USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1940 > Part 17
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Water Department
225
the first break, and no water shortage was imminent during the entire repair period.
On Pearl Street at Charles Street intersection it was necessary to raise 48 feet of 6" main to pass over a W. P. A. storm water drain pro- ject. No loss of water service to consumers was caused by this opera- tion, as the mains were by-passed while being raised.
A section of 6" main on Howard Street, west of West Street, was lowered to pass under a drain culvert, which was dropped to a lower level; and on Parkman (Private) Road, a 11/4" main, which had become frozen during the early months of the year, was excavated and lowered to prevent its future freezing.
Service Pipe Construction and Maintenance
The marked increase in dwelling house construction in Reading in 1940 is illustrated in the number of water service connections made to such properties.
In 1940, a total of 92 water service connections were made. This is a 33% increase over the number of services installed in 1939, and has not been exceeded in the yearly totals since the boom building year of 1928, when 96 services were installed. Service construction records of the department show a gradual decline in the number of services in- stalled from 96 in the year 1928 to 21 in 1934, and then a steady increase from the low in 1934 to the present total. Prospects for 1941 point to a higher number of water services than in 1940, with at least two new developments besides those already in progress.
Of the services installed in 1940, eight were replacements of old services, three were to, structures other than dwelling houses, and 81 were to newly erected dwelling houses. Services installed in 1940 totaled 5193.80 feet in length, with an average length per service of 56.45 feet. The average cost per service to owners was $16.50. As of January 1, 1941, there are 41.91 miles of service pipe in use in the water distribution system, in sizes ranging from 34" to 6" and a total of 2654 service taps are in use.
Ten services developed leaks, in streets and/or sidewalks, in some instances caused by failure of gooseneck leads, in others by pipe failure. Extensions were made to two existing services, and one 34" service was relaid with 114" pipe to improve water pressure. One other ser- vice was excavated in the street and back-flushed to clear sediments from the pipe. In six instances services were renewed from main to stop. On Charles Street, all services formerly connected to the old 11/4" mains were changed over to the new 8" main.
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Due to the prolonged cold wave and lack of snow the latter part of January and early in February 1940, frost entered the ground to a depth of four or more feet, depending on the texture of sub-soil in dif- ferent locations. This caused twenty service pipes to freeze in the ground, as well as four 11/4" water mains, a condition which had not previously occurred since the extremely cold winter of 1933-1934. On several of the frozen services and on all of the 11/4" mains, it was necessary to obtain the services of the Municipal Light Department electric thawing outfit. The remainder of the frozen services were thawed by depart- mental employees with the regular thawing outfits of block tin tubing, Johnson pump, and hot water. After thawing the services, meters were removed, hoses attached to silcocks, and the water allowed to run con- tinuously to prevent re-freezing. To prevent a recurrence of this freez- ing, eight of the most susceptible services were excavated, lowered and insulated with sheet-felt packing. .
Maintenance and/or repair work was necessary on 79 water services during the year. On 23 of these, it was necessary to excavate the pipe at or near the cellar walls, remove the old pipe, and replace with new. A total of 56 cellar shut-offs or Y valves were installed, at the owners' expense. Several repair sleeves were installed where conditions war- ranted their use.
A number of sidewalk shut-offs were replaced, and curb boxes re- placed where necessary. Granolthic sidewalk construction made neces- sary the replacement of many curb boxes.
Meter Maintenance
A total of 415 water meters were tested in the meter department during the year. Of these, 216 meters were cleaned and repaired. Thir- teen old meters were replaced with new meters, and 7 were junked. New meters were set on 69 new services. There are 101 meters in the meter room from services temporarily shut off from unoccupied houses. Dur- ing the cold seasons several meters were damaged by freezing. There are now in use, as of January 1, 3077 water meters, in sizes from 5/8" to 8".
The annual inspection of meter boxes was made and meters pro- tected from freezing by insulation with felt sheathing. One meter box was discontinued and the meter set in the house cellar; one meter in a meter box was raised to a higher level.
Fire Hydrants
Three new fire hydrants were added during the year, two on the new 8" Charles Street main, the other on a 6" main extension on Hart-
Water Department
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shorn Street. There are now a total of 312 fire hydrants, public and private, in use.
Four hydrants were broken by automobiles during the year; two of the owners of the vehicles involved reported the accidents and were billed for same; the other two were hit by persons unknown and were not apprehended. New head sections and/or barrels were necessary to repair the broken hydrants. No water was lost from any of the breaks, the hydrants all being of a shock-proof type.
Four defective hydrants were replaced with either new or recon- ditioned hydrants, one hydrant was raised, set back to a safer location and gated, and one hydrant was raised to meet the change of grade of Lewis Street.
Water pressures at each hydrant in the system were carefully taken on tested and approved pressure gauges, and recorded in the files of the department.
The annual Fall inspection of fire hydrants was made and minor de- fects repaired, such as plugged drips, bent rods, etc. Brush was cut from around hydrants on outlying streets, stuffing boxes repacked, oiled and greased, drips blown and dug when needed, and painted when neces- sary. All hydrants in system are in good working condition.
Well System
The driven well system was not added to during the year, the 90 wells in use in the system furnishing an abundant supply of water to the pumping station. Although a deficiency of rainfall was recorded during the months of June, July and August, daily readings of water levels taken from the test wells showed a continued satisfactory underground reserve.
All wells in the well system were washed and cleaned twice during the year, in July and October respectively. Several wells found to be partially sand-bound were pumped individually with a well-pump to re- move the sand. On Line F, it was found necessary to excavate and replace a lead well connection. Two wells on Line G were found to contain air leaks, and were repaired.
It is planned, in 1941, to further expand the driven well system by the installation of a new suction main and driven wells.
Filtration Plant
The Iron Removal Plant operated efficiently and effectively during the year, with a total output of 245,786,000 gallons of aerated and filtered
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water, averaging 671,546 gallons per day, at a cost of $3.33 per million gallons filtered.
Filter beds received regular attention during the year, each bed being raked twice and scraped twice to break up and remove films of iron deposits on filter surfaces. Filter No. 1 was also back-blown with water pressure once to break up deeper imbedded deposits. The ejector box was used four times during the year, to wash filter sand.
Standpipes
No repairs were required or made to either standpipe during the year. Due to a faulty automatic shut-off device, Auburn Street Stand- pipe overflowed several times during the year. This condition has been corrected.
PUMPING STATIONS
Hundred Acre Station
This station operated daily during 1940, averaging thirteen hours operation per day, and delivered 245,786,000 gallons of raw water to the Iron Removal Plant and filtered water to the distribution mains, averag- ing 671,546 gallons per day, at a cost of pumping figured on total pump- ing station expenses of $31.24 per million gallons pumped. The greatest amount pumped in any one day was on Monday, July 27, with a total pumpage of 1,188,200 gallons. The greatest amount pumped in any one week was from August 12 to August 18, inclusive, with a total pumpage of 6,762,800 gallons.
Some minor repairs were made to the pumping equipment in the station. The vacuum tank and sand chamber were cleaned, and a glass telltale gauge installed on the tank. The automatic control on the switchboard required some minor repairs and overhauling. The rain gauge located since 1900 at Mill Street Pumping Station, was moved to a new location at Hundred Acres.
One major improvement was made at the station during the year, the installation of a check valve on the 12" supply main. This check valve, located in a reinforced concrete valve chamber constructed over the supply main directly in front of the station, will automatically close in event of a break in pumps or piping inside the station, and protect the station from possible flooding. The check valve, three 12" wheel gate valves, and the necessary fittings are contained in this chamber.
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3
Mill Street Pumping Station
This station did not operate during the year, but was held in readi- ness for a possible emergency. During the cold seasons, the boilers were kept fired to prevent freezing and damage to the pumping equipment.
Acts of vandalism continue to be perpetrated to the station and out- buildings. Windows have been broken, lead and copper flashings stolen from roofs and gutters, and other damages caused.
Maintenance work on the grounds and buildings has been accom- plished, and the boilers have been inspected and approved by the State Department of Safety.
General Recommendations
The past year has brought very few complaints caused by discolor- ed water. Most of these complaints were received from properties lo- cated on dead end mains which will be eliminated as fast as it is finan- cially posible to do so.
The scarcity of complaints caused by discolored water on circulat- ing mains shows the effectiveness and efficiency of the Filter Plant. The water now delivered to the mains has a very low iron content. The delivery of this type of water to the mains for the past four years has allowed the accumulation of previous years to be washed through the mains resulting now in the delivery of clean, pure, colorless water to the great majority of properties. Excavations of old mains have shown the pipes to be in excellent condition.
The increased building activity has brought to the Department an increased demand for main pipe extensions and house services. It na- turally follows that a greater supply of water will be needed. It will therefore be necessary for the Department to constantly expand its well system. The Department plans to install an added line of wells in 1941. It is self-evident that it will be necessary to constantly expand the well system as a distribution system without an adequate supply would be valueless.
The Bare Hill Standpipe will, necessarily, have to be emptied, clean- ed, and painted both inside and out in 1941. It is at present, in rather poor condition. The sedimentation in the bottom of the tank has reach- ed the allowable limit. The paint is cracked and if not renewed, the tank will begin to rust.
The year 1940 showed a marked increase in the activities of the Water Department. It is expected that 1941 will be as active if not more so.
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230
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
-
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department :
Appropriations voted in March Town Meeting :
1. Highway Maintenance and Construction $ 45,000.00
2. Removal of Snow and Ice 17,000.00
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains 3,500.00
4. Sidewalk Construction 7,000.00
5. Development of Storm Water Drainage 7,000.00
6. Care of Dumps 1,200.00
7. Construction of Vista Avenue 570.50
8. Construction of Pinevale Avenue 599.00
9. Construction of John Carver Road 2,710.00
10. Construction of Eaton Street 1,520.00
11. Appropriation for Special Labor 13,000.00
12. Purchase of Equipment 8,000.00
13. Construction of Harnden and Salem Streets 2,200.00
Appro. Voted at Special Town Meeting May 1, 1940
14. Construction of Lewis Street 1,107.00
15. Received from State and County for Chap. 90 Maint. .. 800.00
16. Credited to Highway Dept. for Gas. and Mis. Refunds 244.69
17. Credited to Snow and Ice-Misc. Refunds 1.50
18. Transfer to Snow and Ice from Reserve Fund 780.00
19. Transfer to Sidewalk Account from Reserve Fund 1,600.00
Grand Total $113,832.69
Expenditures and Balances of the above Appropriations : Item
1. Highway Dept .- Appropriation for Maint. and Const. $ 45,000.00
15. Received from State and County for Chap. 90 Maint. .. 800.00
16. Gasoline and Misc. Refunds 244.69
Total $ 46,044.69
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231
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Expended :
Pay Roll $ 19,879.58
General Repairs 3,637.53
Road Material 12,253.32
Chap. 90 Maintenance
1,200.00
Curbing
1,173.79
Misc. Supplies and Tools
7,897.48
Total Expended $ 46,041.70
Balance Unexpended $ 2.99
2. Removal of Snow and Ice
$ 17,000.00
17. Misc. Refund 1.50
18. Transfer from Reserve 780.00
Total
$ 17,781.50
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 12,035.87
Plowing and Hauling Snow
2,951.27
Repairs and Supplies
2,793.92
Total Expended $ 17,781.06
Balance Unexpended .44
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains $ 3,500.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 3,055.25
Supplies
444.75
Total Expended $ 3,500.00
Balance Unexpended .00
4. Sidewalk Maintenance and Construction $ 7,000.00
19. Transfer from Reserve 1,600.00
$ 8,600.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
6,056.69
Supplies and Misc. 2,543.31
Total Expended $ 8,600.00
Balance Unexpended .00
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232
5. Development of Storm Water Drainage .... $ 7,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
3,127.58
Pipe and Misc. Supplies
3,872.29
Total Expended $ 6,999.87
Balance Unexpended .13
6. Care of Dumps $ 1,200.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
1,179.27
Misc.
19.34
Total Expended $ 1,198.61
1.39
Balance Unexpended
7. Construction of Vista Avenue $ 570.50
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 390.60
Supplies
179.90
Total Expended $ 570.50
Balance Unexpended
.00
8. Construction of Pinevale Avenue $ 599.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 395.15
Supplies
203.85
Total Expended $ 599.00
Balance Unexpended
.00
9. Construction of John Carver Road $ 2,710.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 1,569.38
Supplies
1,140.62
Total Expended $ 2,710.00
Balance Unexpended
.00
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233
10. Construction of Eaton Street $ 1,520.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
819.24
Supplies
700.76
Total Expended
$
1,520.00
Balance Unexpended
.00
11. Appropriation for Special Labor $ 13,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 11,000.00
Transfer to Welfare Dept.
2,000.00
Total Expended $ 13,000.00
Balance Unexpended .00
12. Purchase of Equipment $ 8,000.00
Expended :
Equipment
Total Expended
$ 7,997.58
Balance Unexpended
$
2.42
13. Construction of Salem and Harnden Streets
$
2,200.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
24.35
Total Expended $ 24.35
Balance Unexpended
$ 2,175.65
14. Construction of Lewis Street $ 1,107.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 687.03
419.97
Supplies
Total Expended $ 1,107.00
Balance Unexpended
.00
Highway Department
234
$ 7,997.58
TOTALS
Items
Appro. and Tranfers
Expended
Balance
1-15-16
$ 46,044.69
$ 46,041.70
$ 2.99
2-17-18
17,781.50
17,781.06
.44
3
3,500.00
3,500.00
.00
4-19
8,600.00
8,600.00
.00
5
7,000.00
6,999.87
.13
6
1,200.00
1,198.61
1.39
7
570.50
570.50
.00
8
599.00
599.00
.00
9
2,710.00
2,710.00
.00
10
1,520.00
1,520.00
.00
11
13,000.00
13,000.00
.00
12
8,000.00
7,997.58
2.42
13
2,200.00
24.35
2,175.65
14
1,107.00
1,107.00
.00
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Road construction in 1940, due to lack of State and County (Chap- ter 90) aid, was confined to Chapter 83 Betterment Construction, which resulted in the construction of five new public ways. Charles Street was laid out and relocated by the County Commissioners and a W.P.A. Farm to Market road construction project approved for the actual en- actment of the relocation. As work on this project did not begin until December 26, 1940, no report of progress is given at this time.
Granolithic sidewalk construction was furthered substantially on many streets, as was the installation of granite curbing. All instances of granolithic sidewalk construction abutting private properties was on application of property owners, who paid half the cost of construction under the Betterment Act. The same was true of granite curbing in- stallations, except for corner radius curbing.
Chapter 90 Maintenance funds were available for certain streets, and much maintenance work was accomplished thru regular appropria- tions. Street excavations for the installation of water, sewer, gas, drains, etc., were above normal, and necessitated much K.P. and black top patching. The highways are for the most part in good condition, and are standing up well under increased traffic loads.
The major accomplishments of the Highway Department for 1940 of work of a permanently constructive nature, separated into the dif- ferent phases of work done, is briefly outlined in the following report :
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23
Snow and Ice
Snow storms, each depositing an accumulation of 1 inch or more of snow in 1940 were eight in number, five of which required highway plowing. Besides these eight recorded storms, several of minor import, classed as "traces" only, occurred. The following table illustrates the snow-fall during 1940.
Recorded Snow Storms-1940
Wind
Date
Snowfall Inches Temperature
Dir.
Force
Remarks
January
5
21/2"
+22°
N.W.
Light
Not Plowed sanded only
January
12
3"
+20°
S.W. to
Light to Moderate
Light plow units only used
January
19
13/4"
+20°
N.W.
Light to Moderate
sanded only
January
24
1"
+24°
S.W.
Light
Not plowed sanded only
February 14 - 15
16""
+26°
N.E.
Strong to
Plowed
Full gale
February 19 - 20
10"
+30°
N.E.
Moderate to Half gale
Plowed
November 26 - 27
11"
+24° to +4°
N.E.
Light to Moderate
Plowed
December
4 - 5
6"
+19°
N. W.
Light to
Plowed
Total
5114"
Moderate
Of the first four snowstorms in 1940, but one required plowing, that of January 12. With an accumulation of only three inches, heavy truck plow units were not used, the lighter units covering their own and heavy plow routes. Following this storm, rising temperatures and torrential rain-fall melted the season's accumulated snow-fall, and caused many frost cavities and cave-ins, which were gravel-and K.P. patched as reported. This thaw was followed by extremely cold weather, which continued for several days. Sanding was necessary continually until the thaw, caused by packed snow from previous storms.
The first storm of major importance, which also proved to be the heaviest snow-fall of the year, occurred on February 14 and 15.
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Not plowed
West
Snow started falling early in the afternoon of February 14, but did not accumulate appreciably until 6:00 P. M. Wind N.E., strong and gusty; Temperature 26°, Barometric pressure 29.80 inches and falling slowly.
As the evening advanced, snow fell more heavily and the wind in- creased to half-gale force, driving fine, hard-powdered snow before it.
Truck plows started on their routes at 7:00 P. M. with approx- imately 3 inches of snow on the ground. The wind, which had increased in velocity, attained the rating of a full gale, drifting snow badly and nullifying in many instances the work of the plows. It soon became evident that main traveled roadways would require the efforts of all plow units if they were to be kept passable, and roads of secondary importance were plowed and then temporarily abandoned. All main traveled roadways, however, and most secondary roads, were passable at all times during the storm to vehicular traffic.
Parked and stalled automobiles, trucks and passenger busses .be- came an annoying and aggravating hindrance to plowing as the storm progressed. The fine snow, wind-driven, short circuited the distributor heads and ignition systems of many cars, stalling them often in the middle of the roadways where they were abandoned by their owners. A fine glaze of ice formed on street surfaces under the snow, causing other cars to become snow-bound after stalling. These cars also, in most instances, were left where they stood. A section of Salem Street, from Bay State Road to Line Road, was at one time completely blocked with stalled passenger cars, trucks, and Eastern Mass. Street Railway Busses.
Snow stopped falling in mid morning of February 15. Although the high winds and drifted snow prevented an accurate measurement, it was estimated that 16 inches of snow had fallen, drifted in places to heights of eight feet.
Plows were sent out in tandem, with a heavy unit breaking a lane, followed by a lighter unit widening out and cleaning up. By midnight February 15, all roads with the exception of possibly a half-dozen side roads were passable; by midnight February 16, all roads were cleanly plowed. No major breakdowns of equipment occurred.
Snow removal work was started at 12:00 noon February 15, with the Square entirely cleaned by 6:00 A. M. February 17. Haven Street, Post Office Square, Churches, Gas Stations, and intersections were next cleaned of snow, this work continuing through Monday, February 19. On February 15, a total of 196 men were employed in snow work.
Truck plow units and the bulldozer were used to widen out roads and push back snow at intersections through Sunday, February 18, with mild weather thawing the snow on the streets and causing slushy con-
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ditions. Despite the warm melting weather, strong winds on Saturday and Sunday caused some little drifting on outlying streets, such as Franklin, Grove, and Forest Streets. By Sunday night, February 18, all roads were widened to full widths and for the most part were bare. Horse-drawn and tractor sidewalk plows were used continuously from 7:00 A. M. to 10:00 P. M. daily February 16 and 17. With each horse- plow unit a crew of four men were assigned, to break through drifts and clear up after the plow went by. While this method was neces- sarily slow work, with sidewalks in many instances buried four to five feet deep under drifted snow and snow piled on sidewalks by truck plow units, the horse-plows did good work and completed all but a small frac- tion of their routes.
The tractor sidewalk plows had not completed their routes by mid- afternoon February 17, when, due to many complaints from property owners, because of driveways and walks being filled with snow by the tractor plows, the sidewalk plowing was stopped. Sunday and Monday, February 18 and 19, tractor plows were sent over main highways with a crew of six men to each tractor shoveling out driveways and walks.
On Saturday, February 17, the State W.P.A. authorities declared an emergency condition because of the storm and assigned a crew of approximately 25 men for snow removal work. These men worked eight hours Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, February 17,-18,-19, and were used to open catch basins, shovel out fire hydrants, and shovel out private ways, under the direction of Departmental employees.
No serious breakdowns occurred during the storm, the major prob- lem being chain trouble. Truck tire chains were continually breaking throughout the storm, due mostly to a hard, flinty film of ice on the roads under the snow, which made traction difficult.
During the storm, several emergencies occurred, such as sickness, maternity cases, funerals, fuel shortages, etc. These were given imme- diate attention in all instances.
This storm was followed by a second heavy snow-fall on February 19-20.
Snow started falling lightly the afternoon of Monday, February 19. Temperature 30°, Barometric pressure 30.2 inches, Wind N.E. light to moderate. Snow did not accumulate until 8:00 P. M., when the truck plow units were again sent out to cover their routes. The wind had increased in velocity and the snow-fall in volume, causing conditions similar to those of February 14-15 except that the snow on this storm was moist and heavy. In fact, the Boston Weather Bureau reported that the snow in this storm weighed 10.8 pounds per cubic foot, which is much above the average weight.
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Because of the fact that the snow of the previous storm had been pushed well back from the roadways, it was possible to dispose of the new snow readily. Although heavy, the snow handled easily and packed solidly when plowed, sticking to the prior snow-banks and not falling back on the roadways as happened in the previous storms.
Snow continued in intensity through the night of February 19-20, and also lightly through the following day and night, although the heav- iest accumulation occurred the night of February 19-20. Approximately 10 inches of snow fell during this storm.
Snow was again removed from the Square and business sections starting at 10:00 A. M. February 20, and the Square was cleaned of snow by 7:00 P. M. the same day. Snow removal work continued, with a large crew of extra men and hired trucks, through the week, includ- ing the holiday.
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