USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1930-1939 > Part 9
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The report is based on the assumption that the difference between income from water takers and the total annual ex- pense must be met from General taxation on all property · owners whether water takers or not.
Hanover and Pembroke are thought to have sold their bonds on a four per cent basis or slightly lower. Our en- gineers have figured our interest charges at four per cent per annum but in the present financial situation it is ex- tremely unlikely that money could be obtained, if at all, at anything under five and one half per cent. This would raise the cost for interest more than one third over the es- timates given in the engineers report.
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TOWN OF NORWELL
Therefore, without attempting to pass on the feasibility of any of the various plans for a water system we recommend that the present is not a favorable time to undertake the pro- ject and we concur in the opinion expressed in a letter to the Town Treasurer from the state Director of Accounts which is printed herewith.
Respectfully submitted by the Committee on Water Supply
JAMES H. BARNARD, Chairman HERBERT E. ROBBINS, Secretary ERNEST H. SPARRELL, ALBERT L. SYLVESTER, WILLIAM O. PROUTY, CHARLES H. PIKE, FREDERICK A. FENGER, LOUIS H. OGDEN, JAMES W. STINSON.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation Division of Accounts State House, Boston, January 13, 1932
Mr. Herbert E. Robbins Town Treasurer Norwell, Mass.
Dear Sir :-
I have your letter of January 12 relative to the installa- tion of a water supply system for the town of Norwell, and in reply would say that it would seem to me that the committee, no matter how it might feel in making recom-
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
mendations regarding water supply for the town, ought to ask for an extension of time, for surely, under the present conditions, the town could not economically finance this proposition if it wanted to. The rates of interest would be unreasonable and the general condition 'does not warrant such an undertaking.
Much work has been done by your committee and no doubt you have collected many facts that would be of great interest to the town, but they would not be received with the consideration they merit. I would suggest that you ask for an extension of time, hoping that things will return to normal in the near future.
Very sincerely yours, THEODORE N. WADDELL, Director of Accounts
Committee on Water Supply Town of Norwell, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :-
In accordance with your instructions we submit the fol- lowing report on proposed water supply for the Town of · Norwell.
REPORT
The town has a small and widely scattered population with its centres far apart, involving at the best, many long pipe lines from which little revenue can be derived, at least at the present time. To deliver the fire flows required by the insurance interests these lines must be much larger than would be required for domestic service alone; but since the
111
TOWN OF NORWELL
cost of excavating, laying and backfilling is about fifty per- cent of the whole cost of a complete pipe line and varies but a relatively small amount for the sizes used in a system of this size, it would appear to be unwise to bond the town for a system that did not fully meet the requirements for fire service.
We have, therefore, based our designs upon furnishing at every point the fire flows required by the New England Insurance Exchange.
Realizing that the total cost of a system designed to fur- nish fire protection to the major portion of the population might impose too heavy a tax burden, we have attempted to work out a system to supply the more populous centers at the present time, but so designed that it can be expanded into the larger ideal system for the entire town, by progress- ive steps, as required, without any enlargement or replace- ment of the original construction.
In the matter of source of supply we have worked out the major design on a basis of taking water from the Town of Hanover as all of our studies indicate that this would be, for the present at least, and for a considerable time in the future, probably until the population becomes considerably larger, the best policy for the town. We have, however, considered the possibility of an independent supply for Nor- well and present a preliminary estimate of the probable cost of such a supply for comparison with the figures for a supply from Hanover.
SOURCE OF SUPPLY THE HANOVER SUPPLY
The Town of Hanover has a developed supply in the valley of the Third Herring Brook at the Hanover-Norwell
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
town line that is second to none in the State or for that mat- ter, in the country. The quantity of water available is far in excess of the requirements of the two towns for many years to come: the pumping plant is modern and efficient, operating without attendance at a low cost, and has a capac- ity sufficient to handle several times the combined demand of Hanover and Norwell.
The central location of this plant, the situation of the Hanover tanks, and the layout of the Hanover supply mains touching as they do the Norwell line at four points, enables the Hanover Water Board to deliver water to Norwell at advantageous points with a minimum extra outlay and con- sequently on very reasonable terms.
The Hanover Water Board offers to furnish water to Norwell under either one of two different plans which are explained in detail later in this report. They are referred to as :
(a) Fixed sum plus share in pumping costs.
(b) Strictly on a quantity basis.
Under Plan (a) Hanover agrees to furnish at all times, complete equipment, labor and supervision for any repairs or other work on the Norwell system, at a nominal hour- ly rate so that Norwell would have no investment in or de- preciation on equipment and no one under pay except when actually employed.
Under Plan (b) the town of Hanover would sell water at the town line for 10 cents per 100 cubic feet.
The cost of water for the estimated consumption would be nearly the same under either method of purchase, but under method (a) the cost to Norwell would vary only with the amount of current used while under (b) Norwell must
113
TOWN OF NORWELL
pay 10 cents for every hundred feet used, including also that lost through breaks in mains, flushing of mains, overflow- ing of tanks or waste by consumers.
For this reason we favor the fixed sum plus method and shall use it in our estimate of annual charges.
INDEPENDENT SUPPLY
It is very probable that an excellent underground supply for the Town of Norwell can be developed in the valley of Wild Cat Brook near its crossing with Green Street about 6000 feet from its confluence with the Third Herring Brook and not over 4000 feet in a direct line from the Hanover wells.
This valley is topographically and geologically one with the Hanover area and good water-bearing material should be found all of the way across from Green Street to the Hanover wells. It is impossible to guarantee a supply at this point without tests and such tests might prove disap- pointing, but we consider the chances to be excellent so far as surface indications show.
For an independent supply from this locality there must be added to the cost of the pipe system, which would be approximately the same whether the supply is taken from Hanover or from an independent source, an investment for wells, suction line and pumping plant as well as additional mains to connect the pumping station with the distribution system. This investment and the operating expenses for an independent supply are taken up in detail later in this re- port.
While the actual operating costs of the two plans seem to compare very closely, consideration must be given to
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
the increased investment for an independent supply, and the resulting extra interest charges.
We must not, moreover, overlook the fact that the inde- pendent supply is problematical, and the development and operating costs estimated ones and subject to possible in- crease, while the Hanover supply is assured and the cost's very closely determined in advance.
From a strictly financial standpoint, there would seem to be a considerable advantage in accepting the Hanover offer, and we believe that joint operation could be carried on ef- fectively and profitably. On the other hand, if the Town of Norwell is willing to assume the extra carrying costs it can have a first class system independently of its neighbor.
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
The design of a system of distribution pipes to serve such a scattered population and still keep the investment within reason is no easy task. Three requirements seem essential.
1. Potential 'fire flows must be kept up to insurance standards.
2. The greatest possible number of people must be serv- ed with the least pipe mileage.
3. The total investment and the net tax burden must be kept within a reasonable limit.
The Engineers of the New England Insurance Exchange rate a town on its fire protection facilities in accordance with a fixed standard schedule of credit and deficiency, so many points for this, so many points for that etc. There is no guess work about it and nothing is left to personal
115
TOWN OF NORWELL
judgment or disposition except in the case of very close de- cisions. For each community, or group of buildings, a def- inite amount of water, depending on the proximity, height and structure of the buildings, is required and if this quan- tity is not available the loss of points is great enough to lose the rating.
We aim to provide such fire flows for a town like Norwell that with a fairly efficient country fire department it will rate in Class D.
In accordance with these standards we are presenting three schemes of distribution as shown on accompanying Plans.
Plan A reaches the most customers, gives the best fire ser- vice and provides a centrally located feeder from which future lines to all parts of the town may be taken off at will.
The intent of Plan B is to supply the three most populous areas with the least possible expenditure and it can be ex panded into Plan A by the addition of 10" feeders on Main and Washington Streets. Our experience leads us to pre- dict almost with certainty that if the works were built in accordance with Plan B popular demand would force these feeders in, within a very few years, and we would then have Plan A.
Plan C covering the Ridge Hill, Queen Anns Corner and Church Hill communities reaches the most customers per mile of pipe and shows the best returns on the invested dol- lar, but it leaves the center of the town with its public and semi-public buildings out of the picture.
.
TABLE I Pipe Lines as Prosposed Under Plan A
Street
From
To
PIPE
VALVES Hydrant Rock Possible
10"
8"
6"
10"
8" 6"
CY
Takers
High
Washington
Hanover Line
820
5 949
2
5
12
25
55
Washington
Hingham L
Main
7 662
3 642
4
4
18
18
10
C8
Oak
High
Washington
1 073
2
1
2
Main
Washington
Bridge
21 222
8
22
31
90
84
Central
Main
Summer
4 772
2 678
3
2
12
35
31
River
Main
Hanover Line
18 035
11
23
23
85
45
Stetson
3 000
4 572
2
3
9
25
19
Tiffany
1 852
2
4
0
10
Common
900
1
1
2
Church
443
1
1
4
Winter
765
1
1
10
3
Forest
River
To Tank
2 958
3
2
2
50
2
56 542
16 169
7 632
33
14
70
115
330
337
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE II Pipe Lines as Proposed Under Plan B
PIPE
VALVES Hydrant Rock Possible
Street
From
To
10"
8"
6"
10"
8" 6"
CY
Takers
High
Washington
Hanover Line
820
5 949
2
5
12
25
55
Washington
Hingham Line
L. Hall's House
558
3 642
1
4
9
9
0
48
Washington
Main
M. Farrars House 4 604
2
8
8
10
31
Main
Lincoln
Bridge
7 722
4
6
15
25
45
Central
Main
Summer
4 772
2 678
3
2
12
35
31
11
23
23
85
45
River
Main
Hanover Line
18 035
4 572
2
3
9
25
19
Stetson
River
River
1 852
2
4
0
10
Tiffany
River
Common
900
1
1
2
Common
Tiffany
Pine
443
1
1
4
Church
Tiffany
Last House
765
1
1
10
3
Winter
Main
Last House
Forest &
3
2
2
50
2
Circuit
River
Tank Site
2 958
39 469
16 169
7 632
26
14
55
97
265
295
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TOWN OF NORWELL
3 000
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
STORAGE
On account of the long distances from the source of supply ( which for this purpose may be considered as being the Hanover tanks) to the points where fire protection is required, it is necessary, in order to meet the demands of the fire underwriters, without laying excessively large and expensive pipe lines, to maintain local storage at two points.
We have allowed in our estimate, for a steel tank at Ridge Hill, 25 feet in diameter and 85 feet high holding approxi- mately 313,000 gallons, and one near Norwell Center 25 feet in diameter and 100 feet high holding 368,000 gallons.
There are two possible tank sites at Norwell Center, the one on the Cushing property on the hill near Lincoln and Main Streets and one on Circuit Street between Forest and Pine Streets. Both have the same ground elevation about 183 feet above sea level. The choice between these two sites will depend largely on the attitude of the owners and the price asked for the land as the length of pipe to be laid is about the same for each site under Plan B and considerably less for the more valuable site under Plan A. We have based our designs and estimates on the Circuit Street site.
CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
The chief item of construction cost is that of main pipe lines. These would be of cast iron in accordance with an almost universal practice. Steel, wood and concrete pipe are used in large sizes but for sizes from 6 to 12 inches or- dinary bell and spigot cast iron pipe is in general use.
Previous to about 1925 all cast iron pipe was "pit cast" that is, cast in an upright position in stationary sand molds. Within the past six or seven years the process of casting pipe by the centrifugal process in rapidly revolving horizon-
119
TOWN OF NORWELL
tal molds has been developed and highly perfected so that we now have in competition with the old "pit cast" pipe, two types of centrifugal pipe, cach capable of withstanding the same pressure as the "pit cast" pipe with a much thinner wall, resulting in less weight per foot and consequently a lower price per foot than for the older style.
In the centrifugally cast pipe we have two distinct types, that cast by the DeLavaud process and the so called "sand spun."
DeLavaud, the original centrifugal pipe, is cast in a re- volving steel mold and because of rapid cooling is brittle when it comes from the mold and must be annealed to com- plete the process. Even after annealing this pipe is admit- tedly more brittle than the pit cast pipe, subject to a larger percentage of breakage in handling and more breaks per mile during the first six months after laying when minor settlements are always taking place. After this time the pipe apparently gives service equal to the best pit cast. Thousands of miles of this pipe are in use today and giv- ing good satisfaction. Our experience with it in the neigh- boring towns of Marshfield, Duxbury, Hanover and Wey- mouth, in Hyannis, Chatham, Fayville and numerous small- er installations has been that the expense due to breakage is such a small percentage of the saving in price as to make DeLavaud pipe an excellent "buy." In Marshfield, for in- stance, the saving on the total quantity was in round num- bers $18,000. while the costs of breaks was around $400.00. Four Hundred Dollars worth of breaks in streets make a big impression on the bystander who does not know the other side of the story, and we get all kinds of reports of poor pipe, poor workmanship, poor engineering etc. To the experienced engineer and contractor, however, these breaks are but minor incidents.
"Sand 'spun" pipe is cast centrifugally in a horizontal
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
mold in much the same manner as DeLavaud, but with the important difference that the mold is of sand resulting in slower cooling and a pipe that without annealing is little if any more brittle than the old "pit cast.", This type has been on quantity production for not more than three or four years, but has given excellent satisfaction. We have used several miles in Braintree, Massachusetts, and several miles in Middlebury, Vermont, besides numerous smaller in- stallations, and have been invariably pleased with the re- sults. We are inclined to give this pipe the preference over DeLavaud at the same or a slightly higher price.
These centrifugal types have invariably shown lower pric- qs than the "pit cast" and we are using prevailing prices on "sand spun" in our estimates.
VALVES AND HYDRANTS
The proposed layout provides for a sufficient number of gate valves to enable relatively small section's to be shut off for repair work. A liberal number of hydrants have been provided, so spaced as adequately to protect all proper- ty in the system. A close spacing of hydrants is a guar- antee that the system can be utilized to its maximum capac- ity during fires and also reduces the amount of hose requir- ed.
TANKS
The two storage tanks would be standerd cylindrical stand pipes with roofs, on concrete foundations. All mater- jal in these tanks would be in strict accordance with the specifications of the American Society for Testing Mater- ials and subject to a rigid shop inspection.
HOUSE CONNECTIONS
It is a general custom for the town or district to furnish, free of charge, that part of the house connection lying be- tween the main and the street line, all material and labor in the customer's property to be at his expense.
121
TOWN OF NORWELL
In this day of increasingly costly pavements it is poor policy to use anything but the best and longest lived ser- vice pipe and fittings. Pipe should be of non-corrosive ma- terial or lined with such material and under this classifica- tion we have lead pipe, lead lined pipe, brass pipe, copper tubing and iron or steel pipe lined with cement. In our ex- perience and judgment the choice in most cases lies between the cement lined iron pipe and the copper tubing.
The cement lined pipe has been in use in New England for over fifty years and is neither corroded or affected in any way by any kind of water. Because of this assured safety we have specified large quantities of this pipe in the past and shall still continue to use it in all case where there is any remote possibility that the water in question might at any time in the future attack the metal pipes.
Copper tubing, during the past two years, has been sub- ject to a vigorous sales campaign and large quantities of this type of pipe have been purchased and installed ,some- times wisely and sometimes unwisely, in our opinion. Mak- ing due allowance for sales enthusiasm we find that it has many desirable features. The Hanover Water Board made quite a study of this pipe, having water and soil analyses made by two independent laboratories and decided to use copper for all of its services.
Our estimates have been based on the use of copper tub- ing, which is now considerably cheaper than the cement lin- ed service pipe. The latter, however, may be used if your committee desires.
GENERAL
All construction would be carried on under a fully bond- ed contract awarded as a result of publicly advertised bids and all details would be under the constant supervision and inspection of the engineers.
TABLE III Estimated Cost of Complete Pipe Lines by Sections Arranged in Order of Feet per Customer
Street
From
To
Number of Customers
Feet per Customer
Total Cost
1
Washington
Hingham Line
Oak
42
87
$ 7 039 34
2
Washington
Oak
Wesley Hall's
6
93
1 255 10
3
Church
Tiffany
Last House
4
111
686 78
4
High
Hanover
Washington
55
123
12 285 13
5
Washington
Station 67
Main Street
31
150
9 641 50
6
Main
Central
Bridge
30
160
9 898 35
7
Tiffany
River
Common
10
185
2 608 54
8
Main
Lincoln
Central
15
194
6 080 25
9
Central
Main
Norwell Avenue
21
227
9 510 05
10
Winter
Main
Third House
3
255
1 079 37
11
Central
Norwell Avenue
Summer
10
268
4 406 16
12
Main
Washington
Bowker
25
283
13 883 65
13
Stetson
River
Bend
10
300
4 798 20
14
River
Main
Green
22
352
15 198 15
15
River
Hanover Line
Stetson
15
371
11 021 45
16
Main
Bridge
Scituate Line
14
422
11 220 55
17
Common
River
Pine
2
450
1 378 85
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
18
Main
Bowker
Lincoln
14
460
12 366 75
19
Grove
Norwell Avenue
Prospect 20
496
15 059 77
20
Norwell Ave.
Central
Lincoln
9
500
7 015 25
21
Stetson
Bend
River
9
508
5 664 89
22
Oak
High
Washington
2
537
2 006 45
23 River
Stetson
Green
8
591
9 604 70
24
Circuit
Forest Avenue
Tank
1
1113
2 450 25
25
Grove
Prospect
Washington
14
1136
10 692 20
26
Forest Ave.
River
Circuit
1
1845
3 353 90
27
Washington
Station 42
Mary Farrars
1
2500
4 309 25
TOWN OF NORWELL
123
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
ESTIMATED COSTS
These estimates are based on prevailing prices which will not be any higher for contracts let in the early spring of 1932. The unit figures are as follows :
10" Pipe $1.00 per ft. laying $.50 per ft. total $ 1 50
8" Pipe $.70 per ft. laying $.50 per ft.
total 1 20
6" Pipe $.50 per ft. laying $.45 per ft. total 95
10" Valve set 48 50
8" Valve Set
37 50
6"Valve Set 26 50
5" Hydrant Set 68 00
Special Fittings 6" per 1000 feet 20 00
Special fittings, 8" per 1000 feet 25 00
Special fittings 10" per 1000 feet 35 00
House connection, average including rock, each 25 00
Rock excavation per cubic yard 7 00
The cost for various sections of pipe line have been fig- ured independently and are thus shown in Table III from which figures for the following summaries have been tak- en. Engineering and a 4 per cent contingency allowance are included.
Plan A
Complete pipe lines, and service connec- tions including valves, hydrants and rock excavation's ( Tables I and III)
$150 027 03
Tank 25 ft. diameter x 85 ft. high
9 900 00
Tank 25 ft. diameter × 100 ft. high 12 100 00
5 000 00
Tank Foundations Land 500 00
$177 527 03
Plan B Completed pipe lines and service connec- tions including valves, hydrant and rock excavations. (Tables II, III) $117 460 98
125
TOWN OF NORWELL
Tank 25 ft. diameter x 85 ft. high
9 900 00
Tank 25 ft. diameter x 100 ft. high
12 100 00
Tank Foundations Land
5 000 00
500 00
· $144 960 98
Plan C
Ridge Hill-Accord Section
Complete pipe lines and service connec- tion's including valves, hydrants and rock excation
$20 579 57
Tank 25 ft. diameter x 85 ft. high
9 900 00
Tank Foundation
2 300 00
Land
400 00
Total
$33 179 57
Church Hill Section
Complete pipe lines and service connec- tions including valves, hydrants and rock excavation
$26 158 72
Total Plan C $59 338 29
ANNUAL CHARGES-Fixed Charges
It is customary to finance the construction of a new sys- tem by the issuance of 30 Year Serial Bonds. The govern- ing statute allows payment of these bonds to be deferred until the third year after issue so that they are actually paid in 28 equal installments. This annual installment with the interest constitute the fixed charges and are shown in de- tail by Tables IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C.
OPERATING CHARGES As previously stated, the Hanover Water Board offers
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EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
to furnish water to Norwell under either one of two differ- ent plans :-
( a) Fixed sum plus share in pumping costs.
(b) Strictly on a quantity basis.
(a) Under this plan Norwell would pay Hanover an- nually the fixed sum of $1,200., plus Norwell's share of the operation expense of the Hanover plant determined as fol- lows :
Operating expense is to include amounts paid for cur- rent, heat, light, telephone, oil, grease and minor repairs, all as set forth in detail in the Hanover proposal.
This item of operating expense is to be divided between the two parties in direct proportion to their respective pipe mileage, number of takers, and total water revenue, each of these three features to be given a weight of unity in working out the proportions. To reduce this to simple arithmetic; dividing the total expense into three equal parts, the first part will be divided between the Towns in direct proportion to their respective number of customers, the second in pro- portion to their respective pipe mileage, and the third in direct proportion to their respective annual receipts for water used.
Taking the average daily consumption for Hanover at 120,000 gallons and for Norwell at 40,000 gallons ,we es- timate the annual cost of operating the Hanover station for the first year at $2, 692.00 which in accordance with the foregoing system of pro-rating would mean $940.00 per year as Norwell's share of operating.
To this must be added the fixed charge of $1,200., $300. per year for minor repairs on the system, $150. per year
127
TOWN OF NORWELL
for tank maintenance, and $300. per year for clerical work, making a total annual expense for maintenance and opera- tion of $2,890.00. Under this plan Hanover agrees to furnish at all times, complete equipment, labor and supervis- ion for any repairs or other work on the Norwell system at a nominal hourly rate so that Norwell would have no in- vestment in or depreciation on equipment and no one under pay except when urgently necessary. These figures apply to Plan A for the first year. For the other years, and for Plans B and C, see Tables IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C.
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