USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1946 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading :
The Board of Public Works submits herewith its Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1946.
The Board met and organized on March 4, 1946. Wendell P. Davis was re-elected Chairman; Alexander Lindsay was re-elected Secretary ; Philip Welch was reappointed as Superintendent.
Regularly scheduled Board meetings were held during the year, as were several special meetings and conferences. Individual members of the Board were appointed to and served on special committees.
Public Hearings were advertised and held on street acceptances, sewer extensions, drainage easements, New England Telephone and Tele- graph Company and Municipal Light Department pole locations, etc. Acting as the Board of Survey, several hearings were held on proposed housing developments, and establishing lines and grades on existing private ways and proposed new streets.
Petitions for sewer extensions, storm drains, water mains, grano- lithic sidewalk construction, granite curbing installation, and other ser- vices have been filed with the Board far beyond the limits of the annual budget allotments. The Board has endeavored to install the various utilities requested in the order of their greatest need and value to the community. Sanitary sewer extensions have become particularly urgent, as overflowing cesspools on several streets in which sewers are not available have created a distinct health menace to entire neighborhoods.
Storm water drainage installations are also becoming urgent, with new building developments in districts not served by existing storm water drains creating serious problems, in addition to existing inadequate storm drains in many sections of the town.
Water main extensions and services are expected to materially in- crease in 1947, providing building materials are available. A number of developments have been started, and cellars constructed, in various parts of Reading, most of which will require water main extensions.
The Board has endeavored to cooperate with other Town Boards and Departments during the past year and acknowledges the courtesy, help and cooperation extended to them by the other Town Departments. The Board also wishes to express its appreciation to its employees for the willingness with which they have worked for long hours under ad- verse weather conditions and during emergencies.
208
Reference is made to the report of the Superintendent, which fol- lows this report, for a more detailed account of the activities of the various divisions comprising the Board of Public Works.
Respectfully submitted, WENDELL P. DAVIS, Chairman ALEXANDER LINDSAY, Secretary EDWARD A. BROPHY HAROLD W. PUTNAM EDWARD TEER
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 twenty-sixth annual report of the Department 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 year.
WATER DEPARTMENT
Maintenance Account :
Appropriation and Transfers
$ 71,000.00
Expenditures :
1. Office Maintenance :
Pay Roll
$ 4,117.58
Supplies, Printing, etc. 841.55
Insurance
1,546.00
Miscellaneous
236.30
$ 6,741.43
2. Pumping Station Costs :
Station No. 1 Mill St.
Pay Roll
$ 361.31
Light, Phone, Fuel
381.23
Miscellaneous
14.24
$ 756.78
Water Department
209
Station No. 2, Strout Ave.
Pay Roll
$ 1,834.14
Light and Power
5,437.82
Phone and Fuel
198.71
Misc. Supplies and Repairs
729.34
8,200.01 $
Filtration Plant
Pay Roll
$ 1,288.34
Engrs. Weston and Sampson . 947.42
Supplies and Sand
1,624.45
$ 3,860.21
3. Well Line :
Pay Roll
$
954.89
Supplies and Fittings
331.82
1,286.71 $
4. Maintenance of Meters :
Pay Roll
$ 2,159.63
Supplies, Misc.
657.74
2,817.37 $
5. Maintenance of Service Pipes :
Pay Roll
$
6,278.46
Supplies and Misc. 1,743.10
$ 8,021.56
6. Maintenance of Main Pipes :
Pay Roll
$ 282.66
Supplies and Misc. 196.92
$ 479.58
7. Maturing Bonds
$ 4,000.00
8. Bond Interest
50.00
9. Garage Maintenance :
Fuel Oil $ 385.08
Lights and Phone 66.98
Supplies and Misc.
210.00
$ 662.06
Water Department
210
10. Main Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll
$ 3,886.56
Pipe
2,264.39
Supp. and Misc.
3,308.69
Equip. hire
1,685.38
$ 11,145.02
11. Service Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll
$ 3,280.93
Supp. and Misc.
4,817.13
Pipe
321.17
Equip. hire
99.36
$ 8,518.59
12. Meter Construction :
New Meters
$ 380.10
13. Hydrant Maintenance :
Pay Roll
$ 256.46
Misc. and Supplies
885.66
$ 1,142.12
14. Miscellaneous :
Pay Roll General
$ 4,296.64
Road Mach. Acct.
2,440.33
Misc. Supplies
455.37
$ 7,192.34
Grand Total Expended . .
$ 65,253.88
Balance December 31, 1946
$ 5,746.12
1946 Receipts
Meter Rates including Refunds
$ 56,681.08
Service Pipe Maintenance
634.56
Service Pipe Construction
2,420.76
Rent
180.00
Hydrant Rentals
500.00
Drinking Fountains
100.00
Sprinklers
33.00
Recording Fees
3.00
Hydrant Maintenance
71.30
Miscellaneous
10.10
$ 60,633.80
Water Department
211
Total Cost of Water System from Beginning to January 1, 1946
$833,323.45
Meters 380.10
Total Cost December 31, 1946
$833,703.55
Water Bonds and Interest
There were $4,000.00 in bonds payable in 1946.
The interest on serial bonds for the year 1946 amounted to $50.00. There are no bonds or interest due in 1947.
Rainfall at Pumping Station
Month
Normal Rain- Fall-Inches
Rainfall in 1946-Inches
Excess or Deficiency-1946
January
3.39
3.9
+ .52
February
3.20
3.06
.14
March
3.70
1.57
-2.13
April
3.84
2.74
-1.10
May
3.01
5.26
+2.25
June
3.62
3.39
. . 23
July
3.34
1.90
-1.44
August
3.34
8.64
+5.30
September
3.64
2.37
-1.27
October
2.81
0.37
-2.44
November
3.34
1.02
-2.32
December
3.52
4.09
+ .57
Totals
40.75
38.32
-2.43
The average rainfall for Massachusetts as deduced by the State De- partment of Public Health from long continued observation in various parts of the Commonwealth is 44.54 inches.
As may be seen by a table in this report showing the amount of rainfall for the years 1900-1946 inclusive, the average rainfall at the Reading Hundred Acres Pumping Station No. 2 on Strout Avenue is 40.75 inches.
The rainfall in 1946 in Reading was a deficiency of 6.22 inches compared with the State observations and a deficiency of 2.43 inches compared with the Reading Pumping Station observations.
There was a deficiency of rainfall in the months of February, March, April, June, July, September, October and November of 11.07 inches, and an excess in the months of January, May, August and December of 8.64 inches, compared each month with an average rainfall at Reading Pumping Station between the years 1900-1946 inclusive.
Water Department
212
The greatest amount of rainfall in 1946 for any one month was in August, with a fall of 8.64 inches, which exceeded all existing records for August in Reading; in any one day, Wednesday, August 7, 1946 with a fall of 1.98 inches. The years' total rainfall of 38.32 inches was a deficiency of 7.63 inches from the total rainfall of 1945, which was 45.95 inches.
The elevation of the Hundred Acre Meadow Pumping Station is approximately eighty feet above sea level.
TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW-1946
Day of Month
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1
.70
.33
.04
1.27
2
.38
.38
1.06
.48
1.49
.03
.03
3
4
.08
.02
.07
5
. .
6
.34
T
.47
.06
1.98
.02
8
.18
.06
.01
.84
.27
.07
9
.62
.14
.13
.13
T
11
11
.05
.08
.30
.39
12
T
.23
.04
T
.12
.08
13
.10
14
.02
.03
.33
.04
15
T
T
.04
.37
T
.03
18
.06
.04
.09
T
.13
19
.70
.09
.76
1.44
21
.60
.74
.11
.08
.02
1.18
22
.07
.17
.06
.35
23
.19
.55
.08
.37
25
.39
.65
26
.45
.20
.30
.30
.43
.12
.14
27
1.02
.11
1.71
.58
28
.02
29
. 12
.57
.04 1.64
.45
30
.70
.50
31
.02
Monthly Totals
3.91
3.06
1.57
2.74
5.26
3.39
1.90
8.64
2.37
0.37
1.02
4.09
Totals to Date
3.91
6.97
8.54
11.28
16.54
19.93
21.83
30.47
32.84
33.21
34.23
38.32
16
.01
17
.70
.05
.14
20
.50
.34
T
.08
24
1.28
.01
.19
.78
.11
.
10
·
T
.18
.37
.47
T
7
.02
.67
.02
.02
Water Department
213
AMOUNT OF RAINFALL FOR YEARS 1900 TO 1946 INCLUSIVE
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Маг.
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
190S.
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.
2.41
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
1919.
3.61
4.01
2.46
5.44
0.88
3.22
3.83
5.65
2.63
6.20
1.53
42.70
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
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
1.67
2.60
5.17
1.56
2.79
1.98
3.17
0.82
3.63
4.13
4.83
39.30
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
4.28
2.14
7.66
2.95
2.05
5.62
3.13
2.37
4.66
3.94
5.53
46.49
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
2.32
1.30
1.43
2.19
2.27
3.04
5.28
2.68
4.10
4.18
4.77
36.74
2.17
1.45
5.13
2.77
6.63
3.65
3.84
4.18
2.96
2.28
2.57
41.00
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
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
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
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
4.15
1.59
1.37
8.24
46.30
1937
4.50
1.80
3.21
4.61
3.45
0.97
3.91
3.04
4.48
5.18
4.89
43.17
1938.
4.08
2.07
2.11
3.51
7.18
11.42
2.19
8.33
2.93
1.86
2.85
51.65
2.08
3.48
4.00
4.47
2.02
2.77
0.73
3.13
2.45
4.66
0.77
2.92
33.48
1940.
2.22
4.34
3.68
4.65
3.52
2.41
2.58
0.80
4.59
1.05
6.67
2.73
39.24
1941
3.16
1.88
2.51
1.87
2.24
2.09
3.66
3.05
0.58
2.13
2.38
4.08
29.63
1942.
4.25
2.98
7.20
2.02
3.34
3.19
5.08
1.82
2.18
2.99
4.72
5.61
45.38
1943.
3.09
1.03
3.57
2.60
5.54
2.09
4.79
1.35
0.67
5.84
4.45
1.02
36.04
1944
2.63
2.26
4.22
3.84
0.83
5.32
2.56
2.83
7.22
2.65
6.03
3.18
43.57
1945.
2.60
4.40
1.79
2.85
4.28
5.90
3.07
3.07
1.19
2.62
7.77
6.41
45.95
1946.
3.91
3.06
1.57
2.74
5.26
3.39
1.90
8.64
2.37
0.37
1.02
4.09
38.32
Average . .
3.39
3.20
3.70
3.84
3.01
3.62
3.34
3.34
3.64
2.81
3.34
3.52
40.75
1925.
1926
1927.
3.18 3.37
1928.
1929
1930.
1934
1935
4.49
3.13
3.12
1939.
3.24
1920.
2.09
6.95
1924
2.16
2.92
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
For Year Ending December 31, 1946 Reading Water Department Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
General Statistics
Population by census of 1946: 12,327.
Date of Construction : 1890, Mill Street 1931, Grove Street.
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 : 339,700.
Power Cost for year: $5,437.82.
Total Pumpage by Venturi Meter : 258,826,800.
Cost of Pumping per Million Gallons, power only : $21.01.
Average number gallons pumped per K. W. H .: 761.92.
Cost of pumping figured on Total Pumping Station No. 2 expenses, per Million Gallons pumped : $31.68.
Cost of Filtration, per Million Gallons, figured on Filtration Plant Expenses : $14.91.
Total Cost of supplying water, per Million Gallons, figured on Total Maintenance, plus interest on bonds : $159.22.
Average Static Head against which pumps work: 228.
Average Dynamic Head against which pumps work: 258.
Water Department
215
Statistics Relating to Distribution Mains
Kind of Pipe: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron.
Sizes : 11/4 inches to 12 inches.
Extended : 882.4 lineal feet of 12", 1,843.3 lineal feet of 6" cast iron pipe- Total extended in 1946 - 2,725.7 lineal feet.
Total in use at present : 53.35 Miles (6" to 12").
Cost of Maintenance per mile : $8.99.
Number of Hydrants added during year : 3.
Number of Hydrants in use (Public and Private) : 333.
Number of Stop Gates added during year : 6.
Number of Stop Gates now in use: 860.
Number of Stop Gates smaller than 4" : 152.
Number of Blow Offs added during year : None.
Number of Blow Offs now in use : 29.
Range of Pressure on Water 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", 882 feet of 10", 3146 feet of 8". Total=5414 feet.
Gates in use on Suction Mains : 1-16", 4-12", 1-10", 3-8", 102-21/2" Gates.
Wells in Use : Line A- 7 Wells Line B-17 Wells Line C-11 Wells. Line D-12 Wells Line E-15 Wells Line F-19 Wells. Line G- 8 Wells Line H-13 Wells Total - 102 Wells.
Statistics Relating to Services
Services : Kinds of Pipe : Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron, Lead Lined, Cement Lined, and Copper Tubing.
Sizes : 3/4 inch to 6 inch.
Extended : 4041.40.
Total in Use : 44.85 miles.
Number of active service taps added during year : 71.
Number of service taps in use : 2834.
Average length of services installed in 1946: 56.92 feet
Average cost of water services to owner in 1946: 35.29.
Number of water meters tested: 270.
Number of water meters repaired: 227.
Number of water meters added: 44,
Number of water meters junked: 1.
Number of water meters now in use: 3346.
Water Department
216
IRON REMOVAL PLANT Chemical and Microscopic Character of Raw Water-1945 (Unfiltered-Direct from Tubular Wells) (Parts per Million)
PARTS PER MILLION, EXCEPT AS NOTED
Month
No. of Test Days
Iron
Oxygen Consumed
Ave.
Max.
P.P.M.
% Sat.
January .
0
. ..
....
.. .
.240
6.0
February
1
1.00
43.0
....
....
.260
6.0
March ..
1
1.10
....
April .
1
1.35
44.5
45.0
1.2
10.1
.340
6.0
May.
1
.
1
1.40
41.0
. ...
....
.. .
.360
6.0
July .
1
1.50
35.0
....
1.4
12.2
.360
6.0
August
1
1.35
44.0
....
September .
1
1.40
42.0
47.0
.350
6.0
November.
1
2.80
51.5
52.0
1.0
8.0
.400
6.2
December
1
2.20
44.5
45.0
1.6
13.5
.320
6.2
Total
12
..
.
...
.. .
Average .
CHEMICAL AND MICROSCOPIC CHARACTER OF WATER DELIVERED TO MAINS-1945 (Filtered Water as Delivered from Iron Removal Plant) (Parts per Million)
PARTS PER MILLION, EXCEPT AS NOTED
Month
No. of Test Days
Iron
Oxygen Consumed
Ave.
Max.
P.P.M.
% Sat.
pĦ Value
January .
0
February
1
0.32
4.5
. .
. .
1
0.30
4.0
.005
7.1
April. .
1
0.30
4.3
11.2
97.7
.006
7.2
May .
1
0.30
4.0
..
.005
7.1
June.
1
0.36
5.0
. . ..
. ...
.008
7.0
July .
1
0.47
6.0
August.
1
0.24
4.0
10.9
101.7
.006
7.2
September
1
0.40
5.0
.
.006
7.2
November .
1
0.48
4.0
11.3
94.6
.008
7.3
December
1
0.28
4.5
11.8
100.5
.006
7.2
Total.
12
...
. . .
Average. .
..
0.35
...
4.5
. . ...
11.3
98.6
.006
7.2
.
. ..
.300
6.1
October.
2
1.35
46.0
... .
. ...
.320
6.0
1.40
42.0
.340
6.0
June.
1.53
43.3
1.3
10.9
0.30
6.0
Carbon Dioxide
Dissolved Oxygen
Manganese
.
.006
7.1
March.
.005
7.2
.005
7.2
October .
2
0.39
4.3
Dissolved Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide
Manganese
Value
...
43.0
. . .
YEARLY RECORD OF HUNDRED ACRE PUMPING STATION January 1, 1946 to December 31, 1946
Month
No. Days
No. Ilous
No. Mia.
Galloas Pumped Venturi Meter
Total Headl
Power K. W. H.
Gallons Por K. W. II.
Rai 1-
Fuel Oil
Daily Average Gallons Pumped
January
31
103
30
20,996,100
228
27,100
774.76
3.91
370
677,293
February
28
364
19,023,900
228
24,500
776.48
3.06
350
679,125
March
31
399
30
20,845,800
228
26,800
777.80
1.57
120
672,445
April .
30
389
30
20,228,300
228
26,000
778.00
2.744
120
674,276
May
31
409
15
21,176,100
228
27,600
767.20
5.26
.
. .
991,764
August .
31
411
30
21,641,300
228
33,500
646.01
8.64
. . .
698,106
September
30
395
45
20,667,100
228
26,700
774.04
2.37
688,903
October .
31
102
15
21,118,300
228
26,500
793.52
0.37
80
681,235
November
30
372
15
19,728,800
228
25,000
789.15
1.02
657,626
December
31
384
15
20,213,700
228
26,100
775.62
1.09
150
653,022
Totals
365
4,931
15
258,826,800
228
339,700
761.90
38.32
1,190
709,115
.
30
22,112,700
228
28,600
783.66
.39
717,090
July .
31
572
30
30,744,700
228
11,300
744.2
1.90
.
683,100
June
30
126
KIND OF SIZES OF METERS IN USE JANUARY 1, 1947
Make
5/8 "
43
52
17
19
20
3
1
1
3,346
COMPARATIVE TOTAL PUMPAGE DURING PAST TEN YEARS 1937 to 1946 inclusive
Year
Annual Pumpage (Gallons)
Increase or Decrease (Gallons)
Average Daily Pumpage (Gallons)
Increase or Decrease (Gallons)
Cost per Million Gallons Pumped Figured on Total Maint. and Int. on Bonds
Esti- mated Popu- lation
1937
212,484,400
36,625,700 Dec.
582,149
98,480 Dec.
129.81
10,703
1938
213,853,400
1,369,000 Inc.
585,900
3,751 Inc.
122.24
10,703
1939
245,937,000
32,083,600 Inc.
673,800
87,900 Inc.
106.93
10,703
1940
247,786,000
151,000 Dec.
671,546
2,254 Dec.
99.06
10,861
1941
245,332,500
453,500 Dec.
672,143
597 Inc.
115.87
10,861
1942
224,146,800
21,185,700 Dec.
613,965
58,178 Dec.
134.07
10,861
1943
229,498,200
15,351,400 Inc.
628,762
14,797 Inc.
142.41
10,861
1944
245,429,500
15,931,300 Inc.
670,217
41,455 Inc.
121.58
10,861
1945
231,483,500
13,946,000 Dec.
634,201
36,016 Dec.
138.01
12.327
1946
258,826,800
27,343,300 Inc.
709,115
74,914 Inc.
159.22
12,327
1
5
3
Hersey
534
11
24
6
9
7
1
1
1
594
Empire.
285
1
2
1
. .
. .
184
Pittsburg
152
13
2
167
Trident .
273
2
275
Crown.
67
2
2
3
8
82
Lambert .
49
2
.
1
1
36
Keystone
1
9
Federal
8
. .
. .
. .
Thompson
2
..
.
. .
. .
Gem.
. .
1
. .
.
1
Totals.
3,190
43
1
45
Worthington
35
. .
8
. .
. .
. .
291
Gamon
182
2
.
.
.
114"
3"
4"
Totals
Nash .
1,559
14
18
1,600
2
. .
51
Union
8
1
3
Water Department
219
MAIN PIPE CONSTRUCTION
Eight water main extensions were installed during the year, totaling 2725.7 lineal feet. All mains were laid in sizes recommended by the New England Fire Insurance Underwriters, two being of 12" and six of 6" diameter. On Charles St., the 12" main partially installed in 1945 was further extended to accommodate a building development, and on Willow Street a 12" main was laid for a similar reason. This Willow Street main will eventually be connected with the existing 12" main on Grove Street at Lowell Street, and will improve considerably the water distribution system in the Westerly section of the town.
The scarcity of building materials was the principal factor in re- tarding home building during the year. Several housing developments have been started, house cellars excavated and walled, and temporarily abandoned, until such time as building materials become more readily procurable. Many of these developments are on previously laid out private ways, and will require water main extensions. As building materials are expected to be more plentiful in 1947, it is to be presumed that many more requests for water mains and services will be received during 1947 than were received during 1946. The installation of these expected extensions will depend to a great extent on the availability of water pipe, fittings and labor.
As of January 1, 1947, the Reading water distribution system com- prises 53.35 miles of water mains in sizes 6" to 12", besides other mains of smaller sizes.
Main Pipe Maintenance
No breaks occurred during the year on Main pipes 6" or larger. Several minor leaks on smaller size mains occurred, and were repaired with small water wastage. Gate valves in several locations were re- paired, and several gate boxes excavated and reset.
Service Pipe Construction and Maintenance
There were seventy-one new water services installed during the year, in sizes ranging from one inch to six inches. Sixty-three of these were to newly constructed dwelling houses, one was for a greenhouse, one for a market garden sprinkler system, three to commercial type garages, two for factories, and one to a theatre. The seventy-one new services totaled 4,041.40 feet in length, had an average length per in- dividual service of 56.92 feet at an average cost of service to owners of $35.29. As of January 1, 1947 there are 44.85 miles of service pipe in use in the water distribution system, comprising 2834 individual service taps, in sizes ranging from 3/4" to 6".
In several instances, and from various causes, leaks developed in a number of services, requiring street or private property excavation to repair. One of the most difficult of these leaks to repair was on Main
Water Department
220
Street opposite Nichols' Lane, where, due to grade changes on Main Street, the service corporation was twelve feet below ground level, with an excessive amount of running ground water present.
Rodding of water services to remove incrustations interfering with volume of water delivered to houses was carried on extensively through the year, at owners' requests. Several old services were replaced, in whole or part, for various reasons.
A number of defective cellar shut-offs were replaced, and service pipes repaired at cellar walls, much of this work being of an emergency nature.
Meter Maintenance
A total of 270 active water meters, in sizes ranging from 5/8" to 2", were removed from water services for various reasons by the Meter department. Of these, 227 meters were dismantled, cleaned, repaired, and tested before being re-installed. One meter was junked and replaced with a new meter, and 44 new meters were set, for the most part on new water services.
The Meter Master leak detector was used almost constantly during the year checking on excessive water usage by consumers. Many leaks were detected and the householder informed of their existence through use of this device.
As of January 1, 1947, there are in use in the water distribution system 3346 water meters, in size ranging from 5/8 to 8".
Fire Hydrants
Three new fire hydrants were installed during the year, all being set on new water main extensions, one each on Charles Street, Wescroft Road, and Oak Ridge (Private) Road. All were set to afford fire pro- tection for new housing developments.
Three fire hydrants were struck and broken by automobiles during the year, one by a hit-and-run driver, two by drivers who reported the damage. No appreciable water loss was occasioned by any of the breaks.
The annual inspection of fire hydrants was made, and some minor repairs found necessary. One private fire hydrant was found defective, and repaired. All fire hydrants used by the Fire Department in 1946 were found to be in good working condition.
Driven Well System
No suction main or driven well extensions were made during the year, due in part to continuing shortages of material. During the winter months, the well field was flooded by overflow from the Ipswich River. Cold weather caused heavy ice to form as this flood water, and, as the waters receded, caused a settling of the ice sheet which resulted in some damage to suction mains and driven well connections. Early in the Spring air tests were made on each individual suction main, and damaged fittings replaced. Steps have been taken to prevent a recur-
Water Department
221
rence of this condition, by artificially supporting certain of the more exposed well connections.
Owing to the flooded conditions in the well field during the Spring and Summer months, the regular well cleaning program was not ac- complished until the Fall of 1946, when each well in the system was air tested to detect possible leaks, spudded and pumped clear. During the cleaning process, the water delivered from each well was analyzed to determine iron content and color. Specific tests were also made per- iodically throughout the year by the firm of Weston and Sampson, Con- sulting Engineers, for iron, color and CO2, as well as bacterial tests. Certain wells found to deliver water containing excessive iron or of high color have been shut off from the collection system.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.