FILTRATION PLANT PROPOSED FOR CITY

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Council Members Discuss

Advisability of Installing

Station on Site of 0ld

Electric Light Plant.

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ESTIMATED COST IS PUT

AT ABOUT $48,000

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Capacity of One Million Gallons Per Day. Reservoir on Heights

in Precarious Condition.

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During the past year members of the city council have had their attention called upon numerous occasions to the precarious condition of the reservoir upon the heights west of the city, by Superintendent H. H. Huevelman. It is leaky and must be repaired. It is impossible to make repairs unless the water is drained therefrom and this would lower the pressure in the mains to such an ex-tent that this is precluded. A new reservoir, together with a main leading thereto, it is estimated, would cause an outlay of from $32,000 to $37,-000. This would not include the cost of the site. Mr. Huevelman explained that several weeks ago he communicated with L. C. Roberts, representative of the McFarland Engineering Co. of Kansas City, Mo., which concern has just completed the construction of a filtration plant at Granite Falls, as regards cost of installing a plant in New Ulm. Mr. McFarland visited this city and after remaining here several days and going over the matter thoroughly, estimated a new building, 44×51 feet, erected on the site of the old electric light plant; the installation of two low head pumps at the river and two pumps at the plant, together with the laying of an eight-inch lead from the plant to the river with all other equipment necessary for the completed filtration plant would cost approximately $47,250. The plant will have a capacity of one mil-lion gallons per day. This is about the capacity of the city wells at the present time. With the filtration plant installed the capacity for water would be doubled.

No More Waste on Wells.

This would also minimize the expense of operating the several deep wells from which the city draws its water supply at present, and Superintendent Huevelman estimates that a saving of at least $8,000 per year would be made in the one item of power.

During the past twenty years the question of adequate water supply has been up before the city council every few years. The line of the least resistance has always been taken heretofore and when the demand about equaled the water supply another deep well was sunk and hooked up with the system. This could go on indefinitely and the city could ex-pend from $18,000 to $20,000 for each new well and yet the water situation would not be solved.

Reservoir in Poor Shape.

The million-gallon reservoir on the heights west of the city is in poor condition; it is leaky, and there is no definite assurance how long it will be before leaks will become so great as to make it unfit for storage purposes. It is imperative, the superintendent explained, that provisions be made for the erection of another reservoir, with about the same capacity as the present one, or the installation of a filtration plant. As stated above the construction of a new reservoir, together with the placing of a lead to it from the city mains is estimated at between $32,000 and $37,000. The construction of a new reservoir, to permit the placing of the present one in good condition, will not relieve the necessity of sinking wells in the future, when the demand for water becomes near the point of supply. With the difference in the cost of the installation of a filtration plant and the construction of a new reservoir being so little, the members of the city council were impressed with the desirability of arranging for the filtration plant.

Plans Outlined.

Mr. Roberts distributed rough drafts of plans for the new plant, to be located on the site of the old power plant. It will be erected upon a line with the new plant and will have a frontage of 51 feet. The machinery in the old plant at this time, with the exception of one engine will be junked. This will be left in the new plant and used as at the present time. It was pointed out that the old building is in poor shape and that it would not be surprising if it would collapse. The roof is in bad shape and the walls are beginning to disintegrate. Mr. Huevelman explained the cost of razing the old building would be offset by what would be realized from the sale of the old machinery and apparatus in the plant at the present time.

Plan of New Plant.

A concrete basin with a capacity of approximately 200,000 gallons, which will be termed as a settling basin will be constructed in the rear of the proposed building. The two low head pumps at the river will be installed in a pump house on the river banks and will pump water from the river into the eight-inch main. The two pumps at the plant will lift it into the reservoir. One set of pumps will have a capacity of 500 gallons per minute while the other set’s capacity will be 750 gallons. Each set will be operated parallel. The pumps will be of the centrifugal variety. The water taken from the river will be treated with chemicals to make it pure and free from contamination. It is estimated that the water from the filtration station will be 75 per cent softer than at the present time. The present city water shows about a twenty-four grain hardness, while the Minnesota river water, after being treated, would show but six grain hardness.

Used in Emergency.

Mr. Huevelman explained that with the installation of a filtration station the deep well pumps would not be used except in emergencies. This would cut the expense of operation considerable. Mr. Huevelman stated this saving would pay for the filtration in ten years.

It is estimated the plant could be in operation in four months after the contract was let.

Question of Finance.

After considerable discussion the members of the city council were all favorable to the installation of a filtration station, providing it could be financed. The matter of finance was referred to City Attorney H. N. Somsen and it is expected that he will bring forth Aladdin’s lamp and report upon suitable methods to finance the proposition at the next meeting of the city council, which will be held Monday evening.

Brown County Journal,

May 22, 1925

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