USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1889 > Part 24
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The Water Board to whom was referred the petition of Leverett Saltonstall and others for a "High Water Service" respectfully report as follows :
An examination of the petition, the signatures thereto and the endorsements thereon, shows that the question submitted to the Water Board for their consideration and report is a somewhat narrow one, being simply how to furnish an additional supply of water to certain citizens living in that part of the City of Newton ordinarily called Chestnut Hill. There are, however, other sections of the city than Chestnut Hill which would be greatly benefitted by a high water service and as this fact was well known to the members of the City Council at the time of the reference of the petition under consideration, the Board have been led to the conclusion that it was the intention of your honorable body that the Board should consider the question of high service in all its bearings and not alone as affecting the Chestnut Hill district.
If there was only one elevated section of the city, the question of high service would be very easy of solution. As is well known, however, such is not the case. The hills and elevated parts of the city are scattered indiscriminately throughout its whole territory, and between them lie valleys of
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no inconsiderable extent. On the south side of the city, speaking generally, are Waban, Chestnut, Institution, Oak and Bald Pate Hills, and on the north side are Nonantum Hill, Mt. Ida and the hills of West Newton. With few exceptions these elevations are or can be furnished with water for domestic use by our present system of supply. Most of them, however, do not and cannot have a perfect fire service with the now established system.
The amount of pressure to the square inch which is considered necessary for a perfect fire service has been set at 65 pounds. The problem which the Board have attempted to solve is how to secure this pressure upon the most elevated point in the city and at the same time not to subject the pipes already laid in the lower sections to too much pressure. This, of course, could be accomplished by the introduction of an independent system of water supply for the elevated parts of the city, but such a scheme would render it necessary to duplicate our pipe system throughout a great number of our streets, and would entail a very large expense upon the city, without any proportionate return in water rates. When we consider that we have already expended in the laying of water pipe something over $1,000,000, and that the city is far from being fully piped, it is easy to see that, if it is necessary in order to carry out this independent system of High Service, to duplicate this pipe to any considerable extent, such a plan is, under existing conditions, far from feasible.
They would recommend the securing of about one acre of land at or near the summit of Institution Hill and the erection thereon of a water-tower or stand-pipe sixty feet in height ; the connecting of this water-tower with the present system of water supply by the necessary pipes and, if required, the alteration of the pump at the pumping-station so as to render it capable of forcing water to the height
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necessitated by the change in our system of supply.
The Board have selected Institution Hill, for the reason that it is nearer the centre of distribution than any other eligible site. The petition suggests the securing of the summit of Waban Hill and the use of it by the city as a public pleasure ground. The Board would say that they do not think that it is becoming in them to make any suggestion to the City Council in this respect, as it is a subject entirely without their province.
The Board have come to the conclusion that it is far better for the city to erect a stand-pipe than to build a surface reservoir ; in the first place a surface reservoir would be much more expensive, as it would require much more land and would cost much more for construction, and in the second place a surface reservoir placed upon Waban Hill, the only point in the city upon which such a reservoir could be built, would not be at sufficient elevation to supply water to the top of Oak Hill or Bald Pate, and only in a very inefficient manner to the tops of several other elevations, and thus the very result sought for would not be obtained. By the erection of a stand-pipe upon Institution Hill 60 feet in height, a pressure of 21 pounds would be obtained upon the highest elevation of the city and there would be very few points which would not have a pressure of from 50 to 60 pounds which, although not giving a perfect fire service, would give an exceedingly satisfactory one. At the same time it has not been deemed advisable to erect a stand-pipe exceeding 60 feet in height, because with one of this height the pressure upon the pipes in the lower levels would run from 100 pounds to 140 pounds with the water in a normal condition and might be much higher if any disturbance occurred in the pipes, and this is all the pressure that the City Engineer has deemed it wise to place upon our present system. The cost of a system of
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"high service," such as is briefly outlined in the report, the Board believe would not exceed $90,000 and might be less than this amount.
The introduction of high service will undoubtedly some- what increase our consumption, as new territory will be brought within reach of our supply and the increased pressure will have a tendency to add to our waste. Under the circumstances, the Board feel it incumbent upon them to call the attention of the City Council to the question of additional supply. The amount of water which can be obtained from the filter basin upon the Needham side of the Charles River is, in the dry season of the year, at least, not much, if any, exceeding 1,100,000 gallons in 24 hours, while the quantity of water which can be obtained from the driven wells on the Newton side of the river is not accurately known, as they have never been put to a test since their acceptance. The quantity, however, which can be obtained from both sources cannot exceed 1,300,000 gallons in 24 hours. The city's consumption has reached as high as 1,900,000 gallons in 24 hours. This was in the summer of 1886. Since that time the meter system has been introduced aud has, undoubtedly, reduced the amount of water wasted. The seasons of 1887 and 1888 were noteworthy by reason of the amount of rainfall during what are ordinarily the dry months of the year. The water supply, consequently, during the last two seasons has not been put to a trial. If, however, we should have a dry season, the daily consumption would now, undoubtedly, much exceed 1,900,000 gallons. It can be easily seen, therefore, should such a rate of consumption last for any considerable period, that the reserve supply in the reservoir, which is efficiently not over five or six million gallons, would be soon exhausted and a restriction would necessarily be placed upon the consumption of water by the citizens.
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Some time ago, the Board caused investigations to be made as to the best method of protecting our present supply. These investigations, although satisfactory, were very meagre, and the Board do not feel that they have facts enough in their possession upon which to base a recommendation. They therefore have decided to ask your honorable body to make an appropriation for the purpose of making further investigations. They would also recommend that steps be taken to secure authority from the Legislature to obtain an additional supply of water not exceeding 5,000,000 gallons in 24 hours, and the Board would inform the City Council that a petition has already been filed with the Legislature asking for such legislation. This action was taken, as the introduction of new business was prohibited after the 6th day of February, and if the petition had not been filed before that date, no action could have been taken until next year. The Board would, therefore, request that such action be ratified by the City Council if, in its judgment, it see fit to adopt the recommendations of the Board herein contained, and would also recommend the adoption of the accompanying orders.
Respectfully submitted, NEWTON WATER BOARD, BY EDWARD W. CATE, President.
OFFICE OF THE NEWTON WATER BOARD, MARCH 25, 1889.
This report was afterwards referred back to this Board. By reference to it it will be seen that the Board called the attention of the City Council at that time to the question of additional supply, and upon its reference back, it was deemed best to consider at the same time both of these questions, namely that of high service and additional supply. A report upon these subjects was made to your honorable body by this Board Dec. 10, 1889, a copy of which report will be found below.
REPORT ON HIGH SERVICE.
To the Honorable the City Council of the City of Newton:
On March 25th last the Water Board presented to your honorable body a report upon the petition of Leverett Salton- stall and others for a high water service. By reference to that report it will be seen that, at that time, the Board judged it advisable to treat the question of high water service more broadly than a strict construction of the subject referred to it required. Upon the recommitment of the petition and report to this Board for its further consideration, certain other problems which the Board had frequently considered in the past, so pressed forward for solution that it at once became apparent that the question of high water service could not be properly reported upon without a consideration and report upon these other questions.
It was, therefore, decided to request the City Engineer to consider, not alone the problem of high service, but also those other problems of additional supply, improved fire-service, and kindred subjects, which had been somewhat slightly touched upon in the report of March 25, having in view not only the present needs of the city, but also its future requirements. The magnitude and complexity of the subject led the Board and the City Engineer to believe that it would be for the best interest ofthe city that the Board secure the service of some engineer
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of wide and varied experience in water-works matters, who should act in conjunction with the City Engineer.
A correspondence was opened with A. Fteley, Chief Engineer of the New York Aqueduct Commission, and he eventually consented to act as consulting engineer.
The instructions given to the engineers are contained in the following resolutions, passed by the Board, Sept. 30, 1889 :
"IN NEWTON WATER BOARD,
"September 30, 1889.
" Voted, That Mr. A. Ftely, in conjunction with the City Engineer, be requested to examine and to make a comprehensive report to this Board, as soon as possible, upon the best method of extending the water-supply of the City of Newton, with a view to the needs of future growth ; and, also, in connection with such extension, to consider the best methods for providing for such a high service as will be sufficient for the accessible elevations likely to need such supply, and for reenforcing the fire-service of the whole city."
The results of the labors of the engineers are embodied in a report made to this Board, Nov. 23, 1889, a copy of which report will be found hereto annexed. Consultations between the Board and the engineers led to the filing of a supplemental report, Dec. 6. 1889. This report will also be found hereto annexed.
These reports set forth the needs of our water system so clearly and state the solutions of the problems which have perplexed the board so convincingly, that it would be an act of supererogation to do more than to refer the City Council to them.
By an examination of these reports it will be seen that the problems considered have been grouped under three heads.
Under the first head are included all questions relating to the increase of the water supply of the city. In this connection the Board would remind your honorable body that since the
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last report, authority has been obtained from the Legislature to take additional water to an amount not to exceed in all, 5,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours.
The plan proposed contemplates taking, at the present time, only an additional 1,000,000 gallons, which it is judged will answer the needs of the city for quite a number of years.
It is estimated that this part of the work will cost $98,900. The items of which this amount is made up will be found in the report of the City Engineer, annexed to this report.
Under the second head are included the questions relating to furnishing a domestic supply to all parts of the city (includ- ing, of course, those sections of the city to which the petition of Mr. Saltonstall and others particularly relates), and also relat- ing to the perfection of our fire-service, upon points which are not now adequately supplied in this respect, exclusive however of the extreme elevations of the city.
The cost of this part of the proposed work is estimated at $95,369.50.
For the details of this estimate the Board would call your attention to the report of Mr. Noyes, referred to heretofore.
The perfecting of the fire-service upon the highest elevation of the city is treated upon the third head. The cost of this part of the contemplated work is estimated at $88,465; the details of which will also be found in Mr. Noyes' report.
By reference to the first two annexed reports it will be found that the relative importance of the different parts of the work is in the order of their mention. It is imperatively necessary that the work contemplated under the first heading be done immediately, if the city is to be freed from the danger of a scarcity of water of a satisfactory quality during dry seasons.
The performance of the second part of the work will meet the wants of your petitioner,
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While the third part of the work will become necessary in a few years, this Board does not feel that the needs of the eity demand that it be done at the present time.
The Board would therefore recommend the adoption of the plans of the engineers so far as they relate to the work included under the first two heads, and the passage of such orders as will authorize them to carry out this work.
The Board, however, desire to call the attention of the City Council to the fact that, in the estimates given, nothing is included for land, land damage, or damage for the taking of water.
It will, of course, be necessary to secure land at the top of Waban Hill upon which to erect the covered reservoir and other works mentioned in the reports of the engineers. It is believed that these works, and extension of the same which may be rendered necessary within a few years, can be erected upon two acres of land. This amount of land would not allow for any ornamentation, and your honorable body might think best to secure more than two acres.
The Board would therefore recommend that the proper steps be taken to secure such a quantity of land as the City Council shall deem most expedient.
The plan proposed for increasing the city's water supply contemplates the building of a covered conduit extending from the present filtering gallery to the neighborhood of Nahanton street. The amount of water expected to be obtained from this source is about 1,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, which, added to our present supply, would give the city a total supply of something less than 2,500,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. It will be immediately seen that to obtain a supply of 5,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours it will soon be necessary to secure other land to the south of Nahanton street. The number of acres in this locality which the city needs and ought to have is
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about six hundred. It is impossible to state what amount of money will be necessary to secure such a quantity of land ; but the Board feel that the circumstances are such as render it imperative for the city to immediately proceed to secure this land, by purchase or otherwise, and earnestly recommend to the City Council immediate action in this matter.
Respectfully submitted, NEWTON WATER BOARD, By EDWARD W. CATE, President.
OFFICE OF THE NEWTON WATER BOARD, DECEMBER 10, 1889.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERS TO THE WATER BOARD.
This report is submitted in obedience to the following resolutions passed by your Board on September 13, 1889 :- " IN NEWTON WATER BOARD,
" September 13, 1889.
" Voted, That Mr. A. Fteley, in conjunction with the City Engineer, be requested to examine and to make a comprehensive report to this Board, as soon as possible, upon the best method of extending the water supply of the City of Newton with a view to the needs of future growth ; and also in connection with such extension to consider the best methods of providing for such a high service as will be sufficient for the accessible eleva- tions likely to need such supply, and for reenforcing the fire- service of the whole city.
" A true copy. " Attest : ALBERT S. GLOVER, " Clerk."
It may not be out of place, before entering into the discus- sion of the subject at hand, to state that the present investiga- tion originated from the necessity of procuring an adequate wa- ter supply for domestic and fire service for the highest point of your city. As it is plain, however, from your experience of several dry seasons, that your present supply has now reached its limit, it is obvious that the necessities of a high service, added to a steady increase of the consumption, would soon tax your present resources beyond their ultimate capacity. Hence the advisability of adding to a study of a high-service supply,
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an investigation of the means of adding to the capacity of the present supply.
The present condition of your water supply is the natural and legitimate outcome of the increase of your population. Your works were built about fifteen years ago, with the expec- tation that after a certain number of years they would have to be enlarged to fit new conditions of population and of general prosperity.
As in the case of other cities placed in similar conditions, the time has come to provide for the future needs of the con- sumers without waiting for the year of extreme drought, with its short supply and its accompanying discomfort and suffering
In making such an investigation, it becomes obviously necessary to take a comprehensive view of the question, as it will be ultimately solved in its entirety, and to decide on a general plan which can be developed from time to time as the growing needs of the city may require.
The first Board of Water Commissioners of Newton, in its report to the City Council of Newton, May, 1875, on the choice of a water supply, gives its reasons for recommending the Charles River as the source of such supply ; the same reasons exist in favor of Charles River as the source of the future supply of Newton.
Charles River, having a water-shed of 180 square miles above the southerly boundary line of Newton, is naturally designated as the source of water supply for that city and for the various communities located on its banks, provided it can be properly protected from pollution from objectionable drainage. The present efforts of the State Board of Health give ample promise that such protection will be afforded.
Owing to the irregular volume of water flowing in Charles River, which is very small in the summer, the maximum amount of water to be taken from the stream by the various communities
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which derive their supply therefrom has been fixed by State authorities.
Whenever the time comes that the river in its natural condition is not sufficient to supply the riparian communities in dry weather, it will become necessary to store during the season of large flow the surplus water for the requirements of the dry season.
In this connection we refer you to the study of that ques- tion made by the City of Boston in September, 1874, at a time when Charles River was considered as one of the possible sources of water supply (see Doc. 85, Appendix E), which may at this time prove interesting, however remote a consideration of that question may be in the present case.
The following report is limited to the consideration of an ultimate supply of 5,000.000 gallons per day, the maximum volume allowed by the State, and a quantity which, according to our estimate of the growth of your city. we believe to be sufficient until 1925. An increase of about 1,000,000 gallons per day in the capacity of the source of supply, and in the appliances necessary to convey the same, is now recommended, leaving to the future the gradual extension of the plant, on the plan recommended, as the increase in the needs of the con- summers require it.
Source of Supply.
Rain-water, after it has fallen on the ground, is disposed of in various ways. A variable portion flows over the surface towards the nearest water-course.
The surface flow, however, may be partially or wholly suppressed, owing to the small rate of the rain-fall, to the perviousness of the soil, to general conditions favorable to evaporation, or to a combination of these causes.
Another portion is evaporated into the atmosphere before
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it has left the surface of the ground, or the surface of the leaves or other vegetable growth on which it has fallen.
The balance is absorbed by the ground, i. e., penetrates into it in a general vertical direction until it reaches the surface of the ground-water and becomes a part of it.
In the vicinity of streams and of large bodies of water it is generally found that the surface of the underground water has towards them an inclination which, owing to the degree of perviousness of the materials, to their irregularity, and to other local causes, is seldom constant; but it indicates a steady underground flow.
Thus the surface and underground flows unite to form and to maintain the streams and other water bodies.
Consequently water, whether taken directly from streams or from an underground source in their vicinity, is generally withdrawn, in the majority of cases, from their ultimate natural supply.
The present supply is now obtained mainly from an exten- sive excavation or well called the filtering gallery, 1,575 feet long and of variable width, with a depth of water varying be- tween 10 and 4 feet, with its bottom 10 feet below the normal surface of the water in the river, at such a depth that it inter- cepts and stores the flow of the underground water which would otherwise flow into the river : it also receives water in an unknown proportion from the river, through the bank which separates it from the latter.
In addition, a direct pipe is laid between the filtering gallery and the river to supply directly any deficiency of the former in case of drought ; the use of this device has been so far restricted to a few hours since it was built. Tube-wells have been subsequently and successfully driven in the bottom.
This gallery has rendered good service. and has furnished water in comparatively large quantities. Owing, however, to
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the fact that the water gathered and stored in the gallery is exposed to the air and light for a long time, a condition favorable to the deterioration of underground water, the design of this structure is partly responsible for the taste and odors developed from time to time in your water supply.
The capacity of a supply derived from the tapping of underground waters cannot be estimated to a certainty. The apparent water-shed of the stream and a knowledge of the character of its grounds can, however, give sufficient data to form an estimate.
The best evidence in regard to the yield of such a source of supply is given, however, by actual experience of its capacity ; and, in the case of the water-works of Newton, the supply for the last fourteen years has been such as to justify the opinion that a much larger supply can be obtained by extending the works on a similar plan over a more extensive territory.
The grounds on both sides of the river, above the present pumping-station, form a large underground reservoir, the use- ful capacity of which is determined by their area, by the pro- portion of void spaces which the water can penetrate and occupy, and by the depth from which the water can be brought to the surface,-provided the depth of draught remains within such limits that the underground reservoir can be replenished during the wet season.
In the present works the water is drawn from the ground to a depth not exceeding ten feet from its surface; this mode of supply can be extended,-a number of borings made for the purpose of investigation showing that a continuation of the present system would give a good promise of success. In doing so the depth of draught would be obviously limited to that of the present works, as it is deemed unadvisable, owing to the character of the grounds in which the pumping-station is built,
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to contemplate a deepening of its pump-well and of its suction- pipe.
A deeper draught in the vicinity of the present works would, most probably, diminish the yield of the present supply, and if such a deeper draught were found advisable, either by building a lower collecting gallery or by driving deep wells connected with a pumping apparatus, the station connected with it should be placed at a considerable distance up stream, at such place that the present supply could not be affected.
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