Main Distributing Conduit.—The main distributing conduit is laid along the inside of the reservoir, at the inlet end, and carried on elliptical arches of 2 m. span to a height of 71 cm. above the finished floor level. This conduit is 76 cm. high and 45.7 cm. wide, and it branches in two directions from the inlet tunnel to each side of the
reservoir, its total length being 69 m. In order to prevent any stagnation and to give a continuous circulation, the water is delivered at eight points, in the length of the distributing pipe, through square openings with semicircular tops, the areas of the openings increasing toward the ends. These inlets are placed so that the current will not strike the roof columns.
Outlet Tunnel and Valve-House.—The outlet tunnel is at the north end of the reservoir, and was excavated in hard sillar rock. The tunnel is lined with concrete 30 cm. thick, the finished internal dimensions being 1.52 by 0.91 m. The length of the tunnel is 22.5 m. to the point where it enters the outlet-house. This house is divided by a wall 45 cm. thick, which supports a 76-cm. (30-in.) penstock-valve. The supply pipe to the city leaves this chamber in the west wall, and is also fitted with a 76-cm. penstock-valve. The supply pipe has a copper screen of the same design and dimensions as those in the inlet-house. A 30-cm. (12-in.) scour-out pipe in this chamber provides for draining the contents of the reservoir to a neighboring irrigation ditch, when necessary.
The superstructure of the valve-house is of concrete, and at the floor level there are bevel-geared head-stocks to raise the valves, etc.
By-Pass and Supply Pipes.—The by-pass and supply pipes are carried below the reservoir embankment to join the main 76-cm. (30-in.) cast-iron distributing pipe to the city. For this short distance they were constructed of concrete, 76 cm. in internal diameter, 10 cm. (4 in.) thick, reinforced with 61⁄2-mm. square steel longitudinal rods, 30 cm. from center to center in the circumference, and hooped with 61⁄2-mm. square steel rods spaced 30 cm. apart. The concrete forming these pipes was a 1:11⁄2:21⁄2 mixture.
Parapet Walls.—The parapet walls have 12 piers at each side and 8 at each end. In these piers there are ventilating openings branching at the top to each side of the parapet, with outlets provided with cast-iron screens. This arrangement gives 4 sq. m. of ventilating space (exclusive of that provided in the central tower), equally distributed at 40 points around the walls of the reservoir.
General Construction Scheme.—The concrete mixing plant, which consisted of two No. 1 Smith mixers, was arranged in connection with the bins and hoppers for the rock and sand on the high ground to the west, and from there the material was conveyed on a framed timber
gangway carried right across the center of the reservoir, as shown by Fig. 1, Plate XVII. From this central platform the concrete for the columns was filled from stages placed on the top of traveling towers, 5 m. high, which were run between two rows of columns on standard-gauge rails laid on the floor of the reservoir. By this arrangement 24 columns could be filled from each length of track. A main narrow track was also laid right around the reservoir, with the necessary turn-outs.
Plate XVII, Fig. 1.—Filling Primary Beams from Traveling Tower, Obispado Reservoir.