0001
2.0
.012
221144
Chelmsford Center- Driven Wells
Feb.1930
00
0004
0004
69
2000
.0010
3.5
008
183881
Lowell - Hyd. Wells
July 1925
Filtered 47
.0104
.0042
46
.0260
.0007
2.9
.225
183959
Lowell - Hyd. Wells
July 1925
Filtered .45
.0076
.0040
46
.0450
.0004
2.9
200
201296
Lowell - Test Wells
Nov.1927
00
.0000
.0006
.42
.0270
.0000
1.7
.009
BY METCALF €™ EDDY ( PARTS IN 100,000)
3395
No Chelmsford - Tap, house of Geo. E. Gagnon Aug 1930
3.4
0056
.0047
.56
.030
.0002
1.89
.060
3396
=
- Tap, Pump Station
Aug.1930
3.5
.0053
.0114
.56
.040
0004
1.82
.050
134
Ammonia
Nitrogen
source it would be necessary to drive new wells, construct a new pumping station and lay suction and discharge mains.
The so-called "hydraulic well system" at Lowell has not been used actively since 1919 on account of troubles experienced with iron and the corrosive quality of the water. Analyses of this water are given in Table 7. When these wells were new, the water was of acceptable quality but analyses indicate that the quality gradually deteriorated over a period of years, pre- sumably due to pumping at too high a rate.
WATER SUPPLY FOR ENTIRE TOWN
In determining the most economical and satisfactory means for providing water supply for the entire Town, it has been necessary to study several projects involving different combinations of supply works, distribution pipe lines and storage facilities because of the distance separating the various villages. A discussion of these projects follows.
It is probable that a new well field located in the vicinity of the junction of Golden Cove Brook and River Meadow Brook, would yield for many years the requisite quantity of water for the entire Town's use. The drain- age area at this location is somewhat larger than that at the existing Chelms- ford Center well field. To utilize this source it would be necessary to drive new wells, construct a pumping station and lay suction and discharge piping.
The Chelmsford Center well field presents an excellent opportunity for developing a supply adequate for the entire Town. The quality of the water is excellent and the drainage area of 10 sq. mi. appears adequate to furnish all the water required by the entire Town for many years. At present these wells are pumped about six hours daily during most of the year and about twelve hours during the summer. By pumping on a 24-hour basis this system as now developed, without the addition of any new wells or pumps, probably would serve the entire Town for about ten years. In the future, as consumption increases, the field should be extended from time to time by drilling new wells in the same locality and connecting them with the present suction main.
PROJECT I. SEVERAL SEPARATE SUPPLIES
This project includes the development of several separate supplies and the installation of such mains and branch feeders as are required to bring the water to the central point of distribution in each village, together with the construction of storage reservoirs or tanks where required. The location of the villages is shown on Fig. 2 and the method of serving each village is "- described in the following paragraphs :
North Chelmsford. North Chelmsford would be supplied from a new well field and pumping station to be located on the flats bordering the Merrimac River near the mill of the Southwell Wool Combing Company. Fifteen or more 21/2-in. tubular wells would be required. The capacity of the pumps would be 290 g.p.m. (gallons per minute) each, at which rate twelve hours pumping daily from one pump should suffice until about 1960. The second pump would be held in reserve. The pumps should be of the
135
FIC
Từng's
0
EXISTING STANDPIPE ($50,000 gais/ 6
PROPOSER STANDPIDE (250.000gals.)
L
IVESTLANDS
E
Brown EAST CHELMSFORD OG
Pint
6
PROPOSED ISTANDPIPE
(250.000 gals)
WELLS
STANDPIPE (180,000 gais) / Rock 11
inte South chelmsford
NOAR
Burn
TOWN OF CHELMSFORD, MASS.
LO
ONY
Tree Hill
PROPOSED MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
SCALE, APPROX. I MILE TO I INCH JUNE, 1930
METCALF & EDDY ENGINEERS BOSTON, MASS.
1
136
triplex type and, for dependability, one should be driven by an electric motor and the other by a gasoline engine. The station in which the pumps are housed should be a simple brick structure approximately 20 ft. by 30 ft. in plan. An 8-in. force main would be laid from the pumping station to con- nect with the 8-in. pipe on Middlesex Street or preferably, by special arrangement, with the Southwell Wool Combing Company's 8-in. pipe near their mill.
The present standpipe, with a capacity of 350,000 gal., is adequate for fire protection for this district. Furthermore, the distribution system is well laid out, so that no additional expense is involved in supplying the consumers in this territory. .
East Chelmsford. The village of East Chelmsford lies in the extreme easterly portion of the Town, east of the Old Middlesex Canal and south of the City of Lowell. The principal development is along Gorham Street (the State Highway) and Carlisle Street, Carleton and Sprague Avenues, Marshall Street and Riverneck Road.
A supply of water for this village probably could be obtained from new wells in the vicinity of the old "hydraulic" well field of the City of Lowell. Because of the experience with corrosive water from this field, it would perhaps be preferable to locate the wells farther upstream in the meadow, say near the junction of Golden Cove Brook and River Meadow Brook. Eight or more 21/2-in. tubular wells would be required. The capacity of the pumps would be 150 g.p.m. each, at which rate eight hours pumping daily from one pump would suffice until 1960. The pumps should be of the triplex type, one driven by an electric motor and the other by a gasoline engine, and the pumping station should be about 20 by 25 ft. in plan.
A 6-in. force main would be laid along the Chelmsford Center Road, connecting the pumping station with the pipe line in Marshall Street. An 8-in. pipe would be laid in Marshall Street, increasing to a 10-in. in Carlisle Street, which would connect with a standpipe lying to the southwest, as shown in Fig. 2. The 10-in. pipe would be extended in Carlisle Street, to the junction with the State Road, and an 8-in. pipe line laid in the State Road from the Lowell City line to Sprague Avenue.
The standpipe would have a capacity of 250,000 gal. and would be pro- vided with a concrete foundation, blowoff chamber and gate valves. The elevation of the high water in the standpipe would be 210 ft. above mean sea level, which is 115 ft. below the level of the Chelmsford Center reservoir. This standpipe would be 25 ft. in diameter and approximately 70 ft. high. Additional pipes may be laid on the remaining streets, as required, and as the finances of the Town permit.
It would appear possible for the village of East Chelmsford to obtain water at slight initial cost from the City of Lowell, since a 12-in. pipe extends from the heart of the city out to the intersection of Anderson and Gorham Streets, reducing to a 10-in. and then to a 6-in. pipe to the city line. The pressure at or near the line is about 52 1b. per square inch. Moreover, the City of Lowell by acts of legislature in 1902 and 1913 was authorized to supply parts of Chelmsford with water. Lowell, however, is hardly in a position at present to furnish water to adjacent communities, having barely
137
-
enough for its own needs. It has been necessary during the past year for Lowell to supplement the "Boulevard" well supply with water of inferior quality drawn from the "Cook" system of wells and to look for an addi- tional supply elsewhere. For the above reason it is doubtful if East Chelms- ford can secure water from Lowell.
South Chelmsford. The village of South Chelmsford is so situated that the chances of a rapid increase in population appear slight ; in fact, only one or two new houses have been built within the last five years.
A convenient local source of supply for the village is lacking, unless a well field could be developed in the vicinity of Hart Pond. There is some danger of contamination from the pond, as in the case of Crystal Lake at North Chelmsford, and there is no particularly suitable site for a standpipe. Fortunately the Chelmsford Center reservoir is only about 11/2 miles from the center of South Chelmsford, and the difference in cost of developing a local supply and extending the Chelmsford Center supply is so small that the local supply does not appear justifiable.
A 10-in. pipe line should be laid from the standpipe along Robbins Hill Road to the village. This will provide fire protection in the village without construction of additional storage facilities. In addition, an 8-in. pipe should be laid in Proctor Road from the junction with Lowell Road. to the school house, with a 6-in. pipe extending about 1,000 ft. beyond to furnish water to several dwellings in this district. An 8-in. pipe should be laid along Maple Road as far as the railroad station, in order to afford protection to the church and the railroad station.
West Chelmsford. Under this project it is assumed that West Chelms- ford could develop a new supply at some point along Stony Brook or its branches, similar to that obtained by the Abbot Worsted Company of Brookside. The well field would consist of four or more 21/2-in. tubular wells. The pumping station would be about 20 ft. by 18 ft. in plan, con- taining two triplex pumps, one driven by an electric motor and the other by a gasolene engine. The pumps would have a capacity of 60 g.p.m. each, at which rate eight hours pumping daily from one pump should suffice until about 1960.
A discharge pipe about 1,000 ft. long would connect this source with the 10-in. pipe to be laid in School Street. The remainder of the distribu- tion system would include a 10-in. pipe in High Street, connecting with a proposed standpipe on the high land between High Street and the Stony Brook branch railroad. In addition, an 8-in. pipe would be laid on Main Street and would extend in a southwesterly direction to the Westford Town line.
The proposed standpipe would be 25 ft. in diameter and 70 ft. high, having a capacity of about 250,000 gal. The standpipe would be set on a suitable concrete foundation and would be provided with a blowoff chamber and necessary gate valves.
An alternate solution of the water supply problem for West Chelmsford lies in combining with Brookside, to form a fire district similar to the two now existing in Chelmsford. Such a district could obtain a supply from Gilson's Brook at the location now used by the Brookside Mill of the Abbot
138
Worsted Company. Storage could be provided by a standpipe erected on Francis Hill near the Chelmsford town line southwest of Brookside Village, at such an elevation that water under sufficient pressure would be available in all parts of West Chelmsford. Such a procedure involves joint action between portions of two villages. It might have a slight tendency toward upsetting civic bonds, whereas the construction of a common municipal supply for all the Chelmsford villages might tend to unify the community spirit.
While the Abbot Worsted Company furnishes water to a few houses in West Chelmsford, it does not seem prudent to expect this company to go into the water distribution business on such a scale as to serve the entire village.
Chelmsford Center. The village of Chelmsford Center has an excel- lent supply of water at the present time, with sufficient storage in the stand- pipe to care for ordinary fire protection requirements, and no radical change need be made in any part of the Chelmsford Center distribution system. An 8-in. pipe should be laid in Mill Road from the end of the existing pipe in South Street at Putnam Street to a point near the Ice House on River Meadow Brook, a distance of about 6000 ft. The practice of looping up dead ends, in order to secure a better flow, should be continued.
Westlands. The village of Westlands, corresponding with Precinct No. 6, is probably the most rapidly growing part of the town. It lies on the main road between Chelmsford Center and Lowell and offers excellent facilities for the development of a residential district. New streets are being laid out and additional land cleared so that it appears probable that a com- munity of some size may eventually be built up in this locality. Westlands is now included in the Chelmsford Center Water District. Fire flow tests made by the New England Insurance Exchange indicate good pressure in the vicinity of the Lowell Road near Evergreen Street. It is probable that at some future date elevated storage should be provided in this district to improve fire protection.
PROJECT II. MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY
This project includes the development of a single municipal supply to serve all villages utilizing the present facilities of the Chelmsford Center Water District, installing connecting piping in the various parts of the town and providing local storage where such is needed. An outline of the project is shown on Fig. 2, and the method of serving cach village is described in the"- following paragraphs :
North Chemsford. North Chelmsford would be served from Chelms- ford Center through an 8-in. pipe line to be constructed in North Street. The present supply at Crystal Lake would be maintained as an emergency supply as previously discussed. The standpipe is of sufficient size to furnish domestic water to the village for several days, so that a break in the main pipe line should cause no serious interruption in service.
139
East Chelmsford. East Chelmsford would be served from Chelmsford Center through a 6-in. pipe line to be laid from Billerica Road at Golden Cove Road to the new standpipe to be erected as previously described on the high land west of Carlisle Street. Branches as shown on Fig. 2 would connect the standpipe with houses lying along the State Highway, Marshall Street and Carlisle Street.
South Chelmsford. South Chelmsford would be supplied by a 10-in. pipe leading from the Chelmsford Center standpipe as in Project I. Other pipes are as described under Project I.
West Chelmsford. West Chelmsford would be supplied from Chelms- ford Center through North Chelmsford.
The North Chelmsford standpipe is sufficient for both local fire pro- tection and local domestic supply, but the distance to West Chelmsford is such that additional local storage should be provided in the latter village. The proper location for this standpipe would be on the high land between High Street and the Stony Brook Branch railroad, as shown on Fig. 2. The standpipe with top at elevation 260 and a capacity of 250,000 gal., 25 ft. in diameter and 70 ft. high, would give sufficient pressure to adequately protect the George Quessy School and the Church on Maple Street. The Kalix Cup Company has its own system of fire protection including a 50,000-gal. elevated tank.
It would readily be possible but not equally advantageous to place the standpipe on the hill northwest of the Town, which rises to elevation 220.
In case of a serious fire, however, the location near High Street would afford a better flow, due to feeding from two directions at once, a part of the supply coming from North Chelmsford and a part from the standpipe.
Chelmsford Center. This district would be supplied in the same man- ner as at present. The existing pumps would be operated on a 24-hour basis. In the future, say ten years hence, additional wells would be driven from time to time as required to meet the increasing yearly demand.
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