USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1936 > Part 12
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Water
The Filtration Plant went into operation on July 21. The product of this plant is a nearly perfect water at a very low operating cost. The only domestic problem for the urban resident which cannot be solved by the individual and for which there is no substitute is pure palatable water. Reading has now solved the problem which has been an annoyance for years and has an ample supply of exceptional water, and at low cost. The Town authorized a bond issue of $94,250.00. Bonds were issued in the amount of $42,000.00. A short term loan of $15,000.00 was raised which has been redeemed. The new plant cost $70,426.79. The U. S. Government furnished $29,250.00, leaving a net cost of $41,- 176.79 to the Town. The balance of the bond issue has been can- celled.
The reduction in water rates has been fully justified in the year's returns.
The addition of eight wells each year for the next four years, at a cost of approximately $1,250.00 per year is suggested as an economic measure. Progress is being made toward the installing of a 12" force main on Ash Street to connect with the southern standpipe. This will reduce the cost of pumping somewhat. The integrity of the Grove Street Pumping Station is being improved by a new electric power line being carried up Grove Street where previously the power came in from the Wilmington line only and has once failed us in mid- summer. What might happen in a winter sleet storm is a conjecture.
A second force main from the Grove Street Station to the junction of multiple mains at Franklin Street is seriously needed as it is the sole supply. In the meantime, to be sure of water service, the Mill Street Station has been put into condition at a very slight expense to allow it to go into service on short notice, if the Grove Street Sta- tion should fail through any cause, mechanical, electrical or loss of force main.
142
Renumbering Houses
This project was started by the W. P. A., but when the time came for actual assignment, could not be carried through by them on account of an adverse ruling from headquarters. The Board of Public Works had in the meantime held hearings which were well attended. The Board proceeded to assign the numbers and legal notice was given each householder. A very large percentage of the houses have been re- numbered and the inconvenience afforded the non-conformist is fast persuading him to do likewise.
Flood Relief
On March 19, 1936, a request was received from Lowell for help as the City was in serious danger. All but two of the Department's trucks, manned by Department employees, and in charge of Department Foremen and the Superintendent left Reading at 7 P. M., transport- ing some eighty W. P. A. workers. These men saw service over long periods for the next few days and were a credit to Reading. The Reading men working on Marginal Street, under our Superintendent, constructed the dike across the Railroad tracks at the Norman School which saved the high valued business section of Lowell.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
As required by Section 4, Chapter 118 of an Act authorizing the Town of Reading to establish a Board of Public Works, I respectfully submit for your consideration the sixteenth annual report of the De- partment of Public Works (Water, Highway, Sewer and Park) including a financial report of each department, and a chronicle of the principal work performed with recommendations for the coming y.ar.
WATER DEPARTMENT
Maintenance Account :
Appropriation
$ 54,800.00
Insurance Refund
80.07
Transferred 12/30/36
400.00
$ 55,280.07
Expenditures :
1. Office Maintenance :
Pay Roll $ 2,114.49
Supplies, Printing, Insurance, etc.
2,485.87
$ 4,600.36 .
143
2. Pumping Station Costs :
Station No. 1, Mill Street :
Pay Roll
$ 909.78
Light
146.16
Coal
256.02
Telephone
71.39
Misc. Supplies and Repairs
136.77
Taxes- Town of North Reading
5.70
1,525.82 $
Station No. 2, Off Grove Street :
Payroll
$ 1,654.62
Light and Power
5,262.56
Heater Oil
181.44
Misc. Repairs and Supplies
326.78
Loam, Grass Seed and Fertilizer
264.42
$ 7,689.82
3. Maintenance of Meters :
Pay Roll
$ 1,796.92
Supplies and Fittings
321.05
Express
4.05
2,122.02 $
4. Maintenance of Service Pipes :
Pay Roll.
$ 1,606.80
Supplies, Miscellaneous
296.24
Thawing Services
29.30
1,932.34 $
5. Maintenance of Main Pipes :
Pay Roll $ 1,513.02
Supplies, Tools and Miscellaneous 190.15
$ 1,703.17
6. Maturing Bonds $ 15,000.00
$ 15,000.00
7. Bond Interest
$ 2,980.00
$ 2,980.00
144
-
8. Truck and Equipment Maintenance :
Pay Roll
$ 7.11
Repairs and Maintenance
317.52
Gasoline and Oil
260.62
New Equipment
225.00
Tires and Tubes
81.85
Miscellaneous
9.50
$ 901.60
9. Shop Maintenance :
Miscellaneous Supplies, Lights, Repairs .. $ 54.38
Coal
79.21
$
.
133.59
10. Main Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll $ 3,780.96
Pipe, Fittings, and Supplies
6,669.63
Blasting, etc.
50.55
Boston and Maine R. R. - Labor
96.85
Express and Freight
5.11
Fittings-Wells'
1,107.53
Tools, Repairs to Tools, Miscellaneous
359.76
$ 12,070.39
11. Service Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll
$ 1,058.77
Pipe
402.10.
Supplies and Fittings
1,272.33
Express
11.90
$ 2,745.10
12. Meter Construction :
New Meters $ 378.00
$ 378.00
13. Hydrant Maintenance :
Pay Roll
$ 303.25
New Hydrants
263.62
Tools and Supplies
31.60
Repairs .
19.75
618.22
145
14. Misc. Unclassified :
Pay Roll
$ 879.17
Grand Total Expended
$ 879.17 $ 55,279.60
Balance, Dec. 31, 1936
$ .47
P. W. A. Water Filtration Plant
1935 Balance Forward
$ 58,584.86
Expended 1936 :
Contract-Tuller Const. Co.
$ 42,797.32
Contract-Rideout, Chandler and Joyce
3,448.00
Engineering-Weston and Sampson
4,620.17
Controllers
1,704.00
Bronze Tablet
65.00
Misc. Supplies and Fittings
290.28
Total Expended 1936
$ 52,924.77
Bal. 12/31/36
$ 5,660.09
1936 Receipts :
1935 Balance Forward
$ 4,352.17
Meter Rates
49,718.07
Service Pipe Maintenance
381.46
Cervice Pipe Construction
1,180.82
Rent
180.00
Fines and Summons
117.45
Hydrant Rental
1,500.00
Drinking Fountains
100.00
Sprinklers
44.00
Meter Maintenance
2.00
Miscellaneous
8.22
Total
$ 57,584.19
Total Expenditures
55,279.60
Balance from Receipts
2,304.59
Total Cost of Water System since beginning to Jan. 1, 1936
$687.026.77
Main Extension Maint. Acct.
$ 12,070.39
Meters
378.00
Filtration Plant
52,924.77
$ 65,373.16
Total Cost Dec. 31, 1936
$752,399.93
146
FINANCIAL STATISTICS
EXPENDITURES
Water Works Maintenance :
Total Maintenance
$ 22,016.20
Interest on Bonds 2,980.00
Payment of Bonds
15,000.00
Sprinkler System Payments 44.00
Total Maintenance $ 39,996.20
Total from Consumers
$ 49,799.58
Water Works Construction :
Extension of Mains
$ 12,341.22
Extension of Services
2,599.69
Extension of Meters
378.00
Total from Municipal Depts. . . Rents, Fines, Summons, Misc. Receipts
$ 1,600.00
305.67
Service Pipes
1,562.28
Main Pipe Maint.
.00
Hydrant Maintenance
.00
Total
$ 57,619.70
RECEIPTS
Balance Brought Forward from 1935 $ 4,352.17 From Meter Rates $ 49,753.58
From Meter Maintenance 2.00
From Drinking Fountains A 100.00
From Hydrants 1,500.00
Total Construction
$ 15,318.91
Balance
2,304.59
Total $ 57,619.70
WATER DEPARTMENT
Rainfall at Pumping Station
Month
Normal Rain- fall-Inches
Rainfall in
Excess or
1936-Inches Deficiency 1936
January
3.43
6.60
+3.17
February
3.23
3.09
-. 14
March
3.78
7.23
+3.45
April
3.99
3.01
-. 98
May
2.91
2.05
-. 86
June
3.58
2.73
-. 85
July
3.25
1.75
-1.50
August
3.41
4.49
+1.08
September
3.74
4.15
+.41
October
2.9
1.59
-1.32
November
3.14
1.37
-1.77
December
3.45
8.24
+4.79
Totals
40.82
46.30
+5.48
The average rainfall for Massachusetts as deduced by the State Department of Public Health from long continued observation in vari- ous parts of the State, is 44.54 inches.
As may be seen by a table in this report showing the amount of Rainfall for the years 1900-1936 inclusive, the average Rainfall at the Reading Pumping Station No. 1 on Mill Street is 40.82 inches.
The Rainfall this past year was an excess of 1.76 inches compared with the State observations and an excess of 5.48 inches compared with the Pumping Station observations.
There was an excess of Rainfall in the months of January, March, August, September and December of 12.90 inches; and a deficiency in the months of February, April, May, June, October and November of 7.42 inches, compared each month with an average Rainfall between the years of 1900-1936 inclusive.
The greatest Rainfall in 1936 for any one month was in December, with a fall of 8.24 inches; in any one day, Thursday, December 10, with a fall of 2.11 inches. The elevation of the Hundred Acre Meadow Pumping Station is approximately 80 feet above sea level.
148
AMOUNT OF RAINFALL FOR YEARS 1900 to 1936 INCLUSIVE
Year
Jan.
Feb.
March April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
1900
5.32
8.69
5.03
2.15
4.60
3.13
1.90
3.17
4.15
3.31
5.05
2.44
48.94
1901
1.33
1.08
5.88
9.59
7.21
1.74
4.65
2.66
3.59
2.76
3.06
8.10
51.65
1902
1.80
6.11
4.69
6.22
1.69
1.98
3.02
3.75
4.01
4.91
0.99
5.60
44.77
1903
3.84
3.16
6.38
4.95
0.48
8.91
3.40
3.42
2.29
3.69
1.33
2.59
44.44
1904
4.42
2.21
2.21
9.90
3.56
2.56
1.88
4.26
5.16
2.02
1.80
2.25
42.23
1905
5.44
1.47
2.92
2.59
1.39
6.11
1.19
3.30
7.87
1.20
2.22
3.72
39.42
1906
2.60
2.53
6.48
2.84
5.14
2.63
5.88
4.18
1.36
2.38
3.31
3.08
42.41
1907
3.97
2.10
2.40
3.21
2.89
3.80
3.58
1.33
7.90
3.36
6.83
3.60
44.97
1908
3.07
4.28
2.72
1.71
4.00
1.58
3.09
4.07
0.86
3.56
1.10
2.66
32.70
1909
4.17
5.33
3.57
3.95
1.97
2.14
3.59
2.75
3.74
1.23
4.06
3.60
40.10
1910
4.54
3.14
1.58
2.32
1.19
4.36
1.98
2.61
2.45
1.48
4.30
1.92
31.87
1911
2.25
2.94
3.12
1.89
0.67
3.43
4.79
3.80
2.94
2.91
4.14
3.57
36.45
1912
2.68
2.42
5.04
4.05
5.73
0.29
6.44
2.02
3.02
1.45
3.10
4.80
41.04
1913
2.48
2.64
4.51
3.76
3.45
0.93
1.68
3.48
3.66
7.56
2.13
3.24
39.52
1914
3.34
3.65
4.09
6.32
2.76
1.44
2.34
2.78
0.23
1.51
2.92
3.69
35.07
1915
5.52
3.54
0.00
2.72
1.68
4.60
8.76
6.66
0.70
2.80
2.93
5.47
45.38
1916
1.22
5.37
3.37
5.14
4.59
5.86
3.13
2.30
3.11
1.01
1.94
2.01
39.05
1917
2.92
2.41
4.18
2.90
4.00
4.78
1.19
3.70
1.46
5.75
1.39
2.65
37.33
1918
3.08
3.02
2.02
4.10
0.85
3.04
2.99
2.81
8.37
1.02
2.24
2.48
36.02
AMOUNT OF RAINFALL (Continued)
Year
Jan.
Feb.
March April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
1919
3.24
3.61
4.01
2.46
5.44
0.88
3.22
3.83
5.65
2.63
5.20
1.53
42.70
1920
2.75
6.46
4.21
5.75
3.27
5.24
1.94
2.02
4.27
1.16
4.67
4.82
46.56
1921
2.09
3.43
2.43
5.48
1.86
4.02
9.79
1.96
1.74
1.57
6.50
2.28
43.15
1922
1.77
2.72
4.27
1.37
5.08
11.27
4.88
3.29
3.68
2.73
1.06
3.12
45.24
1923
6.95
1.67
2.60
5.17
1.56
2.79
1.98
3.17
0.82
3.63
4.13
4.83
39.30
1924
3.77
2.55
1.71
4.25
3.10
2.53
2.70
4.80
7.95
0.05
2.56
1.52
37.49
1925
4.28
2.14
7.66
2.95
2.05
5.62
3.13
2.37
2.16
4.66
3.94
5.53
46.49
1926
2.53
4.41
2.83
2.24
2.19
1.80
2.08
3.30
1.32
3.95
3.89
3.08
33.62
1927
2.32
3.18
1.30
1.43
2.19
2.27
3.04
5.28
2.68
4.10
4.18
4.77
36.74
1928
2.17
3.37
1.45
5.13
2.77
6.63
3.65
3.84
4.18
2.96
2.28
2.57
41.00
1929
3.14
3.76
3.49
6.81
3.50
1.21
1.19
4.53
2.41
2.49
2.87
3.63
39.03
1930
2.48
2.05
3.29
1.90
3.38
2.19
4.07
2.77
0.79
4.45
3.68
2.20
33.25
1931
3.27
2.72
4.94
3.07
3.53
6.47
3.76
4.11
1.97
2.43
1.26
3.72
41.25
1932
3.92
1.90
4.83
2.01
1.17
1.81
2.04
5.09
7.24
7.26
5.25
1.29
43.81
1933
2.27
3.46
7.22
6.51
2.70
1.27
1.47
4.41
9.97
3.50
0.96
3.47
47.21
1934
3.17
3.29
5.13
3.09
2.52
4.00
1.25
1.73
6.43
3.89
2.03
2.70
39.23
1935
6.13
3.23
1.06
4.72
1.44
6.21
2.67
1.98
4.03
0.58
4.36
0.90
37.31
1936
6.60
3.09
7.23
3.01
2.05
2.73
1.75
4.49
4.15
1.59
1.37
8.24
46.30
Average
3.43
3.23
3.78
3.99
2.91
3.58
3.25
3.41
3.74
2.91
3.14
3.45
40.82
WATER DEPARTMENT TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW
Day of
Month
Jan.
Feb. March April
May
June July
Aug.
Sept. Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1
.15
.21
2
.63
.62
.88
.05
1.40
3
.56
.62
T
.01
4
.76
.54
.05
.34
.39
.48
5
.28
.41
.05
.01
6
.09
.10
.67
.43
7
.13
T
8
.47
.24
T
.35
9
1.10
.19
.31
.01
.01
10
.31
.01
.09
2.11
11
1.62
.40
.28
.03
1.51
12
.23
.59
.03
.14
.09
13
.06
.39 .02
14
.89
.09
1.21
.01
.06
15
1.58
.25
.04
.27
.07
16
1.14
.08
.44
17
.01
.02
.08
.84
.80
T
18
.58
.29
1.62
.01
.03
.34
.02
2.08
19
.06
.09
.39
.09
1.62
20
1.23
.11
.03
.29
.06
.32
21
.79
.22
.03
.32
23
.02
.01
.07
24
.45
.13
.19
.12
T
.06
25
.01
.04
.30
.12
26
.05
27
1.02
.46
.02
28
.08
.38
T
29
.03
.04
.90
T
30
1.50
.14
31
.04
Monthly totals
6.60
3.09
7.23
3.01
2.05
2.73
1.75
4.49
4.15
1.59
1.37
8.24
Totals to date 6.60
9.69
16.92
19.93
21.8
24.71
26.46
30.95 35.10
36.69
38.06
46.30
.
151
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS For Year Ending December 31, 1936
Reading Water Department Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
General Statistics
Population by census of 1935 : 10,703.
Date of Construction : 1890, Mill St .; 1931, Grove St.
By whom owned : Town of Reading.
Sources of supply : Filter Gallery and Artesian Wells.
Mode of supply : (whether gravity or pumping) : Pumping.
Pumping Statistics
Builders of Pumping Machinery: Sullivan Machine Co., George F. Blake Mfg. Co., Platt Iron Works, DeLaval Steam Turbine Co.
Electric Pumps at Grove Street Station
Description of Pumps :
(A) Pumping Unit No. 1-2-stage 5/4 DeLaval, 75 H. P. 1750 R. P. M., 3 phase, 60 cycle, 440 volts, 650 G. P. M.
(B) Pumping Unit No. 2-2-stage 8/6 DeLaval, 125 H. P. 1750 R. P. M. 3 phase, 60 cycle, 440 volts, 1000 G. P. M.
K. W. H. used for year : 284,145.
Power cost for year, $5,262.56.
Total Pumpage by Venturi Meter : 249,110,100 gallons.
Cost of pumping per million gallons, power only : $21.13.
Average number gallons pumped per K. W. H .: 876.70.
Cost of pumping figured on Total Pumping Station No. 2 Expenses, per million gallons pumped : $30.87.
Total cost of supplying water, per million gallons, figured on Total maintenance, plus interest on Bonds : $100.70.
Average static head against which pumps work: 227.
Average dynamic head against which pumps work: 258.
152
Statistics Relating to Distribution Mains
Kind of pipe: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron.
Sizes : 11/4 inches to 12 inches.
Extended : 889.0 feet of 12" Cast Iron Main, 3,048.5 feet of 6" Cast Iron Main, 110.0 feet 11/4" galv. Iron Main.
Total in use at present : 46.57 Miles (6" to 12").
Cost of maintenance per mile : $36.57.
Number of Hydrants added during year : 6.
Number of Hydrants in use (Public and Private) : 296.
Number of Stop Gates added during year: 27.
Number of Stop Gates now in use : 749.
Number of Stop Gates smaller than 4": 149.
Number of Blow-offs added during year: None.
Number of Blow-offs now in use: 28.
Range of pressure on Mains : 45-90 1bs.
Statistics Relating to Suction Mains
Kind of pipe : Cast Iron.
Sizes of pipe : 16", 12", 10", 8".
Total number of feet in use: 116 feet of 16"; 1270 feet of 12"; 940 feet of 10"; 1995 feet of 8". Total: 4315 feet.
Gates on Suction Mains : 1-16"; 4-12"; 2-8"; 77- 21/2" Gates.
Wells in use: Line A-15 Wells; Line B-17 Wells; Line C-11 Wells; Line D-12 Wells; Line E-9 Wells; Line F-13 Wells. Total: 77 Wells.
Statistics Relating to Services
·Services : Kinds of pipe: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron, Lead Lined, Ce- ment Lined, and Copper Tubing.
Sizes 3/4" to 6".
Extended 3,466.10 feet.
Total in use : 39.12 miles.
Number of active service taps added during year : 62.
Number of service taps in use : 2,695.
Average length of services-1936: 55.02 feet.
Average cost of service to owners-1936 : $18.47.
Number of water meters tested: 380.
Number of water meters repaired: 201.
Number of water meters added : 40.
Number of water meters junked: 2.
Number of water meters now in use: 2,850.
153
WATER BONDS AND INTEREST
There were $15,000.00 in bonds payable in 1936.
The interest on serial bonds for the year 1936 amounted to $2,980.00.
There are $11,000 in bonds and $2,572.50 interest due in 1937 as follows :
Payable
Interest
Bonds
Mar. 15, 1937
$
120.00
Apr. 15, 1937
720.00
$ 2,000.00
June 1, 1937
495.00
3,000.00
Sept. 15, 1937
120.00
1,000.00
Oct. 15, 1937
685.00
5,000.00
Dec. 1, 1937
432.50
$ 2,572.50
$ 11,000.00
COMPARATIVE TOTAL PUMPAGE DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS- 1927 to 1936 INCLUSIVE
Year
Annual
Pumpage
(Gallons)
Increase
or
Decrease
(Gallons)
Average
Daily
Pumpage
(Gallons)
Increase
or
Decrease
(Gallons)
Gallons Pumped
Figured on total
Maint. & Int. on Bonds
Estimated Population
1927
119,057,792
2,576,224 Inc.
326,185
7,058 Inc. $212.37
8796
1928
131,714,708
12,656,916 Inc.
359,876
33,691 Inc.
237.31
8796
1929
139,983,143
8,268,435 Inc.
383,515
23,639 Inc.
213.75
8769
1930
147,186,973
7,203,830 Inc.
403,257
19,742 Inc.
494.92
9747
1931
144,923,924
2,263,049 Dec.
397,051
6,206 Dec.
211.95
9747
1932
161,609,500
16,685,576 Inc.
441,423
44,372 Inc.
120.73 9747
1933
171,847,300
10,237,800 Inc.
470,389
28,966 Inc.
113.22
9747
1934
221,260,400
49,413,100 Inc.
606,192
135,803 Inc.
115.05
9767
1935
248,075,400
26,815,000 Inc.
679,658
73,466 Inc.
90.61
10703
1936
249,110,100
1,034,700 Inc.
680,629
971 Inc.
100.70
10703
Cost per Million
154
WATER DEPARTMENT YEARLY RECORD OF HUNDRED ACRE MEADOW PUMPING STATION
January 1, 1936 to December 31, 1936
Month
No. Days
No. Hrs.
No. Min.
Gallons Pumped Venturi Meter
Total Power Head K.W.H.
Gal. Per K.W.H.
Rain- fall
Fuel Daily Av. Oil
Gals. Pumped
January
31
389
30
19,769,200
227
21,600
915.24
6.60
365
637,716
February
29
408
00
20,503,600
227
22,500
911.26
3.09
380
707,020
March
31
410
15
21,561,600
227
22,400
962.57
7.23
215
695,535
April
30
391
00.
21,355,500
227
21,650
986.39
3.01
200
711,850
May
31
449
30
23,886,800
227
26,000
918.72
2.05
105
770,542
June
30
480
00
26,039,200
227
27,020
963.70
·
2.73
867,973
July
31
538
30
25,044,400
227
29,375
852.57
1.75
807,884
August
31
433
30
22,652,200
227
28,650
790.65
4.49
730,716
September
30
352
45
18,419,800
227
22,950
802.60
4.15
613,993
October
31
341
20
17,509,600
227
21,450
816.29
1.59
250
564,826
November
30
318
15 16,659,000
227
20,925
796.04
1.37
430
555,300
December
31
301
30
15,709,200
227
19,625
800.46
8.24
630
506,748
Totals
366
4,814
05
249,110,100
227
284,145
876.70
46.30
2,575
680,629
WATER DEPARTMENT
1936 Main Water Pipe Extension
Street
16"
12" 10"
8"
6"
11/4" 1" Total
Vale Road
303.3
303.3
Birch Meadow ....
159.0
159.0
California Road ...
87.5
87.5
Fairview Avenue ..
502.0
502.0
Sunnyside Avenue ..
78.0
78.0
Puritan Road ....
628.9
628.9
Priscilla Road . ...
519.3
519.3
Lawrence Road ..
70.0
70.0
Laneton Way . .. . .
184.0
184.0
Oak Ridge Road ..
486.5
486.5
Vista Avenue
50.5
50.5
South Street
59.5
59.5
Ash Street
889.0
889.0
Summer Avenue
..
30.0
30.0
-
Totals
889.0
3048.5
110.0
4,047.5
WATER DEPARTMENT
New Hydrants Set
No. Date Make
Location Gated
1. 1/36 Corey Vale Road, North Side Between No. 14-No. 16 Yes
2. 6/36 Corey Lawrence Road, North Side, near No. 20
3. 5/36 Corey Priscilla Rd., West Side, near No. 34
4. 5/36 Corey Puritan Road, North Side, Opposite No. 15
5. 4/36 Corey Fairview Av., North Side, cor. Sunny's Ave.
6. 9/36 Corey Oak Ridge Rd., East Side, South of No. 15
156
WATER DEPARTMENT
Kind and Sizes of Meters in use January 1, 1937
Make
5/8"
3/4"
1"
11/4"
11/2"
2"
3"
4"
8" Tots.
Nash
1249
13
11
1
3
3
1280
Hersey
535
11
24
6
9
6
1
1
1
594
Empire
257
1
2
2
262
Gamon
182
2
184
Trident
127
127
Crown
69
2
2
3
9
85
Union
48
1
1
50
Lambert
49
2
51
Worthington
35
1
36
Pittsburg
144
13
2
159
Keystone
1
8
9
Federal
8
8
Thompson
3
1
4
Columbia
1
1
Totals
2708
40
45
17
16
19
3
1
1
2850
WATER DEPARTMENT
Water Mains Installed for Possible Future Connections
Street
Location
pipe
pipe
gates Size
Woburn St. Intersection of Pratt St.
6"
34.5
1 6"
Woburn St. Intersection of Copeland Ave. 6"
29.0
1
6"
Woburn St. Intersection of Perkins Ave. 6"
33.0
1
6"
Woburn St. Intersection of Gilmore Ave. 6"
35.0
1
6"
Lowell St. Intersection of Parkman Rd. . 6"
32.6
1
6"
Lowell St. Intersection of Dustin Rd.
6"
16.8
1
6"
Lowell St. Intersection of Street No. 3
6"
32.5
1
6"
Lowell St. Intersection of Street No. 4
6"
16.0
1
6"
-
.
Totals
229.4
8
Size Length of Stop
157
WATER DEPARTMENT
An increase in home building in Reading during 1936 resulted in the extension of several water mains and the installation of 62 house services. The number of house services installed has not been equalled since 1930, when 65 services were laid. It is expected that a greater number of services will be installed in 1937.
A development in Puritan Park, off Lowell Street resulted in the construction of two six inch water mains, as follows: Puritan Road, from Lowell St. to John Carver Road, and Priscilla Road, from Puritan Road easterly.
Fourteen new houses were served by these two main extensions, which were installed under a 4 per cent guarantee, the Town being guaranteed by the property owners a revenue, payable semi-annually, of 4 per cent of the original cost of construction of the mains. Four other six inch mains and two one-and-one-quarter inch mains were installed under the 4 per cent guarantee on Fairview Ave., Lawrence Road, Lane- ton Way, Oak Ridge Road, Vista Avenue and South Street. Fire hy- drants were set on five of these main extensions.
On Vale Road, a 6" main was laid from the dead end to Woodward Avenue, eliminating a blow-off on the dead end. On California Road, 87.5 feet of 1 1-4" main was replaced with 6" main, to increase circula- tion in the mains. On Summer Avenue two dead ends were connected with a 6" main.
Due to the permanent road construction of portions of Woburn and Lowell Streets, eight 6" taps were made and run to the street lines of intersecting streets for future use, four on Woburn St. and four on Lowell St. On Woburn Street, taps were made at the intersection of Pratt St., Copeland, Perkins and Gilmore Avenues, and on Lowell Street, at Parkman and Dustin Roads and two proposed streets desig- nated as Streets No. 3 and No. 4.
To prevent the recurrence of freezing of certain water mains, the 1 1-4" main on Intervale Terrace was lowered for a length of 53.5 feet ; and on Martin Road for a length of 75.0 feet. These two mains have both frozen several times in the past. On South Street a section of 6" main was raised by offsets to clear a new storm drain.
The proposed 12" water main on Ash Street, from the B. and M. R. R. Crossing to the present 12" main on Brook Street, is now in process of installation. The job was started by Water Department em- ployees. W. P. A. approval having been previously granted, the project is now carried on under W. P. A., supervised by Water Department employees. In order to carry on the work more efficiently, during the Winter, the W. P. A. employees work in two shifts of three days each, and watchmen are assgned to work nights to keep small fires burning in the trench to prevent frost forming. In past years, frost formed
158
so rapidly that each day the men were compelled to spend most of the daily work period removing frost formed during the previous night.
The 12" main was installed under the Boston and Maine Railroad right-of-way by the Water Department. The work was accomplished at night when train traffic was lightest, and railroad employees were present to bridge the rails over the water trench. The joints in the water main were thoroughly tested before back-filling the trench.
The most important addition to the water system during 1936 was the completion and putting in operation of the Aeration and Filtration Plant.
The filtered water was first pumped into the Town system on July 21, 1936, after being chlorinated to insure good bacterial quality. On July 31, 1936, permission was received from the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Public Health to discontinue the use of chlorine. Since then, unchlorinated water has been supplied to the mains.
The public was invited to attend the official opening of the Plant. Many persons did attend. the process of filtration being explained to them by officials of the Board of Public Works. It may be of interest to include herein a brief description of the treatment of water in the Filtration Plant.
The process of treatment consists in removing the dissolved iron by first removing the carbon dioxide gas which holds it in solution, and replacing it with oxygen which combines with the iron to form insoluble iron hydrate (red rust) which is removed by filtration.
The exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen is effected by the use of spray nozzles and by exposure of the water to the air as it passes through the trickler, a device sometimes called a contact aerator.
The iron first oxidizes to a finely divided (colloidal) condition or state. To bring these insoluble but fine, dispersed particles into aggre- gates or bunches large enough to be retained by the sand in the filter, the aerated water is brought in contact with the coke in the trickler and with the accumulation of iron hydrate which forms thereon.
A basin is provided beneath the aerator to afford additional time for flocculation and to remove by subsidence some of the iron hydrate, including that sloughing off the coke, before the water passes to the filters, in this way removing the sand of some of its burden.
The filters act as strainers and in some cases,-when the water has not been adequately prepared-as contact aerators. When the treat- ment is satisfactory, the iron will be retained at the sand surface; when interferred with by excessive amounts of organic matter or man- ganese, or when aeration and contact are inad quate, the iron will penetrate the sand layer and necessitate deeper scrapings of sand when the filters are cleaned.
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