USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1906-1908 > Part 9
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(c.) A low lift pumping plant located on the shore of Great South Pond near our old canal.
(d.) A new 16-inch main from Little South Pond to our pumping station. A 16-inch main from our pumping sta- tion to Market street, and a 14-inch main across Oak street from Summer street to Samoset street.
(e.) An immediate and complete installation of meters.
(f.) A standpipe on the hill at the high service reservoir.
Items a b c are suggestions from the engineer of the State Board of Health. endorsed by our engineer Mr. Full- er, and approved by the Commissioners. As explained in the Superintendent's report of 1906, elevation 102.0, is about the lowest point to which either Great or Little South Pond can be drawn with our present arrangement of pipes, and screen well.
The installation of a pumping plant on the shore of Great South Pond, will enable us to accomplish in the future what our new canal accomplished for us last year, namely : make more storage from Great South Pond available. As deter- mined by a recent survey of the pond about 800,000,000 gal- lons of storage is available in Great South Pond between el- evations 104.5 and 94.5.
A permanent canal between Great and Little South Ponds, the bottom of which shall be at elevation IO1.O. will allow
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us to draw all the storage that is in Great South between full pond elevation 106.0 and elevation 101.0 without pump- ing. Then the sluice gate can be shut and pumping begun if necessary.
(d.) A careful study of the following statements will be convincing that a new and larger pipe from Little South Pond to Lout Pond is an absolute necessity at once. At present a ro-inch pipe connects these two ponds, and this pipe is never shut off. That is, water is constantly run- ning from Little South Pond to Lout Pond through this 10-inch main 24 hours each day, and 365 days each year.
ยท The following table shows our high service consumption since Nov. 19, 1906, with an average daily consumption of 759,000 gallons. It also shows that from Nov. 19. 1906, to Feb. 10, 1907, Lout Pond fell about 18 inches.
In other words with the present 10-inch pipe delivering its maximum amount into Lout Pond that amount was in- sufficient to keep the pond up with an average daily draft upon it of 759,000 gallons.
In this connection it might be stated that water was turned into the high service connection to the Puritan Mills, No- vember 25.
The table shows the increase in consumption probably due to this use.
A 16 inch high service main from our pumping station to Market street, via Billington street and Summer street, to connect with the 12 inch main on Market street, and a 14 inch main across Oak street from Summer street to Standish ave., to connect with the Standish avenue 10 inch main, seem to the Commissioners necessary to reinforce the distribution system in the north part of the town.
(e.) The Commissioners are aware that in discussing the subject of meters, they are broaching a subject upon which there is considerable diversity of honest opinion. They nevertheless feel that this important phase of our water sup-
-
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ply question should be fairly and intelligently discussed by the taxpayers to whom for a decision the matter must final- ly be brought.
We believe that a large part of the opposition to the use of meters comes from a lack of proper information as to the benefits to be derived from their use.
When we appreciate the fact that with meters on every service each citizen pays for his own use or waste, and not for his neighbors' wastefulness, we can see one of the prin- cipal advantages of a meter system.
It is not a fact that meters restrict the use of water -- they simply curtail its waste. They also permit a more equitable distribution of charges.
The Commissioners sincerely hope that this matter will be discussed freely, and without prejudice having always in mind the best interests of the town as a whole.
STANDPIPE.
The elevation of our present high service reservoir, 165.0, appears to be insufficient to supply at all times the houses on our highest land-and also practically renders unavailable for building purposes some land at the same elevation. This lack of pressure is due not alone to the present elevation of our reservoir, but also to the great draught at lower por- tions of the town through the day. Sufficient proof of this is given by the fact that houses which are poorly supplied with water through the day, or houses which get none at all, do get a fairly good pressure at night.
The remedy appears to be a less draught of water in town (smaller consumption) or a higher pressure to force it to those localities now complaining of lack of pressure.
The Commissioners present this report with the hope that the recommendations contained therein, which have their entire approval, will be carefully considered by the Town.
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For a further discussion of the subject, and for estimated costs of the proposed improvements, we have attached the report of our engineer, Mr. F. L. Fuller.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN W. CHURCHILL, JOHN H. DAMON, CHARLES T. HOLMES, W. A. H. JONES, H. P. BAILEY.
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SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Published by request of the New England Water Works Association.
PLYMOUTH (MASS.) WATER WORKS.
Population by census of 1905, 11, 100.
Date of construction, 1855.
By whom owned, Town.
Source of supply, Great and Little South and Lout Ponds.
Mode of supply, gravity for low service and pumping for high service.
PUMPING.
I. Builders of pumping machinery : Barr & Worthington.
2. Coal (b) Bituminous. (d) Brand various. (e)
$5.00 per gross ton.
3. Total fuel, 442, 140 pounds.
5. Total water pumped 214,305,800 gallons.
6. Average static head. 65 feet.
7. Average dynamic head. 83 feet.
8. Number gallons pumped per pound of coal, Barr, 493.3 Number gallons pumped per pound of coal, Worthing- ton, 447.9.
9. Duty of Barr pump, 34, 106,000.
Duty of Worthington pump, 30,967,000.
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Cost of pumping figured on Pumping Station expenses, viz : $3,527.04.
1906.
IO. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $16.46.
II. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $0.198.
COST OF PUMPING FIGURED ON TOTAL. MAINTENANCE, VIZ : $10,767.52.
12. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $50.24.
13. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic) $0.605.
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FINANCIAL
MAINTENANCE.
A. Water rates, domestic,
B. Water rates, manufacturing,
Total water receipts, Miscellaneons,
$27,789.19 1,471.00
AA. Management and repairs.
$10.767.52 4.847.36
$29.260.19
3,563.29
Total, Profit for year,
17,208.60
$32,823.48
Paid bonds and notes, Carried to Construction Acct., Total,
7.541.94
$17,208.60
CONSTRUCTION.
$849.42
Extension of Mains by Commissioners,
3.344.09
Profits maintenance,
7,541.94
Extension of services,
520.45
Overdrawn balance,
5,103.30
Expended at new workshop,
9,630.12
$13.494.66
$13.494,66
Cost of works,
$9,666.66 paid yearly on principal. Bonded debt at 31/2 per cent ..
$35,400.00
Town appropriations, From profits.
$163.456.95 216,301.26
33/4
17,999.82
$379,758.21
66
66,600.00
$119,999.82
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Undrawn balance.
BB. Interest on bonds,
$15.614.88
$32,823.48
$9.666.66
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DISTRIBUTION.
I. Kind of pipe used. Wrought iron and cement lined principally cement lined.
2. Sizes from 2-inch to 20-inch.
3. Extended. 2,411, including Mabbett's.
4. Discontinued. None.
5. Total now in use, 47 miles, 1,782 feet.
6. Cost to repair per mile, $6.67.
7. Number of leaks per mile, .53.
8. Small distribution pipe, less than 4 inches. Total
length 10 miles, 3,236 feet.
9. Hydrants added, 6: discontinued, none.
IO. Hydrants now in use, 184 public: 52 private.
II. Stop gates added, 12; discontinued, none.
I2. Number now in use, 529.
13. Small stop gates, less than 4 inches, 145.
14. Number of blow offs, 38.
SERVICES.
16, Kind of pipe, lead and cement lined.
17 From 3 to 4 inches.
18. Extended, 535 feet.
20 Total now in use, 6 miles, 3,745 feet.
21. Service taps added. 77.
22. Number now in use, 2,278.
23. Average length of service, 7.0.
24 Average cost of service, $6.60.
27. Motors and elevators added, none.
28. Number now in use, one motor.
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LABOR.
Total labor for 1906,
$3,570 96
Extensions,
$757 70
Services,
125 50
Lining pipe,
116 75
Station,
90 50
All other labor,
2,480 51
$3,570 96
Received for labor,
$926 92
Shut off and let on,
64 50
991 42
Net cost, labor,
$2,579 54
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REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF WATER RATES.
GENTLEMEN .- I hereby submit the annual report of the Collector's Department of the Water Works for the year 1906.
The Collector is charged' as follows :
DR.
Arrears,
$2.587 67
Water Rates,
29,679 12
Labor and material,
2,852 II
Miscellaneous,
263 55
$35.382 45
Cr.
Abatements,
$391 13
Uncollected labor and material,
147 14
Uncollected rates,
2,020 70
Total collections,
32.823 48
$35.382 45
Water is supplied to 2,363 families. 1,753 water closets, 642 bath tubs, 148 stores, offices and shops, 138 stables, 515 horses, 143 cows, 17 urinals, 4 cemeteries, 9 engines, 12 fish and meat markets, 5 banks, 8 churches, I water motor, 3 laundries, 8 manufactories, 2 photograph saloons, 6 saloons, 4 bakeries, 10 hotels and boarding houses. 3 hot houses, 2 printing offices, 5 public halls, 2 banquet rooms, 2 billiard rooms, 2 cigar manufactories, 420 hose. Gas Works, N. Y.,
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N. H. & H. R. R. engines, 2 electric plants, Woolen Mills, County buildings, public Town buildings, and watering streets.
Yours respectfully. N. REEVES JACKSON. Collector of W'ator Rates.
REPORT.
Water Commissioners, Plymouth, Mass.
John W. Churchill, Chairman.
Gentlemen :
I herewith present certain recommendations for the im- provement of your Water Works System.
THE PLANT.
In order to make these suggestions more intelligible, it may be well to give, very briefly, certain facts connected with the Plymouth System. Some of these are taken from Mr. W. H. Sears' excellent report, made in June, 1902.
The town was first supplied with Public Water in 1856 from Little South Pond.
A 20 inch pipe, 50' long, laid at that time, conducted the water from the pond to a wooden gate chamber, and from this point a 10" cement pipe conveyed the water by way of the water course, so-called, Billington and Summer streets to Market street, a distance of about 16,250 feet or 3.1 miles. At the same time the low service reservoir situated on Allerton street, with a capacity of 1,500,00 gallons was built.
High water mark in this reservoir was and is at the same level as high water in Little South Pond or about 106 feet above mean sea level. The ordinary level of the pond is at elevation 104, and of the reservoir is at elevation IOI.
No changes were made in the method of supply till 1880, when a wooden Pumping Station was built at Lout Pond
Plymouth 12
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and a Worthington duplex compound condensing pumping engine having steam cylinders 14 and 24 I-2 inches in diam- eter, water cylinder 13 7-8 inches in diameter and with 18 inches stroke and a capacity of about 1,040 gallons per min- ute or 1,500,000 per 24 hours, was installed.
During the day time direct pumping was used as a means of increasing the pressure in the pipes, connection with the low service reservoir being closed. At night the pump was shut down and the pipes were kept full and under the pres- sure due to the elevation of the low service reservoir. This direct pumping, as Mr. Sears remarks, was most trying to the pipe system.
In 1887 the present high service reservoir was built, about . 600 feet west of the Pumping Station. It has a capacity of 1,500,000 and high water is at elevation 164. The pipe between the Pumping Station and this reservoir is about 14 inches in diameter.
At this time a new pipe line was laid from Little South Pond to the town, for the low service supply. This pipe was 16 inches in diameter from the gate chamber at Little South Pond to the Pumping Station and 14 inches from the Pumping Station to the town, following the line of the old 10 inch pipe laid in 1856.
In 1889 a new 12" cement pipe, 6.600 feet long, was laid from the high service reservoir to Sandwich street by way of the Nook Road. A 20" pipe was also laid from the Pumping Station to Lout Pond as a suction pipe in connec- tion with the 10 inch pipe of 1856 from Little South Pond.
In 1904 a new brick Pumping Station was built near the site of the old wooden station and a new pumping engine and boiler were installed. The old Worthington pump was also repaired and placed in the new Pumping Station.
The new pumping engine was made by the Barr Pump- ing Engine Co., is duplex, compound, condensing, having steam cylinders 10 and 18 inches in diameter, with water
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cylinder 15 inches in diameter, the stroke of both water and steam pistons being 18 inches., It has a capacity of 1450 gallons per minute or 2,000,000 gallons in 24 hours. The old wooden pumping station was refitted as a tenement for the Pumping Station engineers.
In the new Pumping Station was placed a tank 7 feet in diameter, with its top at elevation about 110 feet, or 4 feet above high water in Little South Pond. It extends below the level of Lout Pond. With this tank are connected the suction pipes of the pumps and a 20" suction pipe into Lout Pond. By means of gates, properly located on the various pipes, the system at this point is under perfect control.
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
This is of cement pipe of the Phipps pattern. There are two sheet iron shells, between which is placed neat Ameri- can cement. Inside of the inner shell is also a lining of the same cement. The pipe has the great advantage of not filling with tubercles. Probably also, at present prices, it is cheaper than cast iron pipe. The weakest point in the pipe is at the joints, which are made with a sleeve. A sec- tion of new pipe recently tested by Mr. Blackmer, your Sup- erintendent, withstood' a pressure of 85 lbs. per square inch applied with a boiler testing pump without leakage. The pipe leaked freely at 140 lbs. per square inch. There seems to be no reason why the use of this pipe should not be con- tinued.
CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN PLYMOUTH AND ELSEWHERE.
It is difficult to determine the amount of water used by a town, where all or any part of the supply is by gravity, un- less the takers are metered' or the water is passed through some measuring device before going to the consumers.
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The high service consumption can be measured with fair accuracy by the pump, a deduction being made for "slip." From such measurements of the consumption as have been made in Plymouth, the amount appears to be very high, as is usually the case where there is no restriction on leakage and wastage. Mr. Sears computes the consumption in 1901 on the high service system to have been as high as 125 gal- lons per capita, but attributes part of this to a leak. He makes no mention of pump slippage, which probably existed to some extent and would have reduced the amount pumped.
Mr. Blackmer by a careful test of one week's duration in August 1905, during which time all the water used by the town was pumped, and therefore measured, found that the use, leakage, and wastage for each consumer was 128 gal- lons per day.
A similar test for 7 days in January 1906 gave the amount as 96 gallons.
The town of Wellesley, where all services are metered, in 1905 pumped for each consumer an average of about 52 gallons per day, which is a smaller amount than would be obtained by dividing 604,543, the daily average of Plym- outh high service pumpage for 1905, by 10,000, the whole number of consumers in town. The low service consump- tion, including the 200,000 gallons per day used by the woolen mill, must therefore, on the basis of Wellesley's con- sumption, be looked upon as representing less than the wast- age and leakage of the Plymouth System. The average daily domestic consumption in Wellesley in 1905 per con- sumer, as shown by meter records, was 30.7 gallons. While Wellesley has a population only about half as great as Plym- outh, they are alike in being largely residential towns.
It should be remembered, however, that the 200,000 gal- lons per day used by the American Woolen Co., is equivalent to 20 gallons per capita for each of the 10,000 consumers in Plymouth. As Wellesley supplies but a comparatively small
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amount of water for mill purposes, this 20 gallons per con- sumer, or a considerable part of it, should be added to the 52 gallons pumped at Wellesley, making, on the Wellesley basis, the legitimate distribution in Plymouth about 70 gal- lons per consumer.
The town of Wellesley has a circular covered concrete distributing reservoir with an automatic recording device connected, showing the height of water at any hour, day or night. As there is no pumping during the night, the drop of the water is due to combined use, leakage and wastage. This reservoir holds 38,870 gallons for each foot in depth and furnishes an accurate and ready means of measuring the consumption including wastage and leakage for any length of time when the pump is not running.
On the following dates, taken at random, the time and drop were as follows :
DATE.
FROM
To
DROP
Gallons lost from Reservoir
Loss for each of 5030 Consumers per 24 hrs.
Jan.
5
12-0 Midnight
5.00 A. M.
6 in.
19435
19
Apr.
5
11 P. M.
5.00
19435
16
June
5
12-0 Midnight
5.00
19435
19
Sept.
2
12-0
5.00
19435
19
ct. 17
11 30 P. M.
5.00
..
19435
17
Dec. 27
11.40
4.40
6 .
8 .
25913
25
Average
19
66
19435
19
12-0
5.00
6+
The constant flow of three drinking fountains for horses and two for persons, in use in the summer months, uses an amount of water estimated as equal to 3 gallons per 24 hours for each consumer. This deducted from 19, leaves 16 gal- lons as largely unaccounted for. It is made up of a possible very small legitimate consumption, some wastage and a much larger amount of leakage from the pipe system, which is composed of 32.7 miles of cast iron distribution pipe and 20 miles of wrought iron cement lined service pipe, a total of 52.7 miles. The leakage of the reservoir, from a careful
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test just made, with a duration of 23 hours, was found to be nothing.
In Plymouth there are 46.9 miles of cement distribution pipe and 6 miles of lead and cement lined service pipe. The latter is, however, only laid by the town to a point within 10' of the consumer's premises. The total amount of main and distribution pipe in Plymouth is of course much greater than in Plymouth.
It would, of course, be unreasonable to expect that pipe lines of this length should be absolutely water tight or that there should be actually no seepage from reservoirs. From its very nature, water is bound to escape at every possible opportunity : still it is possible to keep this loss within reas- onable limits.
At my house in Wellesley, I have kept a record of meter readings, beginning in 1903, when the public water supply was first installed. Since January, 1895, the meter has been read practically every day. It takes but a few minutes and the record furnishes a means of checking bills and discover- ing leaks in plumbing. The working of the meter and the information secured has been most satisfactory.
The meter which was of the rotary type recorded continu- ously till 1900. or seven years, when it was removed; re- placed by one of the disc pattern, which is still in apparent good working order. Without this meter, I should have a feeling of ignorance concerning the water used in my own house.
The average daily consumption, per member of my family for each year since meter was placed, is shown in table.
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GALLONS PER CONSUMER.
1894,
17.8
1895,
12.0
1 896,
19.9
1897,
23.9
1898,
19.0
1899
18.8
1900,
19.0
190I,
18.0
1902,
22.1
1903.
18.8
1904,
13.0
1905,
12.1
1906,
22.7
Bath room and water closet were added during the sum- mer of 1895. Not much use of sill cock made since about
1900. Some water used in developing negatives up to about 1900. The most important factor, affecting the use of do- mestic water, judging from my experience, is the person who has charge of the kitchen sink and faucet. The amount of water used in 1904 and 1905 was small, due, I think, to the care exercised by a most excellent servant girl. An ample amount was used, but there was probably little or no waste. In 1906, with another girl, a very great difference is observed. This figure is, however, probably much less than it would have been with no meter.
The town of Ware had in 1905 an estimated population of 8,594, of which 8181 were water consumers. 93.6 per cent. of the services were metered, meters having been in use some years. The year's pumpage was 128,538,540 gal- lons. From these figures it will be seen that the average daily amount of water used by consumers, including leakage and wastage, was 43.4 gallons per consumer. No allow- ance was made for slip, which, as the pump was built in 1886, is probably not under 10 per cent. This would re- duce the per capita daily consumption to 39 gallons.
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The town of Plymouth in 1906, according to figures kind- ly furnished by your Superintendent, Mr. Blackmer, sup- plied to the high service system 587,000 gallons per 24 hours. Mr. Blackmer states that there are approximately 6,500 consumers connected with the high service system. From these figures it appears that the consumption in 24 hours per consumer in 1906 was 90 gallons. In 1905 and 1906. as you are aware, Mr. Blackmer made interesting tests to determine the consumption of water for one week. This test showed the combined use, wastage and leakage for one week in August 1905 to be 128 gallons per day per con- sumer, and for one week in January 1906 to be 96 gallons, an average being 112 gallons per consumer per 24 hours. No allowance was made for slip of pump. In order to make this test, it was necessary to pump all the water used, both for the high and low service systems. Since that time a 14-inch Venturi meter has been ordered, and will be found of great value in checking the pumpage, and in measuring the gravity flow in the 10 and 16-inch pipes from Little South Pond.
TEST OF 10, 14 AND 16 INCH SUPPLY PIPES FROM LITTLE SOUTH POND.
An interesting test to determine whether there is any leakage in the 10 and 16 inch pipes from Little South Pond to the Pumping Station, and of the 14 inch pipes from the Pumping Station to the gate near the junction of Summer street, was made Jan. 4, 1907. The tank in the Pumping Station, which is 7 feet in diameter and holds 288 gallons to each foot in depth, made a very satisfactory measuring vessel.
The 20" inch gate on the suction pipe to Lout Pond was closed, as well as the gates at the Pumping Station end of each of the pipe lines. The tank was then filled a little
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higher than Little South Pond level. The tank was kept at a proper level by water admitted from the high service system through a meter. Readings of the meter and of the height of water in the tank, taken every 15 minutes, fur- nished the means of calculating the leakage in these pipes as shown by the following table. The tank being kept up to Little South Pond level all the time, made the conditions exactly similar to those that exist during the daily use of these pipes.
LEAKAGE IN GALLONS PER 24 HOURS.
In 7.500 ft. of 10 inch cement pipe (laid in 1856) from Little South Pond to Pump Station 9550
In 4700 ft. of 16 inch cement pipe (laid in 1880) ) From 16 inch Gate 2800 ft. North In 4600 ft. of 14 inch cement pipe (laid in 1880) { of Little So. Pond to 14 inch Gate 600 ft. S. W. of Summer Street 9300
18850
On the basis of a total of 10,000 consumers, as estimated by Mr. Blackmer in 1905, this leakage in 17,800 feet of 10, 14 and 16 inch pipe amounts to 1.9 gallons to each water taker. This is greater than it apparently should be, when it is remembered that most of this pipe is under but little head.
The discharge of the present 10" pipe from Little South Pond at the Pumping Station under a head of 14 feet, is about one-third of the capacity of the new (Barr) pump. With Lout Pond at elevation 85 and Little South Pond at elevation 104, which is about the most favorable elevations of the water surfaces of the two ponds which can be expect- ed, the 10" pipe will deliver under a head of 19 feet 575 gallons per minute, or 828,000 gallons per 24 hours, while the capacity of the Barr pump is 1,450 gallons per minute or 2,090,000 gallons per 24 hours. That is the 10-inch pipe will furnish water enough in 24 hours to supply the Barr pump for only 828.000- 1,450x60 equals 9.5 hours, and this under the present conditions is the longest average daily pumping that can be had. The average
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daily pumping for the year 1905 was 6.4 hours, and for the month of August, 1905, was 8.3 hours.
The water flowing in the 10" pipe (575 gallons per min- ute) during the operation of the pump comes directly from Little South Pond; the balance (or 875 gallons per minute) is drawn from Lout Pond and is the water delivered by the Io" pipe into Lout Pond during the 14.5 hours when the pump was not in operation. The centres of the water cylin- ders of the pumping engines are at about elevation 100. It will, therefore, be noted that two-thirds of the water pumped is lifted fifteen feet before it enters the pump. In my judg- ment the pipe from Little South Pond, from which the pumps take water, should be large enough to furnish the en- tire supply for operating both pumps at the same time. An 18" pipe would be practically of sufficient size.
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