USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1884-1889 > Part 17
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On some hill on the line of the main pipe (150) one hundred and fifty feet or more above the level of the sea, construct a high service reservoir of 700,000 to 1,000,000 gallons capacity, with which connect the present ten-inch main pipe and supply the reservoir by the present pump taking the water by the ten-inch main from Little South Pond, holding Lout Pond in reserve for emergencies. The reservoir would thus be connected with the present ten-inch main ending at the junction of Summer and High Streets. Continue the ten-inch main by a new pipe down Summer Street to the top of Spring Hill or down Mill Lane, and there connect with the pipe that leads to the south part of the Town, which would thus be supplied with high service. The six-inch pipe in Oak Street would be already connected with the high service supply, and would convey water to the north part of the Town. Going back to Summer Street at High Street, from the high service pipe, lay a six-inch pipe through High and Russell Streets as far as the jail, with connections at Sever and Prospect Streets, to join the pipe from Oak Street at Samoset Street. At the junction of Samoset and Allerton Streets, join to the high service pipe a six-inch pipe to run through Allerton
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Street past the Pilgrim Monument to Court Street, there to connect with the four-inch pipe that leads to the north part of the Town.
High Street, Vernon Street, Davis Street, Cushman Street, and all other high lands are to be connected with the high service.
The high service reservoir being connected directly with the two ends of the town, would give a much better supply of water at the ends of the service than could be supplied if the whole town were connected with the high service reservoir. Gates would be arranged between the high and low service pipes, so as to connect them at any time, and make the supply all high service or all low service. A one-million gallon reservoir would supply the high service about one week, which would give time to make all ordinary repairs to pump or boilers. In case of a longer delay in running the pump, the two pipes from Little South Pond, having a capacity of three times the present supply, would give a better head over all the Town than there was before the pump was put in. In case the new pipe from the pond should need repairs, all the demands of the Town could be supplied from the high service by pumping day and night, if necessary, during the time required for repairs. No water would be taken from Lout Pond, as long as the pipe connecting Little South Pond with the pump and the fourteen-inch pipe running to the Town, should remain in good condition. The smaller the reservoir, if it is large enough to fairly cover ordinary contingencies, the better will be the water, for it will come more directly from the pond.
With the double service, the pressure of the pond would keep up the level of the water in the reservoir at Prospect Street, which would keep up the head on the central part of the town. The woolen mill would get its supply of water from the Prospect Street reservoir. as at present.
We estimate the cost of completing the system of supply by the high and low service to be as follows :
A fourteen-inch cement pipe from Little South Pond to the junction of Summer and High Streets, 14,800 feet at $1.60, $23,680 00
On Summer Street. from High to Market Street, 1100 feet ten-inch pipe at $1.20, 1,320 00
From Summer Street through High and Russell Streets to the jail, 1400 feet six-inch pipe at 80 cents, 1,120 00
On Allerton Street, from Russell Street, to connect with the present pipes, 300 feet four-inch pipe at 60 cents, 180 00
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Connecting Russell and South Russell Streets, 200 feet four-inch pipe at 60 cents, 120 00
From Sever to Allerton Street, 300 feet three-inch pipe at 50 cents, 150 00
From Samoset Street through Allerton to Court Street, 2100 feet six-inch pipe at 80 cents, 1,680 00
Connecting with the twenty-inch pipe at the pond,
100 00
Twenty gates, boxes and covers, 650 00
Stops and connecting with service pipes,
200 00
$29,200 00
A reservoir to hold 1,000,000 gallons
7,500 00
$36,700 00
Engineering, superintendence and contingent,
3,300 00
.$40,000 00
To hire this sum of money at 4 per cent. interest would cost per year the sum of $1600.
With the system changed as outlined above, our works might reasonably be considered as completed for any period of time to which it is our duty to look forward.
The other plan is to build a reservoir on some spot 150 feet or more above the level of the sea, and connect it with the present main pipe, and pump all the water used in the Town into the pipe and reservoir. To hold enough water to supply the Town a week, the reservoir would need to have a capacity of 3,000,000 gallons, and could be constructed at an estimated cost of $15,000.
If this plan should be adopted, all the water, instead of one-third, would have to be pumped. The extra pumping expenses for pumping this two-thirds of the water, are estimated as follows : Fuel,
Value of engineer's services,
250 00
Wear and tear of pumps and boilers,
100 00
Annual extra running expenses,
$1,000 00
Add interest on the cost of reservoir, $15,000, at 4 per cent., 600 00
And we have an annual outlay of $1,600 00 which is to be compared with the previous estimate of $1600. So that by our estimates it will cost the town annually as large a sum to build a three million gallon reservoir and pump all the water and
$650 00
0
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have only the present pipe, as it will cost to build a one million gallon reservoir and put in a complete double service of three times the capacity of the present pipe.
But if all the water for the future supply of the Town is to be pumped, another pump should be put in immediately, for if the one pump should be disabled and the woolen mill. continue to use water, not more than one-half to two-thirds of the present takers would get water in the day time and many would be entirely without it. The only effect a high service reservoir would have on the present supply would be that the head would be kept up during the night, the supply during the day would be no better than can be obtained from the works as they are now.
This is due to the loss of head by friction. We are now forcing through one ten-inch main, 50,000 to 60,000 gallons per hour during a part of the year when it is not really fitted to carry more than 30,000 gallons per hour. The loss of head by friction in a fourteen-inch pipe conveying 50,000 to 60,000 gallons per hour would be about twenty feet less per mile than in a ten inch-pipe.
Thus it will readily be seen that if the present system is to be continued a new main pipe must be laid from the pump to the new reservoir and from the new reservoir to the Town at once. If the consumption should increase in any degree, as it certainly would if the head were kept up during the night, and the regular increase of consumption for the last few years continue, a new main pipe would have to be laid soon from the pond to the pump station.
To give a proper supply of water at the north and south ends of the service larger pipes would need to be laid in place of the four-inch pipes leading to those parts or small reservoirs built there to receive water from the central reservoir at night.
The cost of these changes estimated on the same basis as the other would be as follows :
14,800 feet of fourteen-inch pipe from the pond to High
$23,680 00
Street,
7,000 00
A new pump,
6,000 00
Two new reservoirs,
Engineering and contingent expenses, 3,320 00
$40,000 00
Four per cent. of this sum, or $1600 represents what it would cost the Town annually to carry on this completed system of water supply over and above what it would cost annually to carry on a completed high and low service system.
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We believe that by continuing the present means of supply that there is a risk of being deprived of water which it is not prudent for the Town to take.
We therefore recommend to the Town the adoption of the high and low service system as above outlined, believing that it will give a satisfactory supply and be by far the most economical course that can be taken.
Plymouth, April 27th, 1886.
At a meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners held this evening the above report was approved and ordered printed.
H. P. BAILEY, Secretary.
Since the above report was made the Town instructed the Water Commissioners to build a reservoir of one million to two million gallons capacity, and to extend the water pipes to Battles' Corner, Chiltonville. 7353 feet 4-inch pipe was laid at Chiltonville, at cost of $4,047.42.
Land was bought in the rear of the Pump Station and a reservoir of about one and a half million gallons is being built at a height of 165 feet above sea level. .
The expenditures on account of new reservoir have been $5,254.20.
Before proceeding to build the reservoir the Commissioners consulted Walter H. Sears, Civil Engineer, on the question of a better water supply. His report, printed below, approves, in the main, the above recommendations of the Commissioners. Mr. Sears' services were engaged in locating and constructing the reservoir.
The Commissioners now recommend the Town to lay pipes this year to complete the double system of water supply as
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outlined in this report, and to use the new reservoir in connec- tion with the high service. This would require an expenditure estimated at thirty thousand dollars, in addition to the estimated expense of finishing the reservcir of four thousand dollars. It is hoped that the reservoir will be finished in July.
SAMUEL H. DOTEN, NATHANIEL MORTON, H. P. BAILEY, E. F. SHERMAN, CHARLES S. DAVIS, -
----
Water Commissioners.
Plymouth, Mass, January 1, 1887.
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REPORT OF WALTER H. SEARS, C. E.
MR. SAMUEL HI. DOTEN, CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF WATER COMMIS- SIONERS, PLYMOUTH, MASS.
Dear Sir :- At the request of your Board I have examined the present condition of the Plymouth Water Works, and have carefully read the various Annual Reports of the Water Board from year to year, as well as that of April 27th, of this year. In the last report two plans are outlined for the improvement of the present supply of water, and placing it on a secure and permanent basis, and upon these plans I report as follows :
The necessity for an additional main from Little South Pond to some point in the Town appears evident in either scheme.
The present pipe is of such size, ten inches in diameter, that in order to deliver the quantity of water required, the pump has to exert a suction and pressure combined of seventy to ninety and at times of one hundred and thirty feet, in order to gain the benefit of about thirty feet above the gravity pressure in Town. This condition of things is expensive, as regards consumption of fuel, for the result obtained, and would be remedied by putting in a new and larger main from the pond.
The fourteen-inch main, which you have proposed, will give double the quantity of water which will flow through a ten-inch main under similar conditions. At a velocity of flow of two feet per second, which is generally considered as great as is advantageous, a ten-inch pipe will deliver about 500 gallons per minute ; a fourteen- inch pipe about 1000 gallons, and a sixteen-inch pipe about 1250 gallons. The present ten-inch pipe is being forced to deliver, on an average, 548,000 gallons in twelve hours, or about 760 gallons per minute. This pipe, together with a fourteen-inch pipe, would deliver, at the rate of two feet per second, as above, about 1500 4
50
gallons per minute, or about twice the quantity now supplied to the Town ; the ten-inch and a sixteen-inch pipe would, together, deliver 1750 gallons, or two and one-third times as much.
In making any change for improvement it would seem wise to plan for at least double the present consumption, supposing thie source capable of giving such a supply, and the ten-inch and fourteen-inch pipes, together, would accomplish this ; but it is a question whether it is not better to exceed this rather than come so near the limit set, and a further consideration on the part of the Commissioners, of the relative advantages of the two sizes, is suggested ; particularly the expediency of laying the sixteen-inch main from the pond as far as the pumping station.
The question of supplementing the supply by laying a pipe from Great South Pond to some point of the distribution in Chiltonville was considered and the route was examined. This plan presents some favorable aspects, particularly that of giving, practically, two independent sources of supply, but the system of distribution. as now laid would require such extensive changes, the pipes in that locality and leading thereto being so small, that its full benefits could not be obtained withont greater expense than would seem to be warranted.
The requirements of the present situation, in case all the water is to be pumped, are stated in full in the report of April 27th alluded to.
A reservoir of three million gallons would give about five days' supply at little more than present rates of consumption. This would probably be sufficient to carry the consumption over any emergency that might arise, since it would be possible still to supply a portion of the Town by gravity. The new main would be as necessary in this case as in any other. A new pumping engine should be provided, although it might be possible to put in a less expensive pump for reserve, as is done, for instance, at Watertown, Mass. The expense of pumping would be continually increasing ; the salary of the engineer would soon have to be raised, or an assistant employed and wear and tear would be increased, and it would still be true that two-thirds of all the water pumped could flow to the consumers by its own gravity.
In order to make the comparison between the quantity of water to be pumped in the high service plan and that of pumping it all, as at present, the books of the Water Registrar were canvassed and the
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estimate given in the report of April 27th, was substantially confirmed. The woolen mill and other manufactories using, or having the right to use, rather more than one-third, leaving about two-thirds for the domestic consumption, and, as the high and low service areas are outlined in that report, the number of families is about equally divided between the two, or one-third of the present supply to each. Thus it would seem that the proposed provision for pumping one-third of the present supply, or say 200.000 gallons per day would be sufficient for the high service, leaving the other two-thirds to flow by its own gravity. A reservoir of one million gallons would give the same security for the service that one of three million gallons would give in case the whole supply was pumped. In this connection it may be said that when the pipe is laid with this purpose in view, through Whiting Street, in front of the new grammar school-house, thus providing a new route for the high service to the south part of the Town, a very considerable portion of the territory south of Town Brook could be placed on the low service.
From data above and that furnished by the printed reports of the Commissioners, it is found that the Town nses about 230 gallons of water per day, per family, exclusive of manufacturing purposes, and the present system of the pipes at the north and south ends of the Town, with the exception of certain two-inch pipes, would be capable of supplying this amount for domestic service to twice the present number of water takers. For any sudden or large demand, however, as for fire service, many of the pipes are quite inadequate.
In conclusion it may be said that the plan of a double or high and low service, as presented in your report, would seem to be at once the most feasible and economical for the Town to adopt. For this purpose the present pumping facilities are ample for many years ; the pump and boilers can be run in the most economical and advantageous manner. The time of running will be reduced to two or perhaps three days per week, giving opportunity for necessary inspection and care of machinery. The ten-inch main will also be equal to tlie demands upon it for a long time to come for this purpose, and from being under an intermittent pressure as at present it will again be placed under a constant head, and its life will probably be greatly prolonged. It may be interesting to note that in the six years that the pump has been in use there have
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
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been twenty-one leaks in the main pipe, while not one occurred during the four years previous. Under this plan, also, a great portion of the present distribution will again come under the conditions for which it was originally planned, that is, the gravity system, the best and most economical of all systems of water supply. Very respectfully, WALTER H. SEARS, Civil Engineer, 35 Congress Street, Boston. June 21, 1886.
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WATER COMMISSIONERS.
SAMUEL H. DOTEN-Term expires March, 1887. HORACE P. BAILEY-Term expires March, 1887. NATHANIEL MORTON-Term expires March, 1888. EVERETT F. SHERMAN-Term expires March, 1888. CHARLES S. DAVIS-Term expires March, 1889.
SUPERINTENDENT-Richard W. Bagnell. WATER REGISTRAR- William T. Hollis.
CHIEF ENGINEER AT PUMPING STATION-W. A. H. Jones.
Superintendent's office in rear of Engine House, Main Street.
Rates payable at Town Treasurer's office, semi-annually, in advance, May 1 and November 1.
Meeting of the Commissioners to examine bills and claims against the Department, the first WEDNESDAY EVENING of each month.
Bills against the Department must be rendered on or before the first Wednesday of each month, or they will lie over until the following month.
Approved bills paid by the Town Treasurer at Town House.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
OFFICE OF PLYMOUTH WATER WORKS, January 12, 1887.
TO THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS :
GENTLEMEN :
In compliance with my duty, I hereby submit my Thirteenth Annual Report of the Plymouth Water Works.
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
There has been laid during the year 1886, the following amount of water pipes :
NO. OF FEET.
SIZE.
COST.
WHERE LAID.
706
4 inch,
$582 23
175
2
66
Plymouth Cordage Co., three 2-inch and one 4-inch, gates included.
371
4
203 45
Warren Street.
472
4
270 50
Allerton Street.
121
4
..
97 00
Vernon Street.
538
4
6.
299 76
Whiting Street, also 325 ft. relaid.
7,353
4
4,047 42
Chiltonville.
117
10
226 65
New Reservoir.
274
6
209 86
Allerton Street.
34
2
36 98
J. R. Atwood's Wharf.
10,161
$5,973 85
SERVICE PIPE.
42 service pipes, measuring 1,284 feet, attached to the main and distribution pipes, have been laid at a cost of $205.61. The street length of all distribution pipes is 25,680 feet.
Five leaks have occurred the past year in service pipes. Cost of repairs, $13.86.
In three cases galvanized pipe has been replaced by lead.
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STREET MAINS.
All street mains are in good order and condition. The cost of all repairs and removal of obstructions on main and dis- tributing pipes, has been $231.91.
Leaks and obstructions have occurred as follows :
Number.
9
Size of Pipe. 10
Cost. $64 04
1
8
11 50
5
6
48 35
11
4
55 87
12
52 15
38
$231 91
The cause of leaks in the 10 inch main was from the settling of the swamp on the Thomas Farm, breaking the joints, and where the pipe was lapped and laid without sleeves, this being the case in every instance but one, and that a small rust hole, about two thousand feet above the pump station.
GATES.
Seventeen new gates, from 2 to 10 inch, have been set on the various extensions, their cost having been included in the cost of extensions, one of these, a 4 inch, was set at the junction of Leydon and Water Streets, at a cost of $23.07.
All street gates have at this time been inspected, and are in perfect order.
RESERVOIR.
The Reservoir remains in its usual condition. I would renew my recommendation of last year, that the embankments and slopes be covered with soil and sowed with clover and grass seed the coming Spring.
BOXES.
Twenty-six service boxes and three gate boxes have been replaced by new ones, at a cost of $3705.
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NEW TAKERS.
There have been added to the water takers this year, 42 families, 30 water closets, 9 bathing tubs, 8 stables, 1 urinal, 1 summer-house and 1 6-horse power boiler.
LABOR.
Whole amount expended for labor during the year .. $3,649 17
Amount paid for labor on extensions 2,413 36
Amount paid for all other labor 1,235 81
$3,649 17
Amount received for labor trenching. : ... $516 90
Amount received for shutting off services 71 50
$588 40
Total cost of labor during the year, less refunded .. . $3,060 77
SCHEDULE
Showing the number of feet of each size pipe, and the number and size of stop gates on the Works, December 31, 1886.
SIZE IN INCHES.
LENGTH OF PIPE IN FEET.
NO. OF STOP GATES.
20
56
12
64
2
10
18,479
9
8
4,616
8
6
9,189
11
1
51,889
63
3
9,279
12
2
29,568
70
1
1,490
7
Total number feet of pipe,
124,630
Total number of gates,
182
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The street length of service pipes being 25,680 feet, with the main and distribution pipes, make a total of 150,310 feet of pipe, or 28 miles and 2,470 feet.
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STOCK REPORT.
Stock and Tools on Hand.
SHOP.
129 bbls. cement at $1.30 per bbl
$167 70
433 feet of 2 inch pipe at 14 cents per foot
60 62
336 " " 3 " 16 53 76
511
4
107 31
180 " " 6
63 00
84 " 8
55
66 46 20
117 " 10 66 " 64 74 88 " 8.2 66 45 92
Tools
275 00
Duck.
18 00
White lead
3 00
Stove
20 00
Iron box covers
19 00
One 2-inch gate, 5.75, one 4-inch gate, 10.40. 16 55
Packing, 3.00, lock sleeves, 5.45.
8 45
$979 39
OFFICE FURNITURE.
Table, 1.50, nine chairs, 18.00, stove, 15.00 $34 50
Chest of drawers, 8.00, safe, 25.00 33 00
Two guages, 13.00, clock, .50 13 50
81 00
$1,060 39
the
9 8 11 63 12 70
182
t of
7
56 "12
21 35
2
LOCATION AND SIZE OF MAIN AND DISTRIBUTING PIPE LAID TO DEC. 31, 1886.
Location. Street.
Diameter of Pipe.
Between what Streets or Place.
Atlantic,
66
Court and land of E. F. Sherman,
Allerton.
6
Samoset and Cushman Street,
2
Cushman and house of John Burteh.
6.
1
Samoset and house of E. S. Dimond, Jr.,
1
.6 Vernon and house of Chas. T. Holmes, 2d ..
. 6
2
Russell and house of N. C. Lanman,
Alley,
2
יי
יי
Middle and Carver,
Allen Court,
1
.. South Street and end of pipe.
Bourne,
3
Court and Plymouth Cordage Company's block,
Bartlett.
2
High and Russell,
Bradford.
2
..
·2
Brewster.
4
Court.
8
Main and Samoset,
6.
6
..
4
Cherry.
4
.. Court and land of Plymouth Cordage Company,
Centennial.
8
Court and land of Chas. G. Davis.
Cushman.
1
66
Court and house of JJ. Mixter.
58
Sandwich and Emerald.
6.
Union and house of Timothy Hartnett,
Court and Water connected with 16 feet on Water Street,
Samoset and house of Wm. Goodwin,
House of Wm. Goodwin and Kingston line, .
2
2 inch. Between Court Street and end of pipe, .
House of John Burtch and house of R. Douglas,
3
Cushman. Chestnut, Chilton, 66
2 inch. BetweenJ. Mixter's house and Allerton Street,
2 Davis and Samoset Street,
2
Court and house of B. L. Bramhall,
3
66
4
4
Carver.
2
Church,
2
From Town Square,
Cross Road,
3
Between South and Stafford, from south to R. E. Caswell's house Warren and Sandwich road,
Cliff Road,
4
Chiltonville,
4
South District road to house of Mrs. Richard Harlow, Terry's Corner and store of Plymouth Woolen and Cotton Factory, Between Allerton and Vine Hill Cemetery, Water and Bradford Street,
Davis,
2
Emerald.
2
Russell and house of J. C. Barnes,
Edes,
2
Pleasant and Mayflower,
Fremont,
4
: Sandwich and Union,
3
Union and Charles Burton's
Force pipe,
12
Between main line and pump.
From Court Street.
Hall,
2
Between Davis Street and house of Adam Nicol,
Highland Place,
2
Court and Charles Phinney's house,
High,
4
Market and Russell Street,
Lothrop,
2
Court and Murray Street,
Leyden,
4
Main and Water Street,
Main line,
20
From filter to cone,
Between cone and Summer,
59
Franklin.
4
2
From end of 3 inch to C. B. Rice's
Howland.
4
3
Murray and Woolen Mill Village,
10
From B. L. Bramhall's 322 feet, ( From end 3 inch pipe to Water Street, ( and connected with 16 feet of pipe on Water Street, Between North and Leyden.
4
Location Street.
Diameter of Pipe. 8 inch. Between Sandwich and Main Street,
Market,
8
Leyden and Court,
Main, Murray,
·2
Lothrop and residence of John Murray,
3
Residence of John Murray and land of Timothy Lynch,
4
Main and Carver Street,
Middle, Mayflower,
4
Robinson and Washington Street
2
Washington and house of Thomas Pierce,
3
end of 2 inch pipe and South Street,
Massasoit,
2
66
Sandwich and house of William Nightingale,
Mount Pleasant.
10-
end of 13 inch pipe and house of C. H. Eaton, Pleasant and stable of E. F. Erland.
Morton place,
1
4
Froml
Court Street. 6
60
North Depot Ave.,
6
Court and Water Street.
North,
4
Summer and Samoset.
Oak,
6
Sandwich and Franklin Street.
Pleasant,
6
Franklin and Washington Street,
2
Washington and South Street.
· Russell,
10
..
Summer and Court
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