The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE OSHAWA DAILY TIMES, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1932 PAGE SIX Oshawa's New Filtration Plant Opens Tomorrow HISTORY OF WATERWORKS DATES BACK TO 1904 WHEN FIRST PLANT WAS STARTED Many Extensions and Im- provements Have Fea- tured Development of City's Waterworks Sys- tem During the Last Twenty-eight Years -- Has Always Kept in Ad- vance of City's Require- ments Although Oshawa was incorporat- ed as.a town some 53 years ago, the history of the present waterworks system which now supplies the city with water dates back only to the year 1904, In these last twenty- eight years, however, it has, like the city, shown remarkable development and has kept in advance of the city's requirements, as it will still continue to do with the opening of the new filtration plant tomorrow. Before the waterworks system, as it is now known, was commenced in 1904, the citizens used well and spring water for domestic use, and for fire protection depended on wa- ter pumped from large underground cisterns, supplied with water from the Williams Piano Company spring west of Golt' Street, The water was piped to the factory, and the over- {ow piped to the first cistern at the sorner of Simcoe and Richmond streets, in front of the present fire hall, which then housed all the town departments. A second well was »uilt at the corner of King and Simcoe Streets, and a third on King Street East, near Albert, Water was first pumped from these wells by hand fire pumper, and later by the steam pumper, which wag sold and dismantled in 1926, The First Commission The Oshawa Waterworks system, as has been mentioned, was started in 1904, but only after many storins and bitter arguments. Previous to that year, four years of concentrat- ed effort had been put into the se- curing of the most vital of all civic needs,--water supply. The first wa- ter commission, elected on March 26, 1904, consisted of W. F. Cowan, Chairman, and Commissioners Ro- bert McLaughlin, Robert McCaw and Dr. T. E. Kaiser, with Mayor F. L. Fowke representing the town council. Prior to this date the wa- ter problems of the town were handled by the fire and water com- mittee of the city council, This committee and the whole council were tireless in their effort to se- cure a solution of the many difficult problems involved, Apparently tie need of a water system was not de- bated at all, but endless debate cen- tred around the source of supply. These sources were the Williams Piano Company's springs, north- west of the corner of Louisa street and Golf street, the Raglan Springs, and Lake Ontario, Finally, with the assistance of the consulting engin- ser, Willis Chipman, who designed the original plant, Lake Ontario was chosen and construction was commenced. It might be of inter- cst and recall some memories if mention were made of the fact that a Mr. John Frazer was engaged by the town council on March 27th, 1902, to drill test wells for water in the town. A few days later, on April 1st, a special committee Was appointed consisting of Mayor F. I.. Fowke and Messrs Hezzlewood, Tamblyn and Grierson. Meeting followed meeting until a plebescite was submitted to the peo- ple on June Sth, 1903, when one hundred-and-five voters favoured Lake Ontario and two hundred and thirty-three tavoured Raglan Springs as a source of water supply. cheme Endorsed On December 14th, 1903, a public meeting of all citizens was called, with Mayor Fowke in the chair. Mr. I. F. Grierson moved and Mr. Bors- berry second a resolution which was adonted calling upon the town coun- cil to present another bylaw to the people on the water and drainage question, The next night the coun- cil decided to do so and met again on December 17th to read the pro- posed bylaw which was endorsed by the people on January 4th, 1902, three hundred and forty voters fav- orine Lake Ontario and sixty-seven favoring the snrings as a source of water supply. Then followed a vote sn Bylaw No. 564 authorizing an expenditure of the sum of $130,000 for water and drainage purposes for a community numbering only 4,198 people, with a total of consid- erably less than one thousand homes. Tenders were called on May 31st, 1904, contracts were let on June 7th and the present pump- ing station and a twelve-inch intake and twelve-inch force main to the town were commenced in August. Opened in 1905 Work was continued on the ini- tial installation for over a year, and it was not until October, 1905, that water was actually delivered to the town, W, F, Bowden was then Town Engineer and Willis Chipman, consulting engineer. The lant consisted of the twelve-inch intake (since abandoned), the still existing hizh duty compound du- lex pump of eight hundred gal- ons per minute capacity, two boil- ers, a water tower which was re- moved in 1925 from the south-west corner of Simcoe Street north and Alexander Street, the Engineer's residence at the lake, and 43487 feet of water mains, to which were connected seventy-one fire hy- drants, three sprinkler cranes and eighty house service connections, of which the first recorded was un- der an application from Dr, T. W, G.. McKay for his home on King Street East. The first billing for water was made in January of a & 1906, The total reccipts up to the end of "1906 amounted to $3,615,- 35, while the operating costs am- ounted to $3,610.15, During 1906 three fire hydrants were added and 305 new connections were in- stalled. The metering system was adopted at the beginning and has been consistently maintained, with a resultant saving to the system, I'he first auxiliary Fire Under- writers' "Snow" pump was install- ed in 1907 at a cost of $3,317.76. Steam was used entirely for pumping until 1915, when an elec- tric centrifugal pump was install- ed, Since then steam has been used only as a standby and as an auxiliary for emergent use. The electric pumps have been replaced from titae to time with larger units as required, The present service pumps consist of one 200 h.p. and one 150 h.p. electric units, The auxiliary steam plant remains as it was installed in 1905 and 1907, In March, 1916, a temporary chlorinating device was installed. This was replaced in April of the following year by a Wallace and Tiernan chlorinating machine, These machines became absolete and a Wallace and Tiernan pedes- tal type machine was installed in 1920. it is worthy of note that not since 1914 has any case of water- borne disease been traced to the water supply. Notable Extensions Since the inception oi the watei- works system, aside from the con- struction of maips, only three gre or important changes of magnitu have been made. The first wag in 1917, when the first filter was commenced. Then in 1919 By- law N 1481 authorized extensive and costly improvements involving an expenditure of $279,000. Thesc works were* commenced on Sep tember J30th, 1919, with due cer¢ mony, the late Robert McLaugh- lin turning the first sod. They werc completed in 1922, Many extreme y important mprovements were made to the plant, the most nota ble items being (a) the new thir ty-inch intake extending 2,700 fect feet at the outer end; (b) a new scree: well: (CC) a new elec "IC ser vice p (since replaces i new eighteen-inch force the city and other items, main miscellancou New Water Tower The third work of was undertaken in 1924 when the tower was constructed in the form of an elevated steel tank, one hun- dred and ten feet high, along with age of water and incr ed the pressure throughout the system of a' ..t twenty-five pounds per square inch, giving an average pressure of ceventy-five pounds in the central area and one hundred pounds in the southerly part of the city. This water-tower structure weighs two plant | FILTRATION PLANT OPENING CEREMONY 2. into lake, with 'a depth of J30| magnitude new 300,000 imperial gallon water | the installation of further pumping : ; Ail equipment at a cost of $48,000. The | new tank provided adequate stor- | W. J. TRICK, Contractor, who had the general contract for the building of Oshawa's new filtration plant. hundred and twenty tons in steel and contains 2,500 tons of water. The old stand-pipe replaced by the new elevated tank was built with the initial system in 1905 and was twenty feet in diameter by sixty- three feet high. . The new water- tower was ofticially opened anil put into service with appropriate cere- mony on November 26th, 1924, by His Excellency Lord Byng, G ernor-General of Canada, accom- HON. JOHN ROBB Ontario's Minister of Public Health, who will ©fficiate at the formal opening of Osha- wa's new filtration plant to morrow afternoon, quired its electric and gas, distri- bution systems, the old water com- mission was abolished, and was ed into the Public Utilities ominission, which took over con- trol of the waterworks system. This body still controls the system, its present members being F, Mason, chairman, John Stacey, George Allchin, panied by Lady Byng and assisted | William H, Ross and Mayor Thom- by Mr. W, J. Trick, Mayor and Mr, GG, D, Conant, Chairman of the Water Commission at that time. Other recent additions include the powerful auxiliary fire-pressure pumps, operated by gines, representing the in efficiency. perating charges In 1930, after the cit h&d ac- Rast cn- latest word as Hawkes, representing the city. In 1931, as a relief employment measure, a large clearwell was built at the g station, this being a preluninary step to- wards the installation of the mod- ern filtration plant which has now been completed at a cost of over $155,000, and which is to be offi- cially opened to-morrow, 30 TOMORRU w gimneers an department Immediate] filtration plant at will be held. F. L. ) expected that, in addit will be other speakers, including Hawkes, |. Trick, who w All citizens of Oshawa are co ceremony and visit the plant, whicl spection at the close of the official pro : Y ort ari Tl wilh gallery. Above is reproduced a photograph of the tion plant showing the operating tables THE FILTER HOUSE interior of the filter house of the new Oshawa water filtra. and the spiral stairway giving access to the filter pipe chemicals by means of a hoist. CHEMICAL HOUSE Above is given a view of the chemical house in Oshawa's new filtration plant. This building origin. ally contained four drifting sand filters house in concrete, The concréte shells were blasted and ree moved so as to expose the exteror walls. The roof was raised, providing a chemical store room above Hissioners | ow Oshawa's Sewage Disposal Needs , 88, Cmaps 7 HEAD HOUSE AT PROPOSED SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT FOR OSHAWA Housing the laboratories, fine screens, compressors, heat ing plant, incinerators and sludge de.watering showing aération tanks and settling tanks partially concealed by landscaping to rear and left of building. Notice absence of unsightly overhead structure.--Designed by Frederick A, Dallyn, C.E. (Tor), B.ASc.,, M.E.I.C,, Toronto. Extracts from a report of F. A. Daliyn to Oshawa city council re Sewage Disposal A discussion of sewage treatment proceeds at a disadvantage until the nomenclature of the sub. ject has been established. I am, therefore, setting forth a few definitions with the hope that any further discussion of the subject at Oshawa will be intelligible to all alike. COMPLETE SEWAGE TREATMENT means the removal of settling solids and oxidation of the liquid remainder, REMOVAL OF SETTLING SOLIDS means. the separation of any solid material from the liquid mass by any suitable device such as (a) retention tanks of various designs (b) fine screens (¢) centrifuging and in sewage practice there are numerous ex- amples of the first and second and a few ex- amples in England, France and Germany of the last. OXIDATION means the coagulation and ab- sorption of colludial matters in suspension or solution and its removal from the sewage together with a stabilization 'by an oxygen transfer of the remaining portion so that what is commonly call- ed putrification is completely arrested in any subsequent receiving body. It may be brought about by-- (1) Sprinkling Filters (2) Intermittent Sand Filters (3) Activated Sludge Treatment SLUDGE means the undissolved portion of the sewage which can be concentrated by-- (a) retention tanks (hb) centrifuging (¢) fine screening SCREENINGS means the undissolved portion of the sewage which can be concentrated or re- moved by fine screens, ACTIVATED SLUDGE means a special varioty of sludge with the peculiar property of gathering and absorbing colloidal solutions and having the ability to release atomic oxygen and replenish the depleted supply with atmospheric or molecular oxygen. It has characteristic properties and ap- pearance. Many plants called activated sludge plants are such in name only and contain no activated sludge, Certain trade wastes and acids in varying concentration destroy activated sludge, defeat its useful properties and prevent its re. covery from the final settling tanks for reuse; other wastes have the effect of increasing the bulk or amount of moisture per unit of dry solid. ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS a patented method of treating sewage, A process in which through the use of compressed alr and mechani. cal or hydraulic agitation a mass of liquid (sew- age) containing organic impurities is brought in intimate contact with a mass of activated sludge, and includes apparatus for the separation, re- covery and regeneration of the sludge, DIGESTION TANKS a device for storing sur. plus sludge designed to bring about certain physi. cal changes which tend to decrease the moisture content of the organic matieér and gasify the care bonaceous material, Sludge is retained from 2 to 6 months depending upon the temperature at which the sludge is held and the nature of the or- ganic change desired. These tanks are success. fully operated,-- (1) with and without stirring or mixing devices (2) with fixed or floating covers (3) with and without auxiliary gas or heat SLUDGE DRYING BEDS means a well under- drained area free of ground water with a snffici- ent depth of sand, cinders or other granular material to support the liquid sludge and provide uniform underdrainage. The applications of sludge is from 8 to 12" at each dosing and the partially dried material must be removed between successive applications. The drying out operation is continued until the material is spadeable or until the accumulation in the digestion tanks makes a further application imperative in which case whatever the condition of the hed the sludge must be removed for a further dose. GLASS COVERS have been advocated as as sisting materially in the drying of sludge and HEATED GLASS COVERS are required in this northern climate for winter service, The fuel re. quirements are however excessive, approximately 38 1bs. of coal per hour per 1000 sq. ft. of sludge bed is required in the severer months. GRIT CHAMBER OR DETRITUS CHAMBER. Grit or Detritus Chamber means a device for sep- arating the road grit ashes and heavy inert min- eral matter washed into the sewers, from the or. ganic matter; usually the device includes means of washing the grit frce of organic matter (ap- prox. 7 per cent, residue) and automatic removal from the catch basins, 4% : THE DISC SCREENS are effective grit re movers and are used without grit chambers if the volume of grit is not excessive. FINAL SETTLING TANKS means a device to separate the sludge from the liquid portion of the sewage and for arresting and recovering activated sludge or humus. The clarified sewage flows away to the outlet and the sludge is returned to do its useful work over and over again. As the con- tent of sludge tends to increase over the required Jimit,- portions are withdrawn and sent to the sludge dewatering apparatus which may be (1) centrifuges (2) fine screens (3) vacuum filters (4) digestion tanks or (5) drying beds, Mature consideration must dictate the combine ations that are most applicable or advantageous to the local situation having in mind the possie bility of nuisance creation and the uses to which adjoining property may be put in the future, Broadly speaking the hest type of plant is the one which offers the greatest economy, The ane nual charges will represent a combination of ins terest on capital Invested, operation and maine tenance charges together with the allowances for retirement or renewal. Projects utilizing appara- tus which is being Improved as time goes on, fall in a somewhat different category than the mere purchase of hardware. The element of perman- ence is peculiarly lacking and it is conceivable that something with a higher annual cost and a far less capital expenditure is conceivably more economical than something with the high capital cost and lower annual charges. The reason lies in the fact that the real valne of your canital expenditure is frequently Jost because it ountlives its usefulness due to radical chanees in treat. ment processes long before the bricks and. more tar and mechanical equipment are actually worn ont. It is a very idle thing to offer a catch judge ment on matters as intricate as those dealing with the nurchase of equinment and the making of capital expenditures for projects which are ever changing. All the facts must be assembled, some thought given to the difficulties of each form of treatment. and not a little thought as to what the future development of the art holds hy way of promise, Frederick A. Dallyn CE. (Tor.) Ba. Sc, MEIC, Consulting Engineer 71 KING STREET WEST, TORONTO. Engineer in charge of the designing and construction of Oshawa"s splen- did new Filtration Plant which is being officially opened tomorrow. the ceiling hercin disclosed. In addition to the stairway, an exterior door is provided to receive equipment, Consulting Engineer,