New Water System for Helena.

New Water System for Helena.

With a view of obtaining a municipal water supply system, the city of Helena, Mont., with a population of 15,000, has purchased the water rights on Beaver creek and has secured the option on those on McClellan creek; these sources are so located that a supply line over 20 miles in length would be required to bring the water to the city. The city engineer has perfected plans for the system and proposes to lay a single 24inch wood-stave line to a distributing reservoir of 5,000,000 gallons capacity, to be located in the southeastern part of the city. Distribution is to be through a single 20-inch pipe, from the reservoir, which will feed a pipe system, divided into pressure zones by reducing valves, serving practically the same area covered by the present system. The fire prevention committee of the National Board of Fire Underwriters says that “the proposed system is not well gridironed and in eludes considerable 4-inch pipe for hydrant sup ply. If the present plans were followed the new works would not be as reliable as the present ones, as dependence would be placed on single supply lines, and the source of supply owned by the city is inadequate.”

Several cities in North Dakota are constructiny reservoirs for the purpose of conserving their water supply for the winter months. Mouse river, from which the supply is taken, is so shallow in some places that the water is only two feet over the intake pipe.