The system of supply is pumping by steam and water-power, thirty-seven per cent. being done by the water-wheels in 1880.
The available capacity of water-wheels is 36,000,000 gallons daily. During summer there is a deficiency of power. Capacity of all the pumps 71.8 million gallons. There are 16 reservoirs, with a total capacity of 200 millions. The distribution of water is divided among the various works in relation to respective elevation. The population, in 1880, was 846,984. Miles of pipe, 746. Daily average consumption, in 1880, 57.7 millions. Largest daily consumption 80½ millions. Number of meters 30. Total receipts, in 1880, were nearly 1½ millions of dollars; and expenditures nearly $400,000. Laying of water-pipes assessed on abutting property. Total profits, since 1855, over twelve millions of dollars.
The pumping stations and performance for 1880 are:
| STATIONS. | PER CENT OF WATER PUMPED IN 1880. | LIFT IN FEET. | SOURCE OF SUPPLY. | POWER. | ||
| Fairmount, | water-power. | 37.35 | 90 | Schuylkill | River | 7 Turbine water-wheels. |
| Schuylkill, | steam-power. | 25.96 | 120 | “ | “ | 2 Cornish and 2 Compound Engines. |
| Belmont, | “ “ | 16.78 | 207 | “ | “ | 5 Worthingtons. |
| Delaware, | “ “ | 9.45 | 133 | Delaware | “ | 1 Worthington, 1 low, 1 high pressure. |
| Roxborough, | “ “ | 5.52 | 346 | Schuylkill | “ | 1 Cornish, 1 Worth., and 1 Knowles. |
| Chestnut Hill, | “ “ | .02 | 125 | “ | “ | 1 horizontal high pressure. |
| Frankford, | “ “ | 4.50 | 203 | Delaware | “ | 1 compound and 1 Worthington. |
Brooklyn.—Water-works introduced in 1859. The system is by pumping, with reservoir distribution. The source is the southern slope of Long Island Sound, ten to twenty-two miles from East River. The water is gathered from a drainage area of 60½ square miles by intercepting ponds, and conducted, through masonry conduit, to the pump well, seven miles from East River. The natural flow, from these ponds, into the conduit being insufficient during summer time, pumping engines were erected, 1874, at Watts’ and Smith’s ponds to meet the deficiency.
The storage reservoir, built in 1873-’76, has a water surface of 250 acres, and a capacity of one billion gallons. There are three low-pressure beam-engines, with a combined capacity of 44 millions daily. The distributing reservoir is 3,400 feet from pumping wells, at 163 feet elevation and with a capacity of 160 millions.
Population, in 1880, was 566,689. Miles of pipe, 351. Daily average consumption of water, in 1880, 30¾ millions. Largest daily consumption 48 millions; number of taps, 60,000; meters, 859; original cost of works, $5,200,000.
Chicago.—The first works were constructed by the Chicago City Hydraulic Company in 1840, Lake Michigan being the source. The superiority of this water, as compared with well water, so manifested itself during the cholera of 1849-’50 that the works became a public institution, under whose control they were enlarged, in 1854, after plans of Wm. J. McAlpine, C. E. The system is constant pumping through stand-pipe distribution, 120 feet above city datum. There are two pumping stations—North Side and West Side—the latter being the new works, erected in 1874. The source is Lake Michigan. Previous to 1867 the intakes were near the shore; and, in order to secure pure water, a brick tunnel, five feet wide by five feet two inches in depth, was built under the lake, a length of two miles, to a crib located in the lake. A second tunnel, 5 ft. in diameter, parallel to the first, and forty-six feet apart, was constructed to the North Side Works, thence continuing under the city, a distance of 20,000 feet, to the West Side Works. The North Side Works has four engines, with a combined capacity of 64 millions; and the West Side Works two engines, with a capacity of 46 millions.
In 1856 a twenty-four inch wrought main was laid in the Chicago River; but, before brought into use, was injured by pile-driving, and had to be relaid. In 1869 all the submerged mains were abandoned, because of frequent accidents, and brick tunnels, six feet in diameter, were built under the river. The statistics for 1880 were: Population, 503,304; miles of pipe, 450; daily average consumption, 57.4 million gallons; number of meters, 2,000. Cost of West Side Works, with new tunnel, $1,600,000. Total cost of works, $8,644,000.
Boston.—In 1835 there were 2,767 wells in use, thirty-three of which were artesian, besides a water-works under the control of “The Aqueduct Corporation.” Out of the whole number of wells only seven furnished water soft enough to use for washing. In 1840 there was great complaint of the deficiency of wells, and in one case it was stated that a well from which many drew their water, was kept locked except at certain hours. During this time there were 56 reservoirs, each holding 300 to 400 hogsheads. In 1848 water was first introduced from Lake Cochituate, through a brick conduit (except the cast-iron syphon over Charles River), oviform in shape, large end down, 6.33 feet high and 5 feet wide. Its length is 14.627 miles, with a total fall of 4.26 feet. It has a capacity of delivering 16 million gallons daily, with a velocity of one foot per second. The area of water surface, at full water, of Lake Cochituate is 800 acres; when drawn down 10 feet or level of the flow line of conduit, the area is 489 acres. Elevation is 134.36 feet, and bottom of conduit at dam 121 feet above tide level. There are two granite dams 500 feet apart. The first dam was built on quicksand, and after filling of the lake, springs boiled up and washed away the sand.