USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1947 > Part 13
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WATER DEPARTMENT
Maintenance Account :
Appropriation and Transfers
Salaries
$ 38,100.00
Expenses
$ 80,100.00
1. Office Maintenance :
Payroll
$ 5,678.83
Supplies, Printing, Etc.
973.00
Insurance
1,529.84
Miscellaneous
119.00
$ 8,300.67
2. Pumping Station Costs :
Station No. 1 Mill Street
Payroll
$ 443.13
Lights, Phone, Fuel, Etc.
67.67
Repairs
55.40
$ 566.20
Station No. 2 Strout Avenue
Payroll
$ 1,717.95
Lights and Power
6,362.99
Phone and Fuel
195.96
Weston and Sampson
353.30
Misc. Supp. and Repairs
365.34
$
8,995.54
Filtration Plant
Payroll
$ 703.03 $ 703.03
3. Well Line :
Payroll
$
1,571.49
Water Department
164
42,000.00
Supp. and Fittings
719.54
Equip. Rental
162.50
4. Maintenance of Meters :
Payroll
$ 2,763.95
Supplies and Misc.
820.75
5. Maintenance of Service Pipes :
Payroll
$ 7,570.49
Supplies and Misc.
1,326.27
$ 8,896.76
6. Maintenance of Main Pipes :
Payroll $ 362.67
$ 362.67
7. Garage Maintenance : Fuel Oil
$ 217.04
Lights and Phone
54.64
Supplies and Misc.
177.62
8. Main Pipe Construction :
Payroll
$ 6,784.99
Pipe
6,573.70
Supplies and Misc.
4,648.31
9. Service Pipe Construction :
Payroll
$ 5,549.98
Pipe
3,213.46
Supplies and Misc.
4,533.62
$ 13,297.06
10. Meter Construction :
New Meters
$ 2,364.60 $ 2,364.60
11. Hydrant Maintenance and Construction : Payroll
$ 755.39
Supplies and Misc.
959.92
$ 1,715.31
12. Miscellaneous :
Payroll - General
$ 3,588.79
Supplies and Misc.
450.04
Road Mach. Acct.
5,573.77
$ 9,612.60
165
Water Department
$ 2,453.53
$ 3,584.70
$ 449.30
$ 18,007.00
Grand Total Expended
$ 79.308.97
Balance December 31, 1947
$ 791.03
609.31
Sal. Bal. Dec. 31, 1947 Exp. Bal. Dec. 31, 1947
181.72
1947 Receipts
Meter Rates including Refunds
$ 61,140.61
Service Pipe Maintenance
695.53
Service Pipe Construction
4,950.05
Rent
180.00
Hydrant Rentals
375.00
Drinking Fountains
75.00
Sprinklers
21.00
Water Liens
180.79
Miscellaneous
18.00
$ 67,635.98
Total Cost of Water System from Beginning to Jan. 1, 1947
$833,703.55
Added 1947
2,364.60
Total Cost Dec. 31, 1947
$836,068.15
Water Bonds and Interest
There were no bonds or interest due in 1947. The interest on Serial Bonds in 1948 will be $112.50, due July 15, 1948. Rainfall at Hundred-Acre Pumping Station - 1947
Month
Normal Rain- Fall (Inches)
Rainfall in 1947 (Inches)
Excess or Deficiency-1947
January
3.39
3.10
-0.29
February
3.16
1.03
-2.13
March
3.70
3.69
-0.01
April
3.86
4.91
+1.05
May
3.01
3.27;
+0.26
June
3.60
2.58
-1.02
July
3.40
5.83
+2.43
August
3.30
1.44
-1.86
September
3.63
3.33
-0.30
October
2.87
0.44
-2.43
November
3.40
6.24
+2.84
December
3.54
4.05
+0.51
Totals
40.86
39.91
-0.95
The average rainfall for Massachusetts, as deduced by the State Department 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
Water Department
166
rainfall for the years 1900-1947 inclusive, the average rainfall at the Reading Hundred Acres Pumping Station No. 2 on Strout Avenue is 40.86 inches.
The rainfall in Reading in 1947 was a deficiency of 4.63 inches compared with the State observation, and a deficiency of .95 inches compared with the Reading Pumping Station observation.
There was a deficiency of rainfall in the months of January, Feb- ruary, March, June, August, September and October of 8.04 inches, and an excess in the months of April, May, July, November and December of 7.09 inches compared each month with an average rainfall at Reading Pumping Station between the years 1900-1947 inclusive.
The greatest amount of rainfall in 1947 for any one month was in November, with a fall of 6.24 inches; in any one day, Wednesday, No- vember 12, 1947, with a fall of 3.33 inches. The year's total rainfall of 39.91 inches was an excess of 1.59 inches over the total rainfall of 1946, which was 38.32 inches.
The elevation of the Hundred Acre Pumping Station No. 2 is ap- proximately eighty feet above sea level.
TABLE SHOWING AMOUNTS OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW-1947
Day of Month
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1
.47
.02
.01
2
.14
3.08
1.11
.85
1.34
3
.24
.56
.42
4
.33
.06
.03
5
.30
.52
.20
.09
.55
6
.01
T
T
.01
7
.08
.07
.06
8
.09
.44
9
.06
.04
.11
.04
10
.01
.05
.09
T
.17
11
1.28
12
.01
.31
3.33
13
.21
.21
.25
14
.22
.03
.36
.27
15
.34
T
16
T
.48
T
.67
.70
17
.03
.03
T
18
.12
.02
19
.01
.02
.07
20
.09
T
21
.09
1.31
.57
.14
23
T
.01
.01
24
.02
.24
.61
.96
25
.02
.31
.50
.06
26
.21
.60 T
1.30 .02
27
.05
.10
1.80
.11
T
29
T
T
T
T
.08 .03
.08
T
30
.28
.90
.04
Monthly Totals
3.10
1.03
3.69
4.91
3.27
2.58
5.83
1.44
3.33
0.44
6.24
4.05
Accum Totals
3.10
4.13
7.82
12.73
16.00
18.58
24.41
25.85
29.18
29.62
35.86
39.91
167
Water Department
.17
.72
.31
.20 .69
.21 .40
.10
22
.24
1.47 T
1.10
28
.01
.23 T
31
T
1.25
1.05
.60
AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL FOR YEARS 1900 TO 1947 INCLUSIVE
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr'l
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Totals
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
2.03
5.88
4.18
1.36
2.38
3.31
3.09
42.41
1907.
3.97
2.10
2.40
3.21
2.89
3.80
3.59
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
0.85
3.50
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
4.03
3.60
40.10
1910.
4.54
3.14
1.53
2.32
1.19
4.35
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
2.91
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
1919
3.24
3.61
4.01
2.46
5.44
0.88
3.22
3.83
5.65
2.63
6.20
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.
3.43
2.43
5.48
1.86
4.02
9.79
1.96
1.74
1.57
6.50
2.28
43.15
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
6.95
1.67
2.60
5.17
1.56
2.79
1.93
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
2.55
1.52
37.49
1925
4.28
2.14
7.66
2.95
2.05
5.62
3.13
2.37
2.16
4.65
3.91
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
3.18
1.30
1.43
2.19
2.27
3.04
5.28
2.68
4.10
4.18
4.77
36.74
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
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
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
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
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
4.50
1.80
3.21
4.61
3.13
3.45
0.97
3.91
3.04 8.33
2.93
1.86
2.85
51.65
1939.
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
1947.
3.10
1.03
3.69
4.91
3.27
2.53
5.83
1.44
3.33
0.44
6.24
4.05
39.91
Average .
3.39
3.16
3.70
3.86
3.01
3.60
3.40
3.30
3.63
2.87
3.40
3.54
40.86
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1933.
1935. 1936.
1938.
4.08
2.07
2.11
3.12
3.51
7.18
11.42
2.19
4.48
5.13
4.89
43.17
1937.
2.09
1922
1923
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
For Year Ending December 31, 1947
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 : 353,000.
Power Cost for year : $6,362.99.
Total Pumpage by Venturi Meter : 268,036,800 Gallons.
Cost of Pumping per million gallons, power only : $23.07.
Average number gallons pumped per K. W. H .: 759.39.
Cost of pumping figured in Total Pumping Station No. 2 expenses, per million gallons pumped : $33.56.
Cost of Filtration, per million Gallons, figured on Filtration Plant ex- penses : $2.62.
Total Cost of supply water, per million gallons, figured on Total Main- tenance, plus interest on bonds : $185.82.
Average Static Head against which pumps work: 228.
Average Dynamic Head against which pumps work : 258.
Water Department
169
Statistics Relating to Distribution Mains
Kind of Pipe : Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron.
Sizes : 11/4 inches to 12 inches.
Extended : 750.55 lineal feet of 8", 4,912.10 lineal feet of 6" cast iron pipe, 61.0 feet of 11/4" Cement Lined Pipe - Total extended in 1946 - 5,723.65 lineal feet.
Total in use at present : 54.43 miles (6" to 12").
Cost of Maintenance per mile : $6.67.
Number of Hydrants added during year : Seven.
Number of Hydrants in use (public and private) : 340.
Number of Stop Gates added during year: 14.
Number of Stop Gates now in use : 874.
Number of Stop Gates smaller than 4": 153.
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", 3548 feet of 8" - Total = 5816 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, Line I- 9 Wells. Total-111 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 : 8,009.50 feet.
Total in use : 46.37 miles.
Number of active service taps added during year : 142.
Number of service taps in use : 2976.
Average length of services installed in 1947: 54.48 feet. Average cost of water services to owner in 1947 : $36.86.
Number of water meters tested: 448.
Number of water meters repaired: 331.
Number of water meters added: 93.
Number of water meters junked: 3.
Number of water meters now in use: 3436.
Water Department
170
YEARLY RECORD OF HUNDRED-ACRE PUMPING STATION (January 1, 1947 to December 31, 1947)
Month
No. Days
No. Hours
No. Mins.
Gallons Pumped Venturi Meter
Total Head
Power Used K.W.H.
Gallons Per K.W.H.
Rain- fall
Fuel Oil Gals.
i, Daily Average Gallons Pumped
January .
31
390
45
20,519,200
228
26,600
771.40
3.10
390
661,909
February .
28
358
45
18,877,900
228
24,600
767.39
1.03
185
674,210
March
31
401
45
21,242,200
228
27,500
772.44
3,69
162
685,232
April .
30
391
20,518,900
228
27,000
759.95
4.91
182
683,963
May .
30
432
30
22,704.400
228
30,000
756.00
2.58
.
938,800
July . .
31
511
15
25,750,900
228
35,000
735.74
1.44
. . .
740,013
September
30
424
30
22,200,400
228
29,500
752.55
3.33
. . .
761,745
October
31
449
23,614,100
228
31,400
752.04
0.44
November .
30
400
15
21,166,200
228
27,900
758.64
6.24
39
629,800
December .
31
408
30
21,278,300
228
28,100
757.23
4.05
408
686,396
Totals .
365
5,121
15
268,036,800
228
353,000
759.39
39.91
1,443
734,347
.
400
30
21,061,500
228
27,600
763.09
3.27
. . .
756,813
June.
31
552
30
29,102,800
228
37,800
769.91
5.83
77
S30,674
August .
679,403
31
KINDS AND SIZES OF METERS IN USE JANUARY 1, 1948
Make
5/8"
3 . 11
1"
1140
20
3
1
1
3,439
COMPARATIVE TOTAL PUMPAGE DURING PAST TEN YEARS (1938 to 1947 Inclusive)
Year
Annual Pumpage Gallons)
Increase or Decrease (Gallons)
Average Daily Pimpage (Gallons)
Increase or Decrease (Gallons)
Cost per Million Gallons Pumped Figured on Total Maint. and Int. on Bonds
Esti- mated Popu- lation
193S
213,853.400
1.369.000 Inc.
585,900
3,751 Inc.
$122.24
10,703
1939
243,937,400
32,083,CCO Inc.
C.3,800
87 ,900 Inc.
106.93
10,703
1940
245,786.000
151,000 Dec.
671,546
2,254 Dec.
99.05
10,861
1941
245,332,500
453,500 Dec.
672,143
597 Inc.
117.87
10,861
1942
224,146,800
21,185,700 Dec.
614,100
58,043 Dec.
134.07
10,861
1943
229,498.200
5,351, 400 Inc.
628,762
14,662 Inc.
142.41
10,S61
1941
245,429,500
15,931,300 Inc.
670,217
41,455 Inc.
121.58
10,861
1945
231,453,500
13,946.000 Dec.
634.201
36,016 Dec.
133.01
12,327
1946
258,826,800
709,115
74,914 Inc.
159.22
12,327
1947
268,036,800
27,343,300 Inc. 9,210,000 Inc.
727,413
18,295 Inc.
185.82
12,327
1
5
3
Hersey
534
11
24
6
9
1
1
1
594
Empire
358
1
3
1
2
. .
. .
365
Gamon .
182
184
Pittsburgh
152
13
2
167
Trident
291
2
2
3
8
. .
. .
Lambert .
49
.
1
1
. .
. .
. .
.
..
. .
. .
. .
S
Thompson.
2
1
:
.
. .
. .
. .
Gem
1
..
. .
. .
1
Totals
3,281
44
53
17
19
.
Crown.
67
82
Union .
45
Worthington.
35
36
Keystone.
1
9
Federal
S
.
.
. .
. .
1.601
Nash
1,559
15
18
.
2
51
43
.
1
.
Water Department
172
S"
Totals
293
3
Main Pipe Construction
As anticipated and predicted in the 1946 Annual Report, construction of new residences requiring water main extensions and service con- nections reached an all-time high in 1947, due to the more plentiful supply of building materials. Many of these new residences were constructed on private ways where no municipal water installation existed, and in fifteen instances, water mains were extended under the 4% guarantee method.
In two instances, existing 11/4" water mains which had become in- adequate to properly supply the residences serviced by them were re- placed by larger diameter main pipes, on South Street from Main Street Easterly by a 6" main, and on Cross Street from Ash Street to No. 57 Cross Street by an 8" main. A table included in this report illustrates the length, size and location of all main pipe extensions completed in 1947.
As of January 1, 1947, the Reading water distribution system com- prises 54.34 miles of water mains in sizes 6" to 12", besides other mains of smaller sizes.
1947 Main Water Pipe Extensions
Street
Section
8"
6"
Hydrants Total 11/4" Set Length
Barrows Rd. - Lowell St. Estly. . .
130.00
1 130.00
South St. - Main St. Estly.
954.50
1 954.50
Willard Rd. - Main St. to Pearl St.
491.90
1 491.90
Pearl St. - Near Willard Rd.
119.80
119.80
Bradford Rd. - Lowell St. Wstly. ..
217.40
217.40
Fielding Rd. - Lowell St. Wstly. ..
295.00
1
295.00
Rice Road - Forest St. Sthly.
122.80
122.80
Plymouth Rd. - From No. 16 Wstly.
349.40
1 349.40
Boyce St. - Pratt St. to Summer Ave.
533.00
1
533.00
Cross St. - Ash St. to No. 57 Cross Hillside Rd. - From No. 34 Wstly. Eaton St. - Green St. Sthly.
750.55
1 750.55
85.00
85.00
311.00
311.00
Lakeview Rd. - Eaton St. Estly ...
61.00
61.00
Walnut St. - 251 Walnut St. Sthly.
177.50
177.50
Winslow Rd. - West St. Wstly. ....
354.00
354.00
Parkman Rd. - Lowell St. Estly. ..
259.00
259.00
Charles St. - Haverhill St. Sthly. ..
473.30
473.30
Coolidge Rd. - Springvale Rd. Nthly.
38.50
38.50
Totals
750.55 4,912.10
61.00
7 5,723.65
Water Department
173
Main Pipe Maintenance
Two main water pipe breaks occurred during the year, both caused by blasting ledge in sewer construction trenches. On Summer Avenue, between Boyce (Private) Street and Woburn Street, two lengths of 8" main were broken. This main, laid fifty odd years ago, was resting directly on the ledge with no gravel or sand cushion. Main gates at Woburn and Summer and at Prescott and Summer shut off the section of Summer Avenue affected, leaving eight dwelling houses, including one rest home, without town water service. As much ledge in the new sewer trench remained to be blasted, temporary water service was given these eight houses with the co-operation of the Fire Department, by taking water from a hose nozzle on a fire hydrant at Prescott and Pratt Streets, and attaching garden hoses to house sillcocks, back- flowing water into the houses. Repair crews worked diligently days and evenings to remove the ledge, finally laying two new lengths of 8" water mains replacing the broken sections. When the repairs had been completed, the mains were sterilized with HTH, a commercial disin- fectant, drained, flushed and turned back in service.
The other main break also occurred during blasting of trench ledge on a sewer extension on High Street, between Mt. Vernon Street and Middlesex Avenue. This break was repaired and the main put back in service the same day the break occurred.
Service Pipe Construction and Maintenance
New water service installation set an all-time record in 1947, ex- ceeding by seven the former high made in 1941. Two of these services were installed to newly-erected commercial garages, and one hundred forty were to newly-erected dwelling houses. The 142 new services totaled 8,009.50 feet, an average length of 54.48 feet and an average cost of individual service to owner of $36.86. As of January 1, 1948, there are 46.37 miles of service pipe in use in the water distribution system, comprising 2,976 individual service taps, in sizes ranging from 3/4" to 6".
Leaks developed in the average number of service pipes during the year, from various causes. Failures of services installed in the 1800-1900 period are increasing, and are being replaced with new cement-lined service pipe. Cellar shut-off failure also is increasing, and the old shut-offs are being replaced with hand-wheel valves.
Rodding of partially clogged service pipes to increase volume of water delivered to dwelling houses was continued, and in several in- stances old services were replaced in whole or part.
Water Department
174
Meter Maintenance
Meter Maintenance required more attention than normal for various causes, a total of 448 water meters being removed by the Meter Depart- ment for testing, repairs, and overhaul. Of these, 331 meters were dismantled, cleaned, repaired and tested before being reinstalled.
Three meters were found beyond repair, junked and replaced with new meters, and 93 new meters were added, for the most part being placed in new dwelling houses. There are now 3,436 water meters in use in the water distribution system.
By the installation on a number of water services of the Meter Master leak detector, several instances of excessive water usage, leaky plumbing fixtures, etc., were discovered and brought to the attention of property owners.
Fire Hydrants
Seven new fire hydrants were installed on water main extensions, in most instances for fire protection in new housing developments, the two exceptions being on South Street and Cross Street, where in the past 11/4" mains had prohibited the use of fire hydrants.
Two hydrants were broken by vehicles during the year, with small water loss. The annual inspection of fire hydrants was accomplished, and some minor defects corrected. During the near-disastrous forest fires which raged in Reading in October, 1947, fire departments from as far away as Nashua, New Hampshire and Boston, Mass. assisted the Reading Fire Department in combatting them, and all fire hydrants used were found in good working condition.
Driven Well System
One new suction main, including nine driven wells, was installed during the early fall. This suction main is located in an excellent water-bearing gravel strata paralleling Strout Avenue, in a section which has never been flooded by the overflow from the Ipswich River. Tests made on each of the nine driven wells proved the water to be of excellent quantity, low in iron content and color. Provisions were made for a new suction main installation in 1948 in this same area.
All wells in the collection system were inspected during the year, air-tested for possible leaks, spudded and cleaned, and any wells or con- nections to suction mains found to have defects repaired, new sweep- tees. nipples and well-leads being installed in several instances. Certain wells found to deliver water containing excessive iron, or water of high color, were shut off from the collection system.
Water Department
175
Filtration Plant
The filtration plant operated efficiently throughout the year, a total of 268,036,800 gallons of raw water direct from the tubular wells, averaging 734,347 gallons per day having been aerated, filtered and delivered to the clear water basin. Tables included in this report made in the labor- atory of Weston and Sampson, Consulting Engineers, show the results obtained by aeration and filtration.
Sand Filter No. 1 was raked twice and scraped three times : Sand Filter No. 2, raked twice and scraped three times during the year. The new 12" sand blanket installed in each filter in 1946 produced satisfactory results, in the removal of iron hydrates. Other maintenance work on the Filter Plant was confined to cleaning and brushing the vertical aerator tubes, and reaming the tube caps.
Standpipes
No major repair or maintenance work was required on either stand- pipe during 1947.
PUMPING STATIONS
Hundred Acre Pumping Station
Hundred Acre Pumping Station operated daily through the year, averaging 14 hours of operation daily, and delivered 268,036,800 gallons of raw water direct from the tubular wells to the Filtration Plant and filtered water to the distribution mains, averaging 734,347 gallons per day, at a cost of pumping figured on total pumping station expenses of $33.56 per million gallons pumped. The greatest amount pumped in any one day was on Monday, July 14, 1947, with a total pumpage of 1,250,000 gallons : in any one week, from July 12 to 18 inclusive, with a total pumpage of 7,176,300 gallons. The 75 H.P. high lift pump was in operation for a total of 5118.25 hours during the year, and the 125 H.P. high lift pump in operation for a total of 3 hours.
Six interruptions of electric power supply occurred during the year, all due to electric and wind storms. The longest interruption occurred on Wednesday, July 16, when lightening scored a direct hit on a primary wire at the station, causing a four hour shut-down. The Municipal Light Department re-wired from the fuse blocks to the transformers to repair the damage.
On Thursday, October 23, during the forest fire period, caused by extreme drouth, two fires became out of control in Reading; one off Main Street and one off West Street, necessitating calling outside Fire
Water Department
176
Departments from as far away as Boston and Nashua, New Hampshire. During this period, the rate of pumpage was increased to offset the heavy draft of the many fire pumping engines that were in service extinguishing the fires.
Daily readings of the test well at Hundred Acres well field proved the ground water supply to be holding at normal even during the drouth period, when many other communities were threatened with shortages of Municipal Water Supply.
Mill Street Pumping Station
Mill Street Pumping Station was kept in readiness for possible emergency use during the year, but was not actively operated. The vote of the town authorizing the sale of machinery and equipment at this station at the March, 1946, Town Meeting has not yet been carried out, due to lack of suitable bids for same. The building has, however been used extensively for storage purposes to relieve congestion at the Municipal Garage, and to facilitate use of a large double door in the South wall of the boiler room, a gravel driveway was constructed from the present driveway.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department : Appropriations voted in March Town Meeting:
1. Highway Maintenance and Construction
Salaries $ 32,500.00
Expenses 29,500.00
2. Removal of Snow and Ice
Salaries
11,000.00
Expenses
9,000.00
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains
Salaries
3,000.00
Expenses
2,600.00
4. Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance
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