Water Works of Selma, Ala., Worth $500,000

Water Works of Selma, Ala., Worth $500,000

It if estimated that the municipally-owned water works plant at Selma, Ala., which was purchased in 1907, at a cost of $185,000 is now worth fully $500,000. The water commission issued bonds to the amount of $150,000 and borrowed $35,000 in cash in making the purchase. Since that time the commision has spent $75,000 in improving the plant, boring two new wells and laying new mains. The water supply of Selma is entirely of an artesian nature, the wells numbering four, sunk to a depth of 6,880 feet. The Alabama State Board of Health is analyzing the water at regular intervals gives the water a very low bacterial count. The pumping capacity of the plant is 2,000,000 gallons a day and the daily average pumped last year was 1,246,540 gallons. The total amount of water pumped in 1923 reached 447,689, 546 gallons.

There are two reservoirs holding 800,000 gallons of water, one being 75 by 75 and 15 feet deep and the other of circular shape with 60 feet diameter. From the reservoirs water is pumped daily into the 150-foot high standpipe which has a capacity of 188,000 gallons. Fully half of the water supplied by the water works is consumed by the city, according to Robert Coleman, manager. The commissioners who handle the affairs of the Selma water works are elected by the city council. They are as follows: Albert Thalheimer. president, J. A. Fuller and S. S. Smith.