LOCATING AND MAPPING PIPES AND VALVES ON AN OLD WATER SUPPLY

LOCATING AND MAPPING PIPES AND VALVES ON AN OLD WATER SUPPLY

For the adequate control and effective operation of the distribution system of a municipal water works, the location of pipes and valves should be definitely known, as well as the function performed by such pipes and valves. Data should be recorded in such a way as to be readily understood and interpreted, and should be accessible for immediate use, in case of an emergency, by more than one person. The more complex the system, the more important becomes definite and easily used recorded information as distictive from information stored only in the minds of certain individuals. For one reason or another, too much dependence has been placed upon the personal knowledge of the individuals, or, perhaps, a single employee, and too little has been done upon the work of recording facts and data in such shape as to be of use by any person, incidentally extending thereby the usefulness of many persons. The lack of proper records and plans may be felt in a minor degree as an every day handicap, but is liable to be particularly emphasized in case of an accident, such as a break in a main pipe. Here the flow of water must be stopped, and the circulation readjusted, so as to cause as little annoyance and inconvenience to consumers as possible. This means that a number of valves must be first found, and then operated in suc|i a manner as to produce the desired results, and such work must be done quickly. Of scarcely secondary importance is the necessity of similar records for service pipe connections from the mains in the streets to the properties of the consumers. Affiliated with these latter records is the data recording the arrangement of water piping inside buildings or private properties, with special reference to unauthorized outlets or connections with a private, and possibly contaminated, water supply for fire or manufacturing purposes. The situation in Philadelphia may be typical. It is not intended in this paper to give the details of the locating and mapping work that is being done in this city, but to briefly outline the general principles controlling such work. The original water works of Philadelphia were constructed about 1801. The first cast iron pipe was laid in 1817, and considerable pipe which was in the ground as early as 1820 or 1830 is still doing service in the distribution system. The present city is an amalgamation of a number of distinct municipalities, some of which had a water supply at the time of incorporation wth the larger community. Such water works were joined to the Philadelphia supply and are even now a part of the general system. As the city of Philadelphia has grown, various water supply projects have been developed, used, outgrown and abandoned, in whole or in part. During the last fifteen years the introduction of a filtered water supply has brought about a radical readjustment of the principal supply mains and a re-alignment of the distribution districts.

Comprehensive Record Scheme.