WATER WORKS IN AMERICA.

WATER WORKS IN AMERICA.

A writer in Cassier’s magizine for May says: The first works for a public supply of water in the United States were built at the city of Boston in the year 1652, and nothing was done in this direction for more than 100 years. At the present time, for not less than 25,000,000 Americans the question of water supply presents no difficulties. For domestic use, for business purposes, or for fire protection, an abundant supply is to be had at the turning of a valve. Not only is the supply abundant in most cases, but the use of it reaches extravagant figures. In the year 1894 Chicago used 258,000,000 gallons of water per day, and Philadelphia 197,000,000 gallons. All this water was pumped from the source of supply to reservoirs or stand pipes for distribution. The city of New York has a gravity supply of water, and used 182,000,000 gallons per day. On the basis of these figures, it appears that every man, woman, and child in Philadelphia requires 160 gallons of water for daily use; in Chicago, about 150 gallons, and in New York about 95 gallons. In some of the smaller cities the per capita consumption reaches even higher figures. Thus, Buffalo is on record, in 1890, with a daily consumption per capita of 186 gallons, and Allegheny, Pa., at the same time with a daily per capita of 238 gallons. If these figures are compared with the per capita consumption of the city of London—40 gallons per day—it will be seen what lavish use is made of water in American cities, and some conception will be formed of the great systems of works required to supply such demands.

A writer in Cassier’s magizine for May says: The first works for a public supply of water in the United States were built at the city of Boston in the year 1652, and nothing was done in this direction for more than 100 years. At the present time, for not less than 25,000,000 Americans the question of water supply presents no difficulties. For domestic use, for business purposes, or for fire protection, an abundant supply is to be had at the turning of a valve. Not only is the supply abundant in most cases, but the use of it reaches extravagant figures. In the year 1894 Chicago used 258,000,000 gallons of water per day, and Philadelphia 197,000,000 gallons. All this water was pumped from the source of supply to reservoirs or stand pipes for distribution. The city of New York has a gravity supply of water, and used 182,000,000 gallons per day. On the basis of these figures, it appears that every man, woman, and child in Philadelphia requires 160 gallons of water for daily use; in Chicago, about 150 gallons, and in New York about 95 gallons. In some of the smaller cities the per capita consumption reaches even higher figures. Thus, Buffalo is on record, in 1890, with a daily consumption per capita of 186 gallons, and Allegheny, Pa., at the same time with a daily per capita of 238 gallons. If these figures are compared with the per capita consumption of the city of London—40 gallons per day—it will be seen what lavish use is made of water in American cities, and some conception will be formed of the great systems of works required to supply such demands.