Water Works Reports.
Somerville, Mass.
The twentieth annual report of the Somerville Mystic Water Board has been issued, showing the Department to be in a very creditable condition. The document reflects great credit on Superintendent Nathaniel Dennett.
The report shows that $35,545.30 were expended during last year for the extension of the water works making the total cost of the system to date $607,593.82. During the year 8,446 feet of new pipe were laid and a large quantity of cement pipe was replaced by cast iron pipe. There are now 508 hydrants in the city of which twentysix were paid for by private parties. The number set during last year was fifty-four, and twentyone were removed, leaving a net increase of thirty-three. Mr. Dennett reports that the high water service continues to grow satisfactory. A new boiler has been purchased and set, and will relieve the boiler formerly in use. The cost of the boiler was $1,270.
New London, Conn.
New London, Conn., has also issued its annual report of water works department. During the last year there were twenty-five renewals and extensions of mains, six temporary mains, and ninety-five new service pipes laid during the year, at a total cost of $17,949. Of this amount $3,398.26 was expended on account of the Briggs’ Brook supply for pipe through Main street, and $6,601.02 for relaying Main street with cast-iron pipe. The total cost of maintenance for the year is $6,944.91, or about $1,000 less than for the previous year. The old cement-lined pipe is being rapidly replaced with cast-iron pipe.
Appended to the report of the commissioners is that of Superintendent and Engineer L. E. Daboll. A new iron bridge for the overflow at the dam which was purchased last year, was put in place in October. Mr Daboll states that nearly all the large consumers are now supplied through meters. There are now 158 meters in use, ten new ones having been put in during last year, and three taken out. Speaking of the meter system Mr. Daboll says: ‘‘Exchanges show that superintendents everywhere are urging an extension of the meter system, and I am convinced from my own experience that a model Water Department is one in which the consumer uses what water he pleases and pays for w’hat he uses, including all that, through carelessness or defective plumbing, goes to waste. There has been in some cities a kind of popular prejudice against the use of meters on domestic services, the claim being that they would encourage economy in the use of water to an extreme, which for sanitary reasons would become a menace to the health and comfort of a community. Such a fear would be groundless in a city where the water rates arc as moderate as they are in New London. An argument in favor of the general use of meters is the advantage to the department. With comparatively accurate reports of consumption under all the varying conditions of pipes and pressure through the city, the superintendent can become more thoroughly master of the details of his business than in any other way. As a step in the right direction I would recommend that all services in the department on which the yearly water rate equals or exceeds $20, be metered. There are at present 97 unmetered services of this description.”
The total length of new pipe laid during the year was 7,653 feet, and that of cement lined pipe replaced by iron pipe was 6,022.
