V
REPORT
UPON THE
IMPROVEMENT AND
ENLARGEMENT
OF THE
WATER SUPPLY
OF THE
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wBSm&tem:
V'A' ' L
CITY OF LYNN
BY
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WILLIAM S. JOHNSON
CIVIL ENGINEER
Wr&Km
Iml'M
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December 28, 1907
(Printed September, 1908.)
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• KSr<- t, V.frtV?
.
REPORT
UPON THE
IMPROVEMENT AND
ENLARGEMENT
OF THE
WATER SUPPLY
OF THE
CITY OF LYNN
WILLIAM S. JOHNSON
CIVIL ENGINEER
December 28, 1907
(Printed September, 1908.)
6 2 ?. \
\J5%t
Press of Frank S. Whitten
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS
09
CONTENTS
Page.
Scope of investigation ......... 5
Historical ............ 8
Growth of waterworks ......... 13
Financial ............ 13
Description of present sources of supply ..... 19
Table of elevations .......... 23
Description of Breed’s pond ........ 23
Description of Birch pond ........ 25
Description of Walden pond ........ 27
Description of Hawkes pond ........ 29
Description of Saugus river ........ 30
Summary in regard to physical conditions of present sources . . 32
Table of watersheds, storage capacities, etc 32
Quality of water of present sources ....... 33
Analyses of water of present sources ...... 35
Color of water entering ponds ........ 40
Chlorine in water entering ponds ....... 41
Odors in water of present sources ....... 42
Bacteria in water of present sources and in Ipswich river . . 45
Capacity of present sources 47
Population 48
Estimated future population ........ 49
Consumption of water . . . . . . ... . 51
Estimated future consumption ........ 56
Improvement of the present sources of supply .... 56
Drainage of swamps ......... 57
Improvement of bottoms of ponds ....... 58
Protection of ( sources from pollution . . . . . . 61
Improvement of the Saugus river ....... 64
1 54390
4
Page.
Methods of getting water from the Saugus river to Walden pond . 66
Changes in piping .......... 71
Quality of water obtainable from present sources .... 73
Use of tributaries of Saugus river ....... 75
Use of Beaver dam brook ........ 75
Use of Pilling’s pond ......... 76
Filtration of the present sources ....... 81
Quality of water obtainable by filtration ...... 81
Extension of present sources ........ 91
Supply from Metropolitan District ....... 92
Ipswich river .95
Different methods of utilizing Ipswich river ..... 105
Conclusions in regard to Ipswich river ...... 125
Summary ............ 126
REPORT UPON THE
IMPROVEMENT and ENLARGEMENT
OF THE WATER SUPPLY OF LYNN
Boston, December 28th, 1907.
Public Water Board , Lynn , Mass.:
Gentlemen, — In accordance with your instructions, I
have made a thorough study of the present sources of water
supply of the city of Lynn with a view to determining the
best method of improving the quality of the water, and
have investigated other possible sources of supply which
might be used either independently or in connection with
the present sources, and beg to submit the following report.
The investigations were undertaken in accordance with
the provisions of Chapter 479 of the Acts of the Legislature
for the year 1907, and their scope is indicated by Sections
4 and 5 of the Act, which are as follows :
" Section 4. The construction of the works necessary
for the enlargement and development of the said water
supply and for protecting and improving the quality of the
water shall be begun by said city, acting through its Public
Water Board, within one year, and shall be completed
within three years after the passage of this act. The said
works shall provide an adequate quantity of good water
6
for all the requirements of the city, and for the proper
sanitary protection of such water, and for the elimination
and diversion from the sources of supply of all polluted
waters, or for their purification or treatment, in such man-
ner as will fully protect the public health.
"Section 5. The construction of the said works shall
be carried out by the Public Water Board of said city, and
the Board is hereby further authorized and directed to
make all necessary preliminary investigations and to pre-
pare plans for the works, and for this purpose shall have
power to employ engineering experts as to the sanitary
protection, storage and purification of water, and such
other assistance as may be necessary. The preliminary
investigations herein authorized shall include : an estimate
of the cost of cleansing and making sanitary the water-
sheds of Pillings pond and Beaver dam brook, so-called,
in the town of Lynnfield, and of the cost of connecting the
same with the present sources of water supply, together
with an estimate of the amount of increase in the supply of
water obtainable by the use of said pond and brook ; an
estimate of the cost of a conduit or pipe line to convey
water from the Ipswich river or Martin’s brook, either
separately or in connection with the water of Pilling’s pond
and Beaver dam brook into the present reservoirs of the
city of Lynn, or for pumping water either from said Ips-
wich river or said Martin’s brook into said Pillings pond,
or the present reservoirs by the plan deemed by said Board
to be most advisable ; an estimate of the cost of cleaning
or covering the bottom of Walden pond or the other ponds
as have not so been treated ; an investigation of the quality
of the waters of all of the various sources and tributaries
now used or available for the use of said city with chemical
and bacterial examinations thereof, at such points as may
be agreed upon by the engineers and experts employed by
7
the Lynn Water Board and the State Board of Health,
including an investigation of all sources and causes of
pollution or objection affecting the present or proposed
sources of supply of the city of Lynn, the best methods of
removing the same, and the estimated cost thereof.”
It was found at the outset that little reliable information
as to the present sources of supply of the city was avail-
able. Such plans and surveys of different portions of the
system as may have been necessary for construction pur-
poses have been made from time to time by different engi-
neers, but few record plans have been made and preserved ;
consequently it seemed desirable to obtain from surveys, so
far as possible, information as to the various ponds which
constitute the present sources of water supply and as to
their watersheds, as well as concerning any proposed
sources of supply, rather than to attempt to gather the
information from the data in the possession of the depart-
ment. All of the work has been done with a view to fur-
nishing accurate information which will be of use in con-
nection with any future work which may be undertaken.
A thorough inspection has also been made of the pos-
sible sources of pollution on the watersheds of the various
ponds with a view to determining the best method of pre-
venting the pollution of the sources of supply and the cost
of the same.
Chemical and bacterial analyses have been made, as
required by the legislative act, of the present sources of
supply and of other sources available for the supply of the
city. These analyses have been made by the State Board
of Health and the detailed results, together with the results
8
of analyses of the various sources made in previous years,
are appended.
The plans which have been made in connection with the
work and which are submitted herewith, include :
1. A large wall map on a scale of 1,000 feet to an inch
showing the surveyed watersheds of the present sources of
supply, and of the Ipswich river and its tributaries.
2. Plans of the ponds and of portions of their water-
sheds, showing the depth of water, the depth and extent
of the mud on the bottoms of the ponds and the area and
location of swamps upon the watersheds.
3. Plans and profiles showing in detail those plans for
developing the supply which appear to be the most feasi-
ble.
4. A set of plans of a filtration plant for the purification
of the water by slow sand filtration.
5. Rough plans showing the different studies which
have been made for the development of the supply along
lines which have not been worked out in detail, the pre-
liminary studies having shown them to be of less value than
other schemes.
Historical
The first important action by the city of Lynn toward
obtaining a public water supply was taken in 1869, when
the city government after several large conflagrations in the
city, petitioned the legislature for authority to take water
from Humphrey’s or Flax ponds. An authorizing act was
obtained from the legislature in that year. The city, how-
ever^ voted against the introduction of a water supply, and
9
a temporary arrangement was made with the parties con-
trolling Flax pond for laying water pipes from that source
to the center of the city for fire protection purposes only.
This was done during the year 1869 at a cost of $32,000.
In 1870^ a small mill privilege at Breed’s pond was pur-
chased, together with the land and buildings connected
therewith. The dam was partially rebuilt, a gate-house
erected and a 12-inch main laid to connect with the mains
which had been laid from Flax pond during the previous
year. The total expenditure for bringing this supply into
the city was a little more than $60,000. Although at the
time of purchasing Breed’s pond it was not anticipated that
the water would be used for domestic purposes, it was
decided in the latter part of 1870 to allow house connec-
tions to be made with the pipes, and during the months of
November and December about fifty such connections were
made. The supply from Flax pond was shut off at this
time.
The elevation of Breed’s pond when full was at that
time but 62 feet above mean high tide, and in order to sup-
ply water to the higher portions of the city and make effec-
tive use of the fire hydrants a small engine was purchased
and placed in the factory building at Breed’s pond. The
pumps were operated during working hours, but during
the night, except in case of fire, the supply was by gravity.
The expenditure for the engine and its connections was
$7,800.
In 1871, an act was passed by the legislature legalizing
the purchase of Breed’s pond and providing for the issue of
bonds, and in that year work was begun upon the con-
IO
struction of the present pumping station and distributing
reservoir and a complete system of distribution pipes.
Up to this time the work of construction had been car-
ried on by a water supply committee of the city council,
but on the 12th of July, 1871, an ordinance was passed by
the city council establishing a public water board of the
city of Lynn, and " the charge, superintendence and over-
sight of all structures, works, arrangements, and apparatus
designed and provided for obtaining and supplying pure
water for the uses of the city,” were transferred to the
newly elected water board.
Late in 1872, the pumping plant, consisting of the
Leavitt pump at present in use, was put into service, and
the distributing reservoir was completed. The leakage
from the reservoir was so great, however, that it was unser-
viceable, and during the following year the bottom was
thoroughly puddled and made practically tight.
In 1873, three years after the introduction of water, it
became necessary to obtain an additional supply, and in
September of that year the work of constructing the Birch
pond dam was begun.
An investigation was made in 1876, by James P. Kirk-
wood, civil engineer, with reference to obtaining an
additional water supply, and the construction of reservoirs
on Penny and Hawkes brooks was recommended.
In 1878, the dam at Breed’s pond was raised about three
feet. A contract was made in 1878 with the town of Sau-
gus to supply a portion of that town with water, and since
that time Saugus has been supplied from the Lynn works,
the contract having been renewed from time to time.
In 1880, the water supply again becoming insufficient for
the needs of the city, investigations were made with refer-
ence to obtaining an additional supply by means of tubular
wells, and twenty-eight wells 1 and 1-2 inches in diameter
and from 36 to 39 feet in depth were driven near Straw-
berry brook at the point where the brook meets tide water.
Additional wells were sunk later in order to increase the
supply from this source and water was drawn from the
wells nearly every year till 1886. The water drawn from
the wells during the last years of their use was seriously
affected by the inflow of salt water.
In 1883 an investigation was made by Phineas Ball, C.
E., with reference to an additional water supply, and as a
result of his investigations, work was begun during the
latter part of that year upon the construction of a canal
between the Saugus river at Rowlett’s dam and Birch
pond, this canal intercepting the waters of *Penny and
Hawkes brooks.
The dam at Birch pond was raised in 1885 about nine
feet, and as the canal from the Saugus river entered the
pond at a lower level, a pipe line was constructed through
the bottom of the pond to the gate-house in order that the
water from the canal might be conveyed directly to the
pumping station when Birch pond was full. The water-
shed of Birch pond did not yield sufficient water to fill the
pond after the raising of the dam and a pumping plant was
erected at the upper end of the pond in 1887 for the pur-
pose of raising water from the canal to the pond.
In 1888, the construction of Walden and Glen Lewis
ponds upon Penny brook, one of the streams intercepted
12
by the canal, was begun, and this work was completed in
1889.
In 1890, the capacity of the pumping plant at Walnut
street was increased by the addition of a Loretz pumping
engine, with a rated capacity of 10,000,000 gallons per
day.
During the years 1895 and 1896, Hawkes pond was
constructed on Hawkes brook, the second brook which
was tributary to the canal.
The high service system, consisting of a high service
pump located in the Walnut street pumping station, and a
steel tank at an elevation about 82 feet above the elevation
of the distributing reservoir was installed in 1895 to serve
the higher sections of the city.
The construction of a canal from the Saugus river at
Montrose to Hawkes pond was begun in 1897 and com-
pleted in 1*898. Upon the completion of this canal, the
canal from the Saugus river at Howlett’s dam was aband-
oned, and water from the Saugus river was taken only
from Montrose.
In the year 1901, an act was passed by the legislature
authorizing the city to construct filtration works and to take
water from the Ipswich river.
In 1902, the Walden pond pumping station was con-
structed for the purpose of pumping water from Hawkes
pond into Walden pond. At the same time the raising of
the Walden pond dam twenty feet above its former level,
causing the water to flood the Glen Lewis pond, and form-
ing the present Walden pond, was begun, this work being
completed in 1905.
i3
An investigation relative to improving and enlarging the
water supply was made by direction of the legislature in
1906, by the State Board of Health and the water board of
Lynn, acting jointly.
In order to show the rapid development of the water-
works system, the following table has been prepared,
showing the population of Lynn and Saugus, the quantity
of water used, the total cost of the works to date and the
yearly income derived from the works at the end of each
5-year period from 1875 to I 9°5» inclusive.
Table Showing Growth of Lynn Water Works.
Year.
Population
of Lynn and
Saugus.
Average Daily
Consumption.
(Gallons)
Total Net
Cost of
Works to
Date.
Yearly
Income.
Number
of
Services.
Length of
Distribu-
ting pipe
(Miles)
1875 . .
*32,600
1,291,000
$910,260
$ 52,553
3,224
48.6
1880 . .
40,899
1,235,000
1,008,390
79, 6 35
4,488
57-3
1885 . .
48,722
1,921,000
1,292,510
110,089
6,919
79.1
1890 . .
59,40°
2,657,000
1,833,348
154,788
9,490
101.6
1895 : .
66,851
4,360,000
2,232,430
i 8 5,573
11,698
124.8
1900 . .
73-597
4,680,000
2,472,821
199,004
12,569
129.4
1905 . .
83,295
4,924,000
2,965,704
240,476
13,556
138.0
* Saugus omitted this year as the town was not supplied from the Lynn Works until
1878.
Financial.
For the purpose of showing the financial condition of the
water works, the following tables are introduced, giving
certain facts, in regard to the cost of the different portions
of the system, the gross and net income of the water
department, and the net debt each year taken from the
annual reports of the Water Board.
x 4
This table shows that the Water Department is making
a very substantial profit each year, and this notwithstand-
ing the fact that the water rates are not high as compared
with the rates in other cities. The net income each year
is turned into the sinking fund for the purpose of paying
off bonds when they mature. The amount so paid is
much larger than is necessary for the purpose, and if pay-
ments are made in the future as they have been in the past,
it will soon become necessary to make some other dis-
position of the surplus in order to keep the sinking fund
from attaining undue proportions.
i5
Total Net Cost of Water Works to January 1st, 1907.
Breed’s pond
.
$ Hi^S - 28
Birch “
9 3 , 47 x - 8 4
Walden 44
.
564,410.38
Hawkes 44
.
161,036.53
New Supply (Saugus river, old canal
tunnel, etc.) ....
338,970.92
Canal from Saugus river to Hawkes pond.
47 i 947-33
Pipe conduits
.
81,289.39
Walden pond pumping plant
.
83,003.72
Walnut street pumping station
.
57 > 5 62 -39
Pumps and boilers
.
140,327.29
Force-mains
.
4 i , 54 < 5- i 3
Distributing reservoir
•
131,581.49
Standpipe and high service pumps
34,274.07
Highland service
.
t2 , 43 I - I 7
Mains, hydrants and gates .
.
883,404.99
Services ....
.
337,885.20
Meters ....
37 > 53 M 2
Miscellaneous
•
2 3 , * 99-94
Total ....
. .
$3, 1 27,009.48
Less amount received for extra
pipe .
160,296.26
Total net cost
, ,
$2,966,713.22
Moth:. — The cost of 19.7 miles of pipe and services in Saugus and 0.3 miles of pipe and
services in Swampscott is not included in the above table.
Table Showing Net Water Works Debt from 1890 to 1906
Inclusive.
Year.
Population.
Net Debt.
Net Debt.
Per person,
1890
59,4°°
$ i * 3 66 *377
$23.00
1891
60,890
1,376,128
22.60
1892
62,380
1 * 347*755
2 I . 6 l
i8 93
63,870
I , 4 I 2 , 3 2 7
22 . I I
i8 94
65,360
1,348,600
20.63
i8 95
66,85 1
1,436,024
21.48
1896
68,200
I ,420,048
20.82
i8 97
69 i 549
I * 3 8 9 *° 4 I
T 9-97
1898
70,899
1,348,608
19.02
lS 99
7 2 * 2 47
I , 3 I 7 , 2 4 °
18.23
1900
73*597
1,276,272
• 7-34
I9OI
75*537
1,133,866
15.01
1902
77 * 47 6
1,532,503
19-76
I 9°3
79 > 4 l6
1,470,866
18.52
I 9°4
81 *355
I A I 3 AH
1 7-37
I 9°5
83. 2 95
l A 12 A 9 2
16.96
1906
8 5* 2 35
1,335,238
15-65
Table Showing Revenue from Water Works each Year
from 1875 to 1906, Inclusive.
Year.
Population.
Revenue.
Revenue per person,
■ 8 75
32,600
$52,553
$I. 6 l
1876
33,734
60,807
1 .80
1877
34,869
64,002
1 .84
1878
3 8 , 6 io
67,57°
I *75
i8 79
39,754
73 , 95 °
1.86
l88o
4°, 8 99
79,635
I *95
l88l
42,464
80,968
1.91
l882
44,029
94,420
2. 14
1883
45,594
98,894 •
2.17
1884
47, J 59
n4,9 0 4
2.44
1885
4 8 ,722
I 10,089
2.26
1886
50,858
116,574
2.29
1887
5 2 , 994
123,508
2 -33
1888
55 ,! 3 °
134,481
2.44
1889
57,266
141,866
2.48
189O
59,400
154,788
2.61
189I
60,890
1 7 1 ,745
2.82
1892
62,380
188,980
3-°3
i8 93
63,87°
1 77,804
2.78
1894
65,36°
■76,655
2.70
i8 95
66,851
■85,573
2.78
1896
68,200
■ 9 °, 53 i
2.79
i8 97
69,549
183,712
2.64
1898
70,899
186,658
2.63
1899
72,247
■ 93,699
2.68
1900
73,597
199,004
2.70
1901
75,537
203,078
2.69
1902
77,476
215,692
2.78
I 9°3
79 , 4 t 6
224 , 44 °
2.83
I 9°4
8 ', 355
2 33 i 7°7
2.87
I 9°5
8 3,295
240,476
2.89
1906
8 5,235
259,255
3*°4
Note: Figures for 1875-1877 are for Lynn only. After 1877 Saugus is included, and
after 1886 a small portion of Swampscott.
i8
Table Showing Net Income from Water Works each Year
from 1875 to 1906, Inclusive.
Year.
Population.
Net Income.
Net Income
per person.
1875
32,600
$28,843*
O.89*
1876
33,734
9,729*
O.29*
1877
34,869
3,840*
O.II*
1878
38,610
674*
.02*
i8 79
39,754
12,907
0.32
1880
40,899
17,127
O.42
1881
42,464
' 4 ,i 79
o -33
1882
44,029
27,777
0.63
i88 3
• 45,594
22,001
0.48
00
00
47, '59
26,735
o -57
00
00
48,722
26,573
°-55
1886
50,858
32,269
0.63
1 887
5 2 ,994
35,574
0.67
1888
55 >' 3 °
30,027
°-54
1889
57,266
46,Il8
0.81
1890
59 , 4 °°
5^344
0.86
1891
60,890
58,325
0.96
1892
62,380
90,960
'•46
l8 93
63,870
65,068
1.02
ON
00
hH
65,360
52,048
0.80
1895
66,851
73 , 54 '
1. 10
I896
68,200
54,821
0.80
i8 97
69,549
43,898
0.63
1898
70,899
60,551
0.85
1899
72,247
44,006
0.61
1900
73,597
72 , 3 0 9
0.98
1901
75,537
52, 0 97
0.69
1902
77,476
83,028
1.07
I 9°3
79,416
4 x ,!27
0.52
I 9°4
8 i ,355
3 1 , 000
0.38
I 9°5
83,295
46,000
°-55
1906
♦Deficiency.
85,235
64,000
°-75
Note : — Figures from 1875-1877 are for Lynn only. After 1877 Saugus is included, and
after 1886 a small portion of Swampscott.
x 9
Present Sources of Supply.
The present sources of supply consist of four storage
reservoirs which have been constructed on small brooks in
the westerly portion of Lynn and Saugus, known as Breed’s
Birch, Walden and Hawkes ponds ; and the Saugus river,
water from which is taken at a point in Montrose in the
town of Lynnfield.
Water from the Saugus river is diverted into Hawkes
pond by means of a canal. The water is drawn from
Hawkes pond through an open canal to the Walden pond
pumping station, from which point it is pumped into either
Walden pond or Birch pond, or when Birch pond is at a
low level it can be discharged by gravity into this pond.
The water of Walden pond is drawn into Birch pond by
means of a pipe line and tunnel. From Birch and Breed’s
ponds pipe lines are laid directly to the pumping station on
Walnut street, and there is a connection between these two
lines, so that some water can be discharged from Birch
pond into Breed’s pond, or vice versa. The capacity of
the pipe line from Breed’s pond to the pumping station is
not sufficient to supply the quantity of water required by
the pumps, so that at all times some water must be drawn
from Birch pond, and with the present arrangements, all
of the water, except that which is contributed by the nat-
ural watershed of Breed’s pond, must pass through Birch
pond.
The channel from the Saugus river to Hawkes pond
consists of 2,430 feet of open canal, 220 feet of concrete
conduit, 220 feet of stone culvert, and 730 feet of tunnel.
20
The canal is 8 feet wide on the bottom, with side slopes
of i 1-2 to i. The tunnel and the culverts have a much
larger area than the canal. The elevation of the bottom
of the canal at its upper end is 70.8 and at its lower end
is 70.3 The elevation of the Saugus river is ordinarily
only 70.5 feet, so that whenever it is desired to divert
water through the canal, the water in the river is raised by
closing the gates in a small dam which has been con-
structed across the river just below the head of the canal.
This dam raises the water to about elevation, 75.2 feet,
and with the water in the Saugus river at this elevation,
the capacity of the canal is about 30,000,000 gallons per
24 hours. The raising of the water of the Saugus river in
this manner floods vast areas of meadow land bordering
the river, to a slight depth. The elevation of high water
in Hawkes pond is 77.85, so that water can be drawn from
the Saugus river only when the water in Hawkes pond is
about three feet below high water.
The canal from Hawkes pond to the pumping station,
through which all of the water from this reservoir is
drawn, is irregular in section, and in one place where it
passes close to possible sources of pollution, a 48-inch pipe
has been laid to replace the canal. The total length of
this canal is 4,480 feet, and its present capacity is probably
in the vicinity of 20,000,000 gallons per day. At the
pumping station, the canal discharges into a pump well,
where the water is passed through screens before going to
the pumps.
The Walden pond pumping plant is supposed to have a
capacity of 30,000,000 gallons per day. It has been found,
21
however, that it would be impossible to operate the pumps
at a greater rate than 20,000,000 gallons per day, even if
the canal from Hawkes pond should be sufficient to supply
a greater quantity than this.
From the pumping station the water is forced through a
30-inch force-main about 1,800 feet in length to Walden
pond, the pipe used for a force-main being also used for
drawing water from the pond.
The elevation of high water in Hawkes pond is 77.85
feet, and high water in Walden pond is 93.91 feet, a
difference of 16.06 feet. The water from Hawkes pond,
however, is drawn by gravity to the pump well at the
pumping station at an elevation of about 54 feet, so that
although the difference in elevation between the ponds is
only 16 feet, the lift necessary to get the water from
Hawkes pond into Walden pond when the pond is full is
about 40 feet.
From the Walden pond pumping station to the head of
the canal above Birch pond there are two lines of 30-inch
pipe. These pipes are connected with the Hawkes pond
canal at Walden pond pumping station, and with the 30-
inch pipe line running from the pumping station to Wal-
den pond. The length of each of these 30-inch pipe lines
is about 2,250 feet. The tunnel at the upper end of Birch
pond, into which the 30-inch pipes discharge is 6 feet high,
7 feet wide, and 1,358 feet long. The bottom of the tun-
nel where it discharges into the pond is considerably below
the elevation of high-water in Birch pond, so that when the
pond is full the tunnel is operated under a head.
The pipes from Birch pond to the pumping station con-
22
sist of a 22-inch cement-lined pipe, which was the pipe
originally laid, and a 30-inch cast-iron main. The lengths
of these pipes are approximately 5,750 feet and 6,250 feet
respectively.
The pipe from Breed’s pond to the pumping station is
of wrought iron lined with cement 18 inches in diameter
and about 2,228 feet in length. At the pumping station a
connection has been made between the pipes from Birch
pond and the pipe from Breed’s pond, so that the water
from one pond can be discharged into the other. The
elevation of the two ponds when full is nearly the same, so
that the quantity of water which can be discharged from
one pond into the other through the small pipe from Breed’s
pond to the pumping station is very limited.
At the Walnut street pumping station the water was
originally discharged into a pump well, but at the present
time the pipes from the ponds are connected directly with
the pumps so that the water comes to the pumps under a
head and there is no suction. The elevation of the floor
of the pumping station is about 48 feet.
From the pumping station the water is forced through
two lines of pipes 1,700 feet in length to the low service
distributing reservoir, or through another pipe line of about
the same length to the high service distributing reservoir.
The pipes to the low service distributing reservoir are 20
inches and 30 inches respectively, the former being cement
lined and the latter cast-iron. The pipe to the high ser-
vice reservoir is of cast-iron 16 inches in diameter, and a
connection is also made between this pipe and the low ser-
vice reservoir, so that it can be used for either purpose.
23
There are two pumps used for the low service, a Leavitt
pump having a nominal capacity of 5,000,000 gallons per
24 hours, which has been in use for about thirty-five years ;
and a Loretz pump having a nominal capacity of 10,000,-
000 gallons per 24 hours, which has been in use 19 years.
The pumps used for the high service are two 1,500,000
gallon Loretz pumps, installed in 1895.
The low service reservoir is an open basin constructed
with earth embankments. Its area when full is 5 acres ; its
depth 15 feet, and its capacity 20,000,000 gallons.
The high service distributing reservoir consists of a steel
tank 50 feet in diameter, 35 feet high, and containing when
full 500,000 gallons of water.
The relative elevation of the different sources of supply
and the distributing reservoirs, is as follows :
Saugus river at Montrose (normal) . . . 70.5
Saugus river at Montrose (when canals are in
use) 75.2
Hawkes pond, high water .... 77.85
Walden pond pumping station pump well . 54.
Walden pond, high water . . . . 93.9 1
Birch pond, high water ..... 68.7
Breed’s pond ....... 67.9
Walnut street pumping station floor . . . 48.
Low service distributing reservoir . . .187.
High service distributing reservoir . . . 269.
Breed's Pond. Breed’s pond, the first source of supply,
was originally used as a mill pond, furnishing power for a
small factory, located in the vicinity of the present dam.
Water from this source was first used for domestic pur-
poses in 1871, and at that time the depth of the water at the
dam was 17 feet, but in 1878 the dam was raised 3 feet.
2 4
Up to 1907, none of the mud or other organic matter at
the bottom of the pond had been removed or covered, fur-
ther than the removal of some of the stumps near the shore.
The mud covers an area of about 45 acres, or 77 per cent
of the total area of the pond. During the summer of 1907,
two small areas of shallow flowage near the upper end of
the pond were improved by covering them with a layer of
gravel, and a large number of stumps in the shallower por-
tions of the pond removed and burned. The pond for the
most part has steep banks and is well adapted for the stor-
age of water, and would make an excellent reservoir if the
mud were removed from the bottom.
The watershed of the pond comprises 1.07 square miles,
a large portion of which is within the limits of the Lynn
Woods, but there are several houses within the watershed
located not far from the shore of the reservoir near the dam.
The population within the watershed amounts to 47 per-
sons per square mile of watershed. One of the roadways
in the Lynn Woods follows the shore of the pond on one
side, and wash from this road finds its way more or less
directly into the pond. Several of the tributaries of the
pond also receive more or less street wash. There are sev-
eral large swamps within the watershed, aggregating in
area about 111 acres.
The water entering the pond from the different tributaries
is of poor quality, being exceedingly high colored and
containing a large quantity of organic matter, due to its
contact with the organic matter in the swamps through
which the streams pass. Considerable of the color in the
water entering the pond is lost by the bleaching effect of
25
long storage in the pond, since most of the water enters at
the upper end. The water drawn from the pond is, how-
ever, at times highly colored, and frequently has a dis-
agreeeble taste and odor, due to growths of organisms to
which the pond is subject.
Breed’s pond has in the past furnished better water than
any of the other ponds, and there has been less trouble
from the growth of organism in this source than in any of
the others. The pond receives practically no water except
from its own watershed, and as the tributary streams enter
the upper end of the reservoir, the water entering the pond
has the benefit of long storage.
There is a considerable leakage from the pond at high
water, but as the pond has been nearly empty during the
entire period covered by the investigations there has been
no opportunity to measure the quantity lost in this way.
Birch Pond. The construction of Birch pond was begun
in 1873. The dam constructed at that time raised the
water about 13 feet and flooded an area of 67 acres. The
area flooded was covered with bushes and very little was
done in preparation for flooding, except to cut and remove
the brush. The dam was raised in 1885 about nine feet.
At the present time the area of the pond is 82 acres. The
depth at nominal high water is 19.4, but the level of the
water is frequently raised to about 23 feet. When the
water is at a depth of 19.4 feet, the storage capacity is
381,100,000 gallons.
Very few of the stumps have been removed from the
bottom of Birch pond, other than those which have been
loosened naturally from time to time. The upper end of
2 6
the pond where the depth of water is least contains a great
number of stumps and a deep deposit of mud. The total
area of the bottom covered with mud is 60 acres, or 73 per
cent of the whole bottom. The mud in the deepest portion
of the pond is very deep. In the shallow area at the upper
end the depth of mud varies from .5 of a foot to 4 feet.
The watershed comprises .68 of a square mile, contain-
ing a population of 100, or about 147 persons per square
mile. Much of this population is so located that drainage
from the houses quickly finds its way into the pond. The
area tributary to the pond from the north is within the
Lynn Woods and free from habitations. A highway skirts
the west shore from the dam to the upper end, and all of
the wash from this street and from several side streets is
discharged directly into the pond.
A large quantity of water escapes from Birch pond at
times of high water through and around the dam. The
quantity lost in this way amounts to about 250,000 gallons
when the pond is full.
The character of the water furnished by Birch pond for
several years after its construction was such that it was
impossible to use it for the supply of the city during the
summer months. The poor quality of the water continued
until water from other sources was turned into the pond,
thus diminishing the time during which the water remained
in contact with the mud. The raising of the dam in 1883
also made an improvement in the character of the water
stored. The character of the water during recent years
has depended largely upon the character and amount of the
water discharged into it from the other sources, as this
27
pond receives all of the water that is used by the city, from
Walden pond, Hawkes pond and the Saugus river. The
pond is even now subject to the frequent occurrence of
tastes and odors due to the growths of objectionable
organisms in the water. The water also shows the
effects of pollution. *
Walden Pond. This reservoir is formed by a dam
across Penny brook. Originally two dams were constructed
across the brook about 4,300 feet apart, forming two ponds,
the level of the upper pond being about 6 feet above that
of the lower. The lower pond was known as Walden
pond and the upper as Glen Lewis pond. All of the
water from Glen Lewis pond flowed over the dam or through
gates into Walden pond. These two reservoirs were con-
structed in 1889 and the total storage capacity was 523,-
760,000 gallons. The area flooded by the construction of
the dams was swampy, and the water of the old Walden
pond was never of such a quality as to make it suitable for
domestic purposes.
In 1902, a new dam on the site of the old Walden pond
was begun and was completed in the year 1905. This
dam makes the depth of water about 37 feet, and the pond
floods the old Glen Lewis dam, making one pond when the
reservoir is full. The area of the new pond is 240 acres,
and its storage capacity 1,754,200,000 gallons. The pond
has not yet been filled with water.
Some efforts have been made to improve the character
of the bottom of Walden pond by covering the mud in places,
and it appears that about 125 acres of the bottom have been
improved in this way. The remaining portions are in
28
their original condition, covered to a considerable depth
with mud. The banks of the pond are steep and there
are practically no areas of shallow flowage, so that the
pond would make an ideal reservoir for the storage of
water, were it not for the mud on its bottom.
The watershed has an area of 1.75 square miles, includ-
ing the pond, almost entirely within the Lynn Woods reser-
vation, and containing no population. There are numer-
ous driveways through the woods, some of which are along
the shores of the reservoir, or along tributary streams, and
the wash from these roads finds its way more or less directly
into the reservoir. There are no sources of pollution on
the watershed other than the street drainage, and what
might arise from the use of the shores of the pond by the
public for pleasure purposes.
Penny brook, the chief tributary of the pond drains a
great area of swamp and the water entering the pond from
this stream is highly colored and contains large quantities
of organic matter. The water entering other portions of
the main pond is also highly colored, but that coming from
the Glen Lewis arm of the pond is of much better quality.
The character of the water of Walden pond has in
recent years been affected by the pumping into it of a con-
siderable quantity of water from Hawkes pond and the
Saugus river. The pond is subject to growths of organisms
which make the water very objectionable at times and it is
probable that under present conditions and with the present
character of the water entering it, these growths will occur
almost every season.
Walden pond has never been filled since the dam was
2 9
completed, but from the measurements which have been
made of the leakage from the reservoir during the past
season, it is probable that the leakage from this pond when
full will amount to from 600,000 to 800,000 gallons per
day.
It was believed at the time the dam was rebuilt that it
would be desirable to still further increase the height of
the dam and the dam was constructed with a view to add-
ing 20 feet to its height at some future time. The leakage
is so great, however, that indications are that it would not
be found practicable to do this without practically rebuild-
ing the entire structure, even if it were desirable to provide
additional storage.
Hawkes Pond. Hawkes pond was constructed in 1896.
Before the pond was filled, all of the mud on the area to
be flooded was either removed or covered with gravel, and
the bottom now seems to be in good condition, except for
a rank growth of weeds which covered it during the time
when the water was out of the pond in the past summer.
The pond has a depth of 25 feet at the dam, an area of
75 acres, and a capacity of 300,000,000 gallons.
The drainage area comprises 1.86 square miles, which
contains a population of 500 or about 269 persons per
square mile. Much of the population is situated close to
Hawkes brook, the main feeder of the pond. There is
no sewerage system within the area, and the sewage is
disposed of upon the ground or in the ground, in many cases
close to the stream. Some cesspools have been constructed
near the brook by the city of Lynn to prevent the direct
entrance of sink wastes into the stream, but there are
30
numerous vaults and other sources of pollution not far from
the brook or its tributaries. There are several large pig-
geries within the watershed so situated that drainage from
them finds its way in some cases directly into the brooks.
A slaughter-house is situated close to the brook, but a por-
tion of the drainage is conveyed to a cesspool which has
been recently constructed by the water board. A highway
follows one shore of the pond, and the street wash for a
considerable distance finds its way into the pond.
The water of the brook, besides being polluted, is at
times very highly colored from contact with the organic
matter in the extensive swamps through which it passes.
The total area of the swamps within the watersheds is
about 134 acres. The water at times of dry weather is of
fairly satisfactory quality in this respect, and by suitable
ditching can be improved at other times.
This pond receives water from the Saugus river, so that
the quality of the water of the pond is dependent to a con-
siderable extent upon the character and amount of the
water diverted from this stream.
Hawkes pond is in excellent condition for the storage of
water, but the water furnished by it has always been of
unsatisfactory quality, probably on account of the poor
quality of the water entering it, both from its own water-
shed and from the Saugus river.
Saugus River. The construction of a tunnel and canal
from Howlett’s pond on the Saugus river to Birch pond
was begun in 1883 and completed in 1884. This canal
intercepted the water of Hawkes and Penny brooks, two
small streams upon which subsequently the reservoirs.
3i
known as Walden and Hawkes ponds, were constructed.
In 1897 and 1898, a canal was constructed for the pur-
pose of taking water from the Saugus river at Montrose
about two miles above Howlett’s pond, the point from
which water had been previously taken, and conveying it
to Hawkes pond.
The Saugus river at Howlett’s pond was foully polluted
by sewage, chiefly from the town of Wakefield. The
point in Montrose at which water is now taken, is above
the brook which drains the principal portion of Wakefield,
but the river above Montrose contains within its watershed
a portion of the town of Wakefield and the principal por-
tion of Reading. The river has a watershed of 10.58
square miles, which contains a population of about 710 per
square mile. The town of Wakefield is provided with a
sewerage system, so that much of the sewage is carried
out of the watershed and cannot find its way into the
streams. The town of Reading however, has no sewerage
system, and in many cases the sewage finds its way
directly into the streams which are tributary to the Saugus
river.
The river flows for a long distance through great areas
of swamps and at times the water is very highly colored
from contract with organic matter.
The canal from the river to Hawkes pond is constructed
at such an elevation that it is necessary to raise the water
of the river in order to have it flow through the canal, and
when this is done a great area of meadow is flooded to a
slight depth. The water at this time takes up great
quantities of organic matter, so that whenever the water is
32
diverted into Hawkes pond, the character of the water is
considerably worse than it is under ordinary conditions.
Summary in Regard to Physical Condition of Present
Sources.
The accompanying table gives a summary of the statis-
tics in regard to the various sources of supply and their
watersheds.
Breed’s
Birch
Walden
Hawkes
Saugus
Pond.
Pond.
Pond.
Pond.
River.
Elevation of pond at high water (ft.)
67 -93
68.70
93*90
77-85
70.5
Area of watershed (sq. m.)
j.07
0.68
i-75
1.86
IO.58
Area of pond (acres)
5 8 -5
82.O
240.
74.6
Depth of water at dam (ft.)
19.1
19.4
37-
25.0
Average depth
13-7.
H-3
22.5
H-5
Storage capacity (million gal.)
263.
381.
1754-
354-
Area of mud bottom of pond (acres)
45-
60.
75-
0.
Area of swamp on watershed (acres)
m.
20.
4 1 -
i34-
Population on watershed
50 -
100.
0.
500. 7500.
Population per square mile
47-
147.
0.
269.
710.
The four ponds now used
by the
city have steep banks
and little shallow flowage, and in these respects are unusu-
ally well adapted for the storage of water. The watersheds
of Breed’s and Walden ponds are practically uninhabited,
and were it not for the great quantities of mud in the bot-
tom of these ponds and the swamps upon their watersheds
they would furnish an excellent surface water, although it
would be necessary to have them thoroughly inspected at
all times to prevent local pollution from the large number
of persons who frequent the Lynn Woods.
The watershed of Birch pond contains many possible
sources of pollution, and the wash from a considerable
length of highway is discharged directly into the reservoir.
33
The bottom of the reservoir is covered with mud, so that
the water stored in it is certain to be of unsatisfactory qual-
ity at times.
Hawkes pond has been thoroughly prepared for the stor-
age of water, and is in excellent condition at the present
time. The watershed, however, contains large areas of
swamp and a large population besides several large pig-
geries. This pond also receives considerable wash from
streets. The water entering the pond from its own water-
shed is of very unsatisfactory quality.
Saugus river is polluted by the population upon its water-
shed and is very highly colored. Furthermore, the flood-
ing of large areas of meadow whenever the water is
diverted adds to the objectionable character of the water.
Quality of Water of Present Sources.
Frequent analyses of the different sources of supply have
been made since 1887 by the State Board of Health, and
yearly averages of the results are given in the accompany-
ing tables.
A table is also presented giving the total number of
microscopical organisms in the water of each source. The
chief effect of the microscopic organisms is to give tastes
and odors to the water, and a table is presented giving the
odor as found by the State Board of Health of the samples
of water which have been collected during 1907.
As previously stated, the water entering the reservoirs
from their own watersheds is in many cases of poor
quality. During the past fall samples of water were col-
lected from the principal tributary streams and a determin-
34
ation was made of the color and of the chlorine in each
of these tributaries, the chlorine giving in a general way
the amount of pollution which the stream received. The
results of these investigations are given graphically in two
diagrams appended.
Two series of samples have been collected for bacterial
examination in November, 1907, and these samples have
been examined to determine the number of bacteria present
in the water and the presence of sewage bacteria. The
results of these examinations are also appended.
It will be seen from the tables of analyses that the
quality of water entering the ponds from their own water-
sheds is very poor, being in most cases highly colored,
and containing large quantities of organic matter, and in
many cases being polluted. The water is ordinarily much
improved by long storage which it gets in the ponds, but
at frequent intervals, growths of microscopic organisms
occur in the ponds, giving the water a disagreeable or
even offensive odor.
The water of Walden pond after a period of about five
months had elapsed since water from the Saugus river had
been discharged into it, was bacterially very pure and con-
tained no sewage bacilli. Breed’s pond had been emptied
during the summer, and a large number of men had been
working in the pond, so that the unfavorable bacterial
results obtained here were to be expected. The water of
Hawkes pond and Birch pond contained large numbers of
bacteria, including large numbers of sewage bacilli.
The water of the Saugus river is of poor quality accord-
ing to the analyses, both on account of the quantity of
organic matter and the high color, and on account of the
evidences of sewage pollution.
Averages by Years of Chemical Examinations of Water from Breed’s Pond.
[parts PER 100,000.]
UOJJ
SSOUpXEJJ
o.S
1.0
0.9
0.9
0.7
1.0
0.8
0.7
0.7
1.0
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0.9
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Averages by Years of Chemical Examinations of Water from Birch Pond.
[parts per 100,000]
ssaupjpjj
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Averages by Years of Chemical Examinations of Water from Walden Pond.
[parts PER 100,000. J
UOJJ
ssaupxeH
ifl 00 c
o' o o
pauinsuo3
uoSiCxQ
s3;u;tN
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Total
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asquin^
ssaupjBji
pauinsucQ
uaS/Cxo
sa;ia}ijs[
O M
o o o o c o
8 8 8 8 8 8
3UUO[lt3
8 8 8 8 8
1/3 T3
3 c
C/3
8\ 8\ 8\
joqiun^
Averages by Years of Chemical Examinations of Water from the Saugus River at Montrose
UOJJ
ssaupjuH
o « fo o o m ^ oo q
rOrOrOrOfOrOroci fO
p3uinsuo3
Tft^^-vO COCOON to
O NO 00 m On ~ On N On
1
tiaSXxo
CO
«
S3IUIIN
0001
0002
0002
0002
0001
0001
0002
0001
.0002
w
rh
w
ti o ti fi
cc s
T3
z _ I 3 °
2, 475, ooo
45
3
1889
57 . 266
2. 450. 000
2.657.000
43
4
189O
59,400
45
4
189I
' 60,890
3 ,i 3 1 ,' 000
3 1
4
1892
62,380
3, 549, ooo
57
5
1893
63,870
3, 744, ooo
59
6
i8 94
65, 3 6 °
4.020.000
4.360.000
62
8
i8 95
66,851
65
10
1896
68,200
69,549
47539 .°°°
66
13
1897
4.642.000
4.746.000
66
15
1898
70,899
67
*7
1899
72,247
5,379,°°°
74
l 9
1900
73,597
4.680.000
4.506.000
64
20
1901
75,537
60
2 3
1902
77,476
4,684,000
60
2 5
I 9°3
79,416
5, 1 38, ooo
65
2 7
I 9°4
81,355
83,295
5 , 333 , 00 °
66
28
i 9°5
4,924,000
59
3 °
1906
*Lynn only.
85,235
5 * 1 33 »°oo
60
33
53
For purposes of eomparison a table is presented giving
the average rate of consumption per person in all of those
cities having a population of more than 50,000 where
records could be obtained. The figures in this table are
taken from a paper in the Journal of the New England
Water Works Association.
Average Daily Consumption of Water and Percentage of
Metered Services in 1905 in Cities Having a Popu-
lation of More than 50,000.
Consumption
Per cent Gallons
City.
Population
Metered
Services
Per person
p»r day
Buffalo, N. Y.
400,428
3
3 2 4
Salt Lake City, Utah.
57, 8 75
2
3°9
Troy, ....
60,500
4
248
Philadelphia, Pa.
i) 4 I 7)° 6 3
1
2 3 °
Albany, N. Y.
93 > 7 6 5
!5
21 I
Bridgeport, Conn. .
82,061
5
2IO
Pittsburg, Pa.
363,116
0
2IO
Detroit, Mich.
3 2 5> 6i 4
9
l88
Erie, Pa.
5 8 , 7 8 3
2
179
Harrisburg, Pa.
55*557
73
171
New Haven, Conn.
121,391
3
l68
Camden, N. J.
84,746
3
155
Boston, Mass.
595 , 3 8 °
5
I 5 I
Richmond, Va.
86,881
44
150
Nashville, Tenn.
282,213
5 2
00
-r
Cleveland, Ohio.
44 L 974
68
x 37
Cincinnati, Ohio.
34°>399
12
I 3 °
San Antonio, Tex.
61,145
10
13 2
Reading, Pa.
89, hi
7
128
Norfolk, Va.
5 2 ? 5 °°
0
I2 5
Evansville, Ind.
63,132
0
I2 5
Grand Rapids, Mich.
101,21 1
2 9
i2 3
Los Angeles, Cal. .
1 28,521
3 i
120
Newark, N. J.
278,190
44
1 17
Yonkers, N. Y.
55,879
99
IX 5
54
City.
Hoboken, N. J.
Kansas City, Kans.
Columbus, Ohio.
Omaha, Neb.
Pawtucket, R. I.
Wilmington, Del.
Seattle, Wash.
Memphis, Tenn.
San Francisco, Cal.
New Bedford, Mass
Toronto, Canada.
St. Louis, Mo.
Cambridge, Mass.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Somerville, Mass.
Rochester, N. Y.
Paterson, N. J.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Louisville, Ky.
Duluth, Minn.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Toledo, Ohio
Worcester, Mass.
Kansas City, Mo.
Dayton, Ohio
Providence, R. I.
Hartford, Conn.
Atlanta, Ga.
Utica, N. Y. .
Lynn and Saugus
Lowell, Mass.
St. Joseph, Mo.
Charleston, S. C.
St. Paul, Minn.
Manchester, N. H.
Fall River, Mass.
Lawrence, Mass.
Population.
67,222
57,969
144,265
83,607
79,40°
84,046
99,588
121,232
364,674
74,362
270,000
636,972
97,434
325,735
69,272
179,064
118,583
196,028
226,^31
62,896
. 221,708
I 57^ OI 5
128,135
179,27°
97 , 3 8 9
212,823
93^60
102,041
. 62,^69
83,295
94,889
128,306
56,233
178,020
63,417
102,762
70,050
Per cent
Metered
Services.
Consumption
Gallons
Per person
per day.
69
“5
45
IJ 3
7 6
1 10
59
1 10
81
104
21
102
12
100
20
100
21
96
2 3
95
4
93
7
9 2
l 9
9 2
80
9 1
l 9
89
4 1
89
37
87
10
82
8
81
4 1
77
47
76
70
75
95
75
38
73
70
70
86
68
98
66
100
65
98
59
30
59
69
58
20
58
2
57
38
56
7 2
5 2
97
4 2
88
43
55
The quantity of water used legitimately for domestic
purposes is everywhere increasing at a rapid rate, due both
to the more general use of plumbing fixtures in houses,
even of the most inexpensive class, and the increasing
quantity of water required by modern fixtures. While, by
an extension of the use of meters in Lynn, some of the
sources of waste now in existence will be removed and any
excessive consumption due to waste will undoubtedly be
prevented, the comparatively low consumption at the pres-
ent time indicates that the sources of waste now in exis-
tence are not large and the increase in the legitimate use
of water is likely to be more rapid than any decrease due
to the further prevention of waste.
It is impossible to forecast the growth of population of
the city, and it is still more difficult to foretell the quantity
of water which will be used, which depends not alone on
the population but on a variety of other conditions. For
purposes of this report, I have assumed that the rate of
increase in the average daily consumption will be one
gallon per person each year, making the average con-
sumption of water in 1940, 94 gallons per person per day,
which, as will be seen from the foregoing table, is less
than the present consumption of water in more than half of
the cities included in the table.
The following table gives the estimated future con-
sumption of water in Lynn and Saugus, based upon the
estimated population previously given and upon the assump-
tion that the average daily consumption per person will
increase one gallon each year.
56
Estimated Future Consumption of Water in Lynn
and Saugus.
Year.
Estimated
Population.
I9IO.
96,000
I 9 I 5
109,500
1920
I 24,000
l 9 2 5
139,000
i 93 °
155,000
J 935
17 ^ 5 °°
I 94 °
188,500
Estimated
Consumption
Per person.
(Gallons)
Estimated
Daily
Consumption
(Gallons)
64
6,144,000
69
7 > 555 > 000
74
9,176,000
79
10,981,000
84
13,020,000
89
I 5, 263, 000
94
1*1,719,000
Improvement of the Present Sources of Supply.
The four ponds which constitute the present sources of
supply can be improved so as to furnish water which will
be of fair quality and as safe as any surface water source
in the midst of a large population can be.j^In order to
secure the best water possible from the ponds without filtra-
tion it will be necessary to thoroughly drain the principal
swamps upon their watersheds, remove or cover with gravel
the mud and other organic matter upon the bottoms of the
various ponds, construct sewers and drains to remove the
sewage and street wash from the most thickly settled por-
tions of the watersheds, construct water-tight vaults where
vaults are necessarily situated within a short distance of
any stream or other body of water tributary to the sources
of supply, purchase land where.the most dangerous sources
of pollution exist, and maintain a constant and thorough
inspection of the ponds and their watersheds by capable
and trustworthy men.
57
The water flowing in the Saugus river is of such poor _
quality for so many reasons that it is not feasible to make
good water of it, except by filtration or storage, although
its quality can be much improved by the ditching of swamps,
the prevention of the direct discharge of sewage into its
tributary streams and by the sanitary control of the water-
shed.
The Drainage of Swamps. The feasibility of draining
the principal swamps upon the watersheds of the various
ponds has been carefully investigated. There are upon
the watersheds of the four ponds about 306 acres of
swamps distributed as follows :
Acres,
III
20
Breed’s pond
Birch pond .
Walden pond
Hawkes pond
4 1
*34
Total ...*.. 306
Very little has been done toward draining these swamps,
other than to deepen the channels of the streams which
flow through them. While this has probably kept portions
of the swamps from remaining saturated with water and
has thus reduced the quantity of organic matter taken up,
it has not provided for the prompt removal of water flowing
toward the swamp from the hard land before it has an
opportunity to come in contact with the organic matter.
It appears to be feasible in every case at a reasonable
expense to thoroughly drain the swamps so that the water
flowing from the high land toward the swamp can be
quickly taken away by the stream without passing over
and through a great mass of organic material. To drain
the swamps will require in each case the construction of a
main channel of sufficient capacity and depth to quickly
remove all of the water brought to it. From this ditch,
branch ditches should be constructed from ioo to 200 feet
apart, extending in either direction to the edge of the
swamp. In most cases the fall of the stream at the outlet
of the swamp is so rapid that very little excavation of the
channel below the swamp will be required. To thoroughly
drain the swamps upon the watersheds of the ponds will
require the construction of about 18 1-2 miles of ditches at
an estimated cost of about $7,000. This does not include
land damages, but much of the swamp area is now owned
by the city and the remaining areas would be greatly bene-
fited by thorough drainage, so that there should be very
little or no expense on this account.
The area of swamps upon the watersheds of each of the
ponds and the cost of draining them are as follows :
Area of Swamp.
Cost of Draining.
Breed’s pond, 111 acres
$2,540
Birch pond, 20 “
. 460
Walden pond, 41 “
940
Hawkes pond, 134 “
3,06°
$7,000
Imfrove 7 nent of Bottoms of Ponds.
The mud and
organic matter at the bottom of Hawkes pond was removed
or covered at the time the reservoir was constructed.
This work was apparently quite thoroughly done and the
59
bottom now seems to be in good condition. At times when
the water in the pond has been drawn to a low level there
has been a rank growth of weeds over the bottom causing
an accumulation of organic matter, which will tend to
counteract the good effects of the original cleaning of the
bottom.
Portions of the bottom of Walden pond have been
improved, this work being done at different times when
the water has been drawn out of the pond. From the
reports of the Water Board it appears that the total area
from which the mud has either been removed or covered
amounts to about 125 acres, or 52 per cent of the total area
of the pond.
Unfortunately, if the present sources of supply are to be
maintained without material additions, it would be unsafe
to draw the water from Walden pond for a sufficient
length of time to permit of cleaning of the bottom, without
causing a shortage of water. It will be possible, however,
to improve the bottom in the shallower portions of the pond
and it is here that such work is of the most importance.
The existence of great deposits of organic matter in the
deeper places, however, will cause much trouble at certain
seasons of the year due to the "fermentation” of the water.
It is probable that about seventy-five acres of the bottom
of Walden pond can be improved in addition to that
already improved, leaving about 17 per cent of the area
which can not well be reached. The work would have to
be done during the latter part of the season after the water
has been drawn down and when the other ponds are full.
It will undoubtedly be cheaper in most cases to cover the
6o
mud with material taken from the shore than to attempt to
remove it, and the estimated cost of doing this work in
Walden pond is $35,000.
When Birch pond was originally constructed, very little
was done to the bottom other than cutting some of the
brush. Some of the stumps have been removed, but the
original mud remains upon the bottom, and many of the
stumps are still standing. A survey of the pond has been
made and soundings of the mud have been taken. Of the
total area of the bottom about 60 acres, or 75 per cent,
should be improved. Gravel can be obtained along the
shores of the pond for covering the mud, and the total cost
of covering will probably be about $24,000. It will not
be feasible to do this work, unless provision is made for
drawing water for the supply of the city from the other
ponds, as under present conditions water must be drawn
from Birch pond whenever the pumps are in operation.
The bottom of Breed’s pond until 1907 remained practic-
ally in its original condition. At that time when the water
was drawn to a low level, two small areas at the upper end
of the pond where the water is shallowest were covered with
gravel to a depth of from six inches to one foot. The total
area improved in this manner was about five acres. The
mud in many portions of Breed’s pond is from a foot to six
feet in depth, and the total area of mud is forty-five acres.
To cover this mud where it is deepest will require the
thorough draining and drying up of the bottom of the pond,
and it is possible that in places it may be necessary to place
a platform of some kind to hold the gravel and keep it from
sinking into the mud. Gravel can be obtained at convenient
6 1
places along the shore of the pond, so that the haul will
not be great, and it is probable that the whole mud area of
the pond can be covered with gravel at a cost of about
$16,000.
The total cost of improving the bottoms of the ponds
may be summarized as follows :
Area of Mud.
Acres.
Estimated cost
of covering.
Breed’s pond
• 45 •
. $16,000
Birch pond
. 60 .
. 24,000
Walden pond
• 75 •
35, OOO
Total,
"“'4
0
O
0
Protection of Sources of Supply fro?n Pollution. All
of the ponds are so situated that their shores are likely
to be resorted to very largely ; and in the case of
Breed’s and Walden ponds, the public has been encouraged
to visit the ponds by the construction of paths and roads
along the shores and along the tributary streams. Much
travelled highways also skirt the shores of Birch and
Breed’s ponds. The watershed of Walden pond lies almost
entirely within the Lynn Woods reservation and contains no
population, so that the only danger of the direct pollution
of this source is from the use of the Lynn Woods for
pleasure purposes. The danger of pollution from this
source can be made very small by proper police protec
tion.
The watershed of Breed’s pond is very largely within the
Lynn Woods, but there are a few houses, the drainage
from which might find its way more or less directly into
the pond near the gate-house. The sewage from these
62
houses can be removed from the watershed without any
serious difficulty. The cost of a sewer for this purpose
would not be more than $1,000.
The watershed of Birch pond contains a number of
houses, including several summer camps. It will be diffi-
cult to construct a sewer to convey the sewage from all of
this population outside of the watershed, or to connect with
the city sewers. It is essential, however, that sewers
should be provided for those houses, which are located on
the slopes leading directly to the pond, if the water is to be
used without filtration ; and it is also desirable that the
drainage from the street which runs along the edge of the
pond should be conveyed to a point outside of the water-
shed of the pond and thus prevent the entrance of great
quantities of street filth at times of storms. Tight vaults
can for the present be provided for the buildings in the
upper portion of the watersheds. A rough estimate of the
cost of the work essential to be done at once is $10,000.
If it were a question only of the pollution of the water
from the present buildings, it might very likely be found
to be cheaper to purchase some of the property and remove
the houses than to construct sewers, but should these houses
be purchased, there is nothing to prevent the construction
of houses on other land within the watershed. It will
probably be desirable to purchase some of the land within
the watershed of this pond in any case. The preservation
of the purity of this pond is of the utmost importance under
the present conditions, since the water from it is drawn
directly to the pumps and thence supplied to the city with-
out the purifying effect of long storage which is possible in
the case of the other ponds.
63
The Hawkes pond watershed contains a large popula-
tion, most of which is situated upon Hawkes brook which
enters the reservoir at its upper end. The watershed con-
tains about ioo houses, many of them situated close to the
stream, The village of South Lynnfield is largely within
the watershed. In order to thoroughly protect this brook
from sewage pollution, a sewer should be constructed to
serve the houses in South Lynnfield, and tight vaults should
be constructed for all houses which cannot be served by
the sewers. The sewage cannot be discharged into any
stream, so that purification works will be necessary in con-
nection with any scheme for sewerage in this vicinity. The
vaults should be inspected from time to time by the city
authorities and it will probably be necessary for the city to
pay the expense of keeping the vaults clean. In some
cases the conditions are so bad that it is desirable for the
city to purchase the control of the property. There are
several large piggeries on the watershed, the filthy drain-
age from which flows directly or indirectly into the brook,
and in some cases the hogs wallow in the streams or along
the edge of the meadows tributary to the streams. There
is also a slaughter-house situated within a short distance of
the brook. Both the piggeries and the slaughter-house
should be removed to some point outside of the watershed,
since some filth from these must inevitably find its way
into the brook. Considerable improvement has been made
in the condition of this brook, and several of the worst
cases of pollution have been removed, but there yet remains
much to be done if the water is to be used without filtration.
It is possible that the construction of sewers can be deferred
6 4
if suitable precautions are taken to prevent the entrance of
polluting matter, by the purchase of property, the con-
struction of vaults and thorough inspection. The cost of
construction of water-tight vaults and other work within the
watersheds would amount to about $3,000. The amount
which might be expended to good advantage in the pur-
chase of land along the streams is very uncertain, but for
the purposes of estimate it may be assumed that the sum of
$5,000 should be expended in this way in the immediate
future.
To summarize, the cost of improving the quality of the
water of the four storage reservoirs and their tributaries
would be as follows :
Draining swamps
Improving bottoms
Protection from pollution
$ 7,000
75? 000
19,000
Total
$101,000
Improvement of Saugus River . The water of the Saugus
river above the canal at Montrose, as already indicated, is
highly colored from contact with the vegetable matter in the
swamps through which the water passes, and it is also
polluted by sewage, some of which finds its way quite
directly into the stream. The water is unfit for domestic
use in its present condition.
In order to use this water without filtration, it would be
necessary to remove so far as possible the various sources
of pollution, to keep the swamps from being flooded, and
then to provide for the storage of the water for a long
period in a suitably prepared storage reservoir.
6s
By storage in reservoirs for a suitable length of time the
disease germs would be completely removed, and the water
drawn from the reservoir would be less highly colored than
the water entering it. The period during which the water
should be stored varies with the conditions, but it is certain
that if the Saugus river should be stored for a period of
four months any disease germs present in the river water
would be absolutely destroyed.
The town of Wakefield is already provided with a sewer-
age system, and much of the sewage from this town is
removed from the watershed. The town of Reading, how-
ever, which has a large population is without a sewerage
system, and the sewage from many buildings finds its way
very directly into the streams. The construction of a
sewerage system for this town has been under consideration
for several years and plans have already been prepared.
The water which receives the drainage from Reading
passes through one end of Quannapowitt Lake, so that it
already receives some benefit from storage. There are
numerous other sources of pollution along the stream and
its tributaries at points nearer the head of the canal, but in
all of these cases, with the enforcement of rules and regu-
lations similar to those now in force for the protection of
the other sources of supply, the direct pollution of the
stream by sewage can be largely prevented.
It would be practically impossible to drain the immense
areas of swamps within the watershed of the Saugus river,
and in fact, with the present canal it is impossible to draw
water into Hawkes pond without flooding the swamps. It
would appear to be feasible to improve the channel of the
66
main stream above the canal and to construct tributary-
ditches so as to prevent the flooding of the meadows,
except at times of extreme high water, but this would be
of little use if the present method of obtaining water by
raising its level is continued.
Under the present plan, water from the river is taken at
times of high flow through the canal into the upper end of
Hawkes pond. Water from Hawkes pond is drawn
through another canal to the Walden pond pumping sta-
tion where it is pumped into Walden pond. Water is taken
from the Saugus river only at times of high flow. In this
way both Walden pond and Hawkes pond contain water
from the Saugus river. In order to provide sufficient
storage for the Saugus river water to insure the destruction
of all of the disease germs and make the water safe for
domestic purposes it would be necessary to hold the water
of Hawkes pond and of Walden pond in storage for a
period of about four months after the flow from the Saugus
river had ceased. During this period water must be drawn
from the other ponds for the supply of the city.
Calculations have been made to determine the length of
time under average conditions and under the most unfavor-
able conditions during which it would be possible to store
the water in Walden and Hawkes ponds. It is found that
with the estimated consumption in 1910 it would be possi-
ble in a year of average rainfall to supply the city for a
period of five months from Birch and Breed’s ponds, dur-
ing which time the water of Walden pond and Hawkes
pond could remain in storage. During a very dry year
this time would be only 3 1-2 months. With the esti-
67
mated consumption for the year 1915? it would be possible
to store the water in Hawkes and Walden ponds for a
period of 3 1-2 months in the average years, and for 1 1-2
months during an extremely dry year. In these compu-
tations it has been assumed that Birch and Breed’s ponds
would be full at the time the draft of water from the Saugus
river is begun, and that the water would be drawn entirely
out of Breed’s and Birch ponds before any water is used
from Hawkes or Walden ponds. This is not a plan to be
recommended, however, since the water of the reservoirs
in warm weather is certain to become objectionable when
drawn to a low level. Furthermore, the exposed bottoms
of the ponds would be exceedingly unsightly and an excel-
lent opportunity would be afforded for a rank growth of
weeds, which would affect the quality of the water during
the succeeding season. It does not seem feasible to secure
a safe water from the Saugus river with the works as at
present constructed.
It is evident that if Hawkes pond should be filled with
water which can be safely used, and if Walden pond is
the only pond receiving Saugus river water directly, the
time during which the Saugus river water could be stored
would be very greatly increased. To accomplish this,
two methods seem to be possible. First, a pipe might be
laid from the upper end of Hawkes pond to a point below
the dam in order to carry* the Saugus river water around
Hawkes pond, whence it could flow to the Walden pond
pumping station and thence be pumped into Walden pond.
This would keep the Hawkes pond water free from con-
tamination from the polluted Saugus river water and this
68
pond with its large storage and its comparatively large
watershed would be made available for use during the
time the Saugus river water is stored in Walden pond.
Another scheme for getting the water from the Saugus
river into Walden pond without passing it through Hawkes
pond would be to abandon the present Walden pond pump-
ing station and to construct a pumping station at Montrose
near the head of the present canal with a force-main run-
ning along Lowell street for about 5,000 feet and thence
along the valley of a small tributary of Hawkes brook
into Walden pond watershed. It would be possible to
construct a small intake basin just above Lowell street
which would back the water up to about the head of the
canal without flooding the meadows and furnshing a suffi-
cient basin so that the pumps could be operated to advan-
tage. A pumping station could be erected near Lowell
street equipped with electrically driven centrifugal pumps.
The pumping capacity for many years in the future need
not be more than 10,000,000 gallons per 24 hours. The
most economical force-main for this amount of water
would be a 24-inch main, and the length of force-main
would be 9,000 feet ; the static head against which the
pumps would have to operate would be 22 feet, while the
total dynamic head operated at the 10,000,000 gallon rate
would be from 50 feet to 60 feet.
The advantages of this scheme over the scheme of lay-
ing a pipe through or around Hawkes pond are very great.
In the first place, it would be possible to take water from
the Saugus river without flooding the vast area of meadows
as is necessary with the present canal. The cost of pump-
6 9
ing will also be very small as compared with the cost of
pumping at the present pumping station. The lift required
to get the water from the Saugus river into Walden pond
would be only about 22 feet, while at present the water
from the Saugus river flows through Hawkes pond and
thence to Walden pond pumping station, making it neces-
sary to lift it about 40 feet when Walden pond is full.
Furthermore, it would be possible to draw water for the
supply of the city or for the filling of the other ponds from
Hawkes pond during the time when water was being
pumped from the Saugus river into Walden pond, which
would not be possible if the Saugus river water was carried
around Hawkes pond, unless a separate pipe should be
carried from the Saugus canal through to the Walden pond
pumping station.
If the pumping plant should be constructed and the
force-main laid from Montrose to Walden pond, with
similar assumptions to those previously made, it would be
possible to store the water in Walden pond during a very
dry year without drawing any water whatever from this
source for a period of about five and one-half months when
the consumption is as great as it is estimated to be in the
year 1910. During an average^year the period of storage
would be 10 months. When the consumption reaches the
estimated consumption for the year 1915, these figures
would be four months for a very dry year and six and one-
half months for an average year. As in the previous case,
this assumes that all of the water will be drawn from the
other reservoirs before any is used from Walden pond and
this would mean poor water for a time. If only one-half
70
of the water stored in Birch, Breed’s and Hawkes ponds
should be drawn from storage, the time during which water
could be stored in Walden pond would be about three
months during a dry year and five and one-half months
during an average year with the estimated consumption for
1910 ; and one and one-half months during a dry year and
four and one-half months during an average year with the
estimated consumption for 1915. It would seem possible,
therefore, even up to 1915 to secure storage for the Saugus
river for a sufficient period to insure the destruction of any
disease germs which may be in the water discharged from
that stream into Walden pond, but it would mean that dur-
ing very dry years the ponds would be drawn to a very low
level, and the water consequently would be likely to be of
poor quality and an opportunity would be afforded for a
growth of weeds and grasses on the exposed bottoms.
The cost of the works for pumping water from the Sau-
gus river at Montrose directly into Walden pond is esti-
mated to be as follows :
Intake basin on Saugus
river .
$5, ooo
Pumping station .
. .
1,000
Pumping machinery ( 1
0,000,000 gal. cap.)
5, ooo
Force main, 24-inch
* . . .
45,000
Land damages
.
5, ooo
Total
• • • •
$61,000
If these works should be installed, there would be no
further use for the Walden pond pumping plant, which
could be sold. No deduction has been made for this plant,
as the amount which would be received by its sale is very
uncertain.
7i
Changes in Piping.
A very essential part of any plan for utilizing the present
sources without filtration is to construct pipe lines of suffi-
cient size so that water can be drawn from any one of the
reservoirs in sufficient quantities for the supply of the city
without using water from any other source. These pipes
should also be of sufficient size to permit of the rapid filling
of Birch and Breed’s ponds from the upper ponds. For
this purpose it would be desirable to construct a 36-inch
pipe line from Hawkes pond to the present Walden pond
pumping station, there to connect with the lines now in
existence leading to Walden pond and to Birch pond.
There are now two lines of 30-inch pipe from the Walden
pond pumping station to the upper end of the tunnel at the
head of Birch pond. It would probably be desirable to
lay a pipe inside of the tunnel extending beyond the tunnel
along the edge of Birch pond to a point below the pond,
there to connect with the present 22-inch and 30-inch lines
leading to the Walnut street pumping station. At the
upper end of Birch pond, provisions could be made so that
one of the 30-inch pipes could discharge into Birch pond
when the other was conveying water around Birch pond
either to the pumping station or to Breed’s pond.
Breed’s pond is at present connected with the pumping
station by an 18-inch pipe. A 36-inch pipe should be
laid from the pond to connect with the present pipes from
Birch pond to the pumping station. This connection could
be made at a point about 4,000 feet below Birch pond, and
the connection would be about 2,300 feet in length. With
72
these changes in piping it would be possible to draw from
any one of the reservoirs in sufficient quantity to supply
the city. At the same time that water was being drawn
from any reservoir it would be possible to do a certain
amount of filling of the lower reservoirs from the upper
reservoirs.
The cost of these changes in the piping would be about
as follows :
Line from Hawkes pond to Walden pond pump-
ing station, 4,480 feet 36-inch pipe at $8.70 . $39,000
Extension of 30-inch pipes through tunnel, 1,358
feet at $7.00 ...... 9,500
36-inch pipe from upper end to lower end of
Birch pond, 5,000 feet at $8.70 . . . 43,500
Cnnnection with Breed’s pond and present line
from Birch pond to pumping station, 2,200
feet of 36-inch pipe at $8.70
20,000
Total ........
$112,000
The cost, therefore, of obtaining the best water possible
from the present sources of supply would be about as fol-
lows :
Drainage of swamps .....
Removing or covering mud ....
Cleaning up watersheds .....
Intake basin on Saugus river ....
Force-main Saugus river to Walden pond .
Pumping plant ......
New mains from reservoirs ....
Land damages .......
$7,000
75. 000
19.000
5.000
45 .000
6.000
ii 2,000
5. 000
Total ........
Engineering inspection and contingencies 15 per
cent ........
$274,000
41,100
Total
$315, io °
73
Vitality of Water Obtainable fro?n Present Sources .
The quality of water which would be obtained by the
above works would be considerably better than the quality
of the water now furnished to the city, and by the proper
use of the Saugus river and the storage reservoirs and
with competent inspection a water could be obtained which
would be reasonably safe. The water furnished to the
city, however, would be highly colored, it would generally
have a slight vegetable taste and odor and would be subject
at times to growths of organisms which would make it
very objectionable. While it is very likely that such
growths will occur at times in all of the reservoirs simul-
taneously, it is probable that at other times certain of the
reservoirs will be affected while others are not, and with
the plan proposed it would be possible to deliver to the
consumers water from the best source. After everything
has been done to prevent the pollution, there will still be
the possibility of local pollution of any of the sources,
which cannot be entirely prevented in a densely populated
neighborhood, but this with proper inspection cannot be
considered a great danger. The water will not be a clean
water, on account of the large amount of street wash con-
taining horse manure and other filth from the streets which
will be washed into the reservoirs at times of storms. In
dry seasons, the ponds, except Walden pond will be
drawn to a low level, becoming unsightly, affording an
opportunity for the growth of weeds and at such times
probably furnishing poor water.
The water supply developed as outlined and providing
for the storage of the Saugus river water for a sufficient
74
time to insure the destruction of all disease germs would
probably be sufficient to last until about the year 1915 if
the water of Quannapowitt Lake is not taken for the supply
of Wakefield. If Wakefield should take its water supply
from Quannapowitt and divert all of the water as it is
privileged to do, the supply would last until about the year
1912. The population on the Saugus river watershed is
increasing quite rapidly and it will be* increasingly difficult
and expensive to restrict the pollution of the water. At the
same time the period of storage of this water in Walden
pond which will be possible will be rapidly decreasing
with the increased population and use of water in Lynn, so
that it is likely that some other source than the Saugus
river will be found desirable before the limit of the capacity
is reached, unless the supply is filtered.
If the present sources should be used as outlined above
and it should be found desirable to add to the supply, it
‘would be necessary, unless the water should be purified to
find some unpolluted source which could be used during
the time when the Saugus river is stored. The most
available source for this purpose appears to be Pillings
pond, the water of which can be carried to Hawkes pond
by gravity, but the yield of the sources would not be very
greatly increased by the use of this pond. The water of
the Ipswich river can be pumped into the watershed of
Pillings pond at a comparatively small expense and be
passed through filter-beds before being discharged into the
pond, giving a large additional supply. These possibilities
for obtaining an additional supply will be discussed more
in detail subsequently in connection with the development
of other schemes.
75
Use of the Tributaries of the Saugus River.
The water obtained from the Saugus river is of such
objectionable character, due both to the pollution and to
the large areas of swamps bordering the streams, that it
has been proposed to take the water from its two principal
tributaries, Pillings brook and Beaver dam brook, using
the water from these sources instead of the water of the
main stream.- By the use of these two branches in connec-
tion with the ponds, it would be possible to obtain a yield
of about 6,300,000 gallons per day. This would be suffi-
cient to supply the city, until about the year 1911 without
the use of the main stream.
Examinations of the water of Beaver dam brook made
during the past year show that its quality is very little if
any better than that of the Saugus river. The brook drains
a large area of swamp, and its watershed contains a con-
siderable portion of the village of Lynnfield center. If the
water is to be used without long storage, it would be neces-
sary to expend a large sum in preventing its pollution. The
water which during dry weatheris of fairly good color, dur-
ing wet seasons has a very high color. Studies have been
made to see if it would be possible to use the water of this
brook either by the construction of a gravity line to Hawkes
pond or by pumping it into the watersheds of Pillings or
Walden ponds. It is found that to get the water into
Hawkes pond by gravity, it would be necessary to construct
a dam and flood a large area to a small depth. The area
which would be flooded is swampy, and the water stored
would be of an exceedingly poor quality. Furthermore,
7 6
the expense of obtaining the water and preventing its pol-
lution would be entirely disproportionate to the value of the
water which would be obtained.
The same may be said of any scheme for pumping the
water. During dry weather the flow of the stream is very
small and it would probably be uneconomical to operate a
pump, except at times when the flow of the stream is high.
In this way a large proportion of the yearly flow of the
brook would be lost.
Pillings pond is about one mile from the upper end of
Hawkes pond. The pond is now used to store water for
operating a cider-mill. The elevation of high water in the
pond is 101.6, or about 31 feet above the level of the water
in the Saugus river. The pond has a watershed of 1.60
square miles which is practically uninhabited, except that
there is a large summer population in cottages on the
shores of the pond. The pond itself is shallow, the
general depth being six feet, and at one end of the pond
there is an extensive area of swamp. The pond has a
muddy bottom over its entire area. The area of the pond
is 70 acres and its storage capacity about 100,000,000
gallons, which is small in comparison with its watershed.
The water at the outlet of the pond, notwithstanding the
unfavorable character of the pond for storing water is of
much better quality than that of any of the present sources
of water supply. If it can be connected with the present
sources at a reasonable expense this pond would make a
valuable addition to the supply.
The yield of Pillings pond, together with the reservoirs
which constitute the present sources of supply would be
77
about 5,500,000 gallons per day in a very dry season,
which is about the present consumption of water in the
city. It will still be necessary, therefore, if the water of
Pillings pond is taken to use the water of the main stream
at times. During average years the supply from Pillings
pond would be sufficient so that it would not be necessary
to pump any water from the Saugus river until the
consumption increases considerably beyond the present
amount.
Two methods of securing the water from this pond have
been considered ; first, by laying a gravity main into
Hawkes pond watershed, allowing the water of Pillings
pond to flow into Hawkes pond by gravity; second, by
laying a gravity main to the Walden pond watershed and
with arrangements so that the water can be discharged
either into Walden pond or into Hawkes pond. The works
for conveying the water to Hawkes pond would be very
inexpensive to construct, but the disadvantage of this
scheme is that when it is necessary to use water from the
Saugus river, the water in Hawkes pond must be kept
stored for a period of several months, and no water from
Pillings pond could be used during this period to eke out
the present supply, as it would all have to pass through
Hawkes pond. If Pillings pond is to be used it is desir-
able that the water of the Saugus river be pumped directly
from Montrose to Walden pond, and under these circum-
stances the water from Pillings pond can be conveyed to
Walden pond through the same pipe at a comparatively
small additional expense.
The works which would be necessary for carrying out
this scheme are as follows :
7 8
Construct a small intake basin on the Saugus river at a
point just above Lowell street, backing water up to about
the head of the old canal, but without flooding the
meadows. Construct a 10,000,000 gallon centrifugal
pumping plant, the pumps to be operated by electric
motors. From the pumping station construct an 18-inch
force-main along Lowell street to a point where it would
intercept a gravity main from Pillings pond to Walden
pond. Construct from Pillings pond to Walden a 36-inch
main, chiefly of concrete, discharging into the westerly
arm of the pond, at a point where this main crosses
Hawkes brook gates and a blow-off should be provided so
that the water from Pillings pond can be discharged into
Hawkes pond when desirable.
The difference in elevation between Walden and Pil-
lings pond is about eight feet, and a 36-inch pipe would
discharge about 12,000,000 gallons of water per day.
This is more than Pillings pond would furnish, but a 36-
inch pipe is recommended with a view to conveying the
water of the Ipswich river to Walden pond at some time,
since it is plain that if this scheme is adopted, the ultimate
development of the supply will be by pumping the Ipswich
river water into Pillings pond watershed.
In a year of average rainfall with the present consump-
tion of water, it would not be necessary to pump any water
whatever from the Saugus river if Pillings pond were con-
nected with the system. With the estimated consumption
in 1915 and in a year of average rainfall it would be nec-
essary to pump about 500,000,000 gallons of water during
the year in order to fill the reservoirs.
79
In an exceedingly dry year with the present consump-
tion, it might be necessary to pump about 100,000,000 gal-
lons during the year.
In a very dry year in 1915 it would be necessary to
pump 875,000,000 gallons from the Saugus river during
the year.
It will be seen from this that during the next few years
the Pillings pond supply would be likely to furnish all of
the water required in addition to the water from the pres-
ent ponds, but if a dry year should come, it would be
necessary to pump a small quantity from the Saugus river
or from some other source.
When the undesirable water from the Saugus river is
used for filling up Walden pond, the water of Pillings pond
could be discharged into Hawkes brook at a point where
the main would cross that stream, and the addition of this
water to Hawkes pond would lengthen materially the time
during which the water of Walden pond could be stored.
The adoption of this plan would give the city the best
water which it is practicable to secure from the present
sources without filtration, supplemented by any of the avail-
able sources in the vicinity. By thoroughly draining the
swamps upon the watersheds of the ponds, removing or
covering the mud on the bottom of Birch and Breed’s
ponds, and so far as possible on the bottom of Walden
pond, water could be obtained, the color of which would
be considerably less than the color of the water now sup-
plied to the city. The color, however, will increase as
more water from Saugus river is required. The water
will have a vegetable taste, and will be subject to growths
8o
of organisms as at present, except that the cleaning of the
reservoirs and the drainage of swamps will assist some-
what in diminishing the troubles from this cause, and by
making possible the drawing of water from any one of the
ponds directly to the pumps, the troubles from this cause
will be still further diminished.
The following is a rough estimate of the cost of con-
struction for comparison with the cost of construction in the
other schemes previously outlined :
Estimated Cost of Improving the Present Sources of
Supply by taking Water from Pillings Pond
Without Filtration.
Drainage of swamps
.
$7,000
Improvement of bottom of ponds
.
.
75, ooo
Pipe line from Hawkes pond to
pumping station
Walden
pond
39,000
Extension of pipe through tunnel
pond .....
above
Birch
9 ? 5 °°
Pipe line around Birch pond
.
.
43 > 5 °°
Pipe line to Breed’s pond
.
.
20,000
Intake basin on Saugus river
.
.
5, ooo
Pumping plant, including station
.
.
6,000
Gravity main from Pillings pond to
Walden pond
65,000
Force-main from Saugus river to
above gravity main
connect with
18,000
Protection from pollution
.
.
20,000
Land and water damages
•
25,000
Total .....
.
$ 333 >°°°
Engineering inspection and contngencies,
cent ......
15 per
49 i 95 °
Total .....
.
.
$ 3 82 i 95 °
8i
In this case, also, the Walden pond pumping plant will
be of no further use and the amount received from its sale
should be deducted from the figures given above.
Use of Water from Present Sources After Filtration.
The filtration of the water supply of Lynn has been
under consideration for many years and has for a long
time been considered a part of the plan for the future
development of the supply.
In 1898, the Water Board in its report to the mayor and
the City Council made the following recommendations :
“ Purity of Water.”
"This is a subject of the highest importance for the wel-
fare of our citizens. Such an important factor in the daily
life of every individual should be delivered to them in the
highest degree of purity possible. To effect this most
desirable result a large amount of labor has already been
performed in improving the watersheds and cleaning out
the beds of the ponds.
"It is desirable to still further continue our work in
another direction. For some time particular attention has
been given to the purification of surface water supplies by
filtration. The most comprehensive studies of the results
to be gained by filtration have been obtained by the State
Board of Health during the last ten years at their experi-
ment station at Lawrence.
" The value of their experiments may be deduced from
the fact that an experimental filter so located as to make it
82
comparable with a large filter of a city supply system has
given an average bacterial efficiency of 99.70 per cent,
while under continuous operation one year.
" The improvement made in the purity of a water supply
by filtration is more plainly shown by the effect upon the
health of the people of Lawrence from the filter built under
the advice of the State Board of Health, and first put in
operation September 20, 1893.
"To still further improve the quality, we recommend the
filtration through sand, as recommended by the State
Board of Health for Lawrence.”
Three years later in 1901, legislative authority was ob-
tained by the city to "establish filtration beds for the filtra-
tion of its present water supply or any additional water sup-
p ] y-”
Early in 1906, Mr. Allen Hazen, civil engineer, made
a report to the Mayor of the city recommending the puri-
fication of the present sources of supply by some form of
filtration.
Later in the same year, the engineer of the State Board
of Health and the city engineer of Lynn after a thorough
investigation of the sources of supply, and the possibilities
of increasing and improving the supply, recommended the
filtration of the present sources by slow sand filtration.
It is undoubtedly a fact that whatever plan is adopted to
meet the present requirements, the city of Lynn will be
obliged eventually to filter its water supply in accordance
with the recommendation of the water board made nine
years ago, and the advice of the other experts who have
studied the subject. In this respect the city is in no differ-
83
ent position from that of other cities supplied from streams
and ponds, and especially those cities where the sources
are located near a large center of population.
By filtration the water of the present sources can be
made absolutely safe, and in no other way can this be
be done ; neither is there any other w£y to prevent the
troubles occurring from the growth of organisms in the
water.
There are two methods of filtration which might be
adopted ; the first known as slow sand filtration ; and the
second as mechanical filtration. Slow sand filtration con-
sists in passing the water through a bed of sand at a suffi-
ciently low rate to permit of the changing over of the
organic matter into inorganic matter. This is practically
the process which we see in nature when water passes
from the surface of the ground into the soil and appears
again in the form of springs or is drawn from wells. By
such filtration all disease germs are removed from the
water, the microscopical organisms are removed together
with all taste and odor caused by them, so that the result-
ing water is absolutely safe, from a sanitary standpoint,
and is clear and free from any other objectionable quali-
ties, except that it still retains some color.
It is possible to apply chemicals to the water before
filtration, by which practically all of the coloring matter
will be coagulated. The water can then be passed
through a settling tank to remove a portion of the coagu-
lated sediment and then passed through filters, the result-
ing water being clear, tasteless, odorless, and practically
colorless, comparable with the best spring water.
8 4
Mechanical filtration requires the use of such coagulants.
The coagulant generally used is alum and if there is
sufficient lime naturally present in the water, no other
chemical is necessary ; but in some cases it is necessary to
add lime or soda ash in addition to the alum. The alum is
applied to the water in quantities varying with different
waters, but in general it amounts to about one grain of
alum per gallon of water filtered, or roughly speaking, for
the purification of the Lynn water about 809 pounds of
alum per day would be required.
After the coagulant is applied the water is passed through
settling tanks, where a large proportion of the precipitated
material is settled out and the water is then passed through
small filters at a rate of from 100,000,000 to 125,000,000
gallons per acre per day. The filters do not act, properly
speaking, as filters, but rather as strainers for straining
out the material which has been coagulated, and the removal
of bacteria is accomplished by mechanical action rather
than any chemical change.
Mechanical filters are cleaned by a mechanical arrange-
ment. When it becomes necessary to clean them, which
with some waters may be several times a day, the current
of water is reversed, the filtered water coming up through
the sand from the bottom and at the same time the sand is
agitated either by revolving arms, or in the more modern
filters by means of compressed air introduced at the bottom
of the filter. This thoroughly washes the sand grains
and the dirty water is carried off from the top of the sand,
after which the filter is ready for another application of
water.
85
Both of these systems of filtration are in common use
and both give good results, mechanical filtration being
preferred where waters are likely to contain clay which
cannot be satisfactorily removed without coagulation.
The first cost of construction of mechanical filters is much
less than the cost of slow sand filters, but on the other
hand the operating expenses of the mechanical filter plant
are much greater than the operating expenses of slow
sand filtration. One great advantage of slow sand filtra-
tion is that it requires less attention than a mechanical fil-
ter plant and the results of inattention or unskilled atten-
tion are much less serious. In the operation of the
mechanical filter plant there are always possibilities of
neglect or of carelessness on the part of the attendants
which will result in unpurified or partially purified water.
With the slow sand filters such chances are very remote.
For the city of Lynn I would unhesitatingly recommend
slow sand filters in preference to mechanical filters.
The coloring matter present in the water is of such a
character that it would not be entirely removed by ordinary
slow sand filtration, and in order to get a complete removal
of the color some coagulant must be used. With the ordi-
nary rates of filtration, the color of the filtered water is
from two-thirds to three-fourths as great as the color of the
water applied to the filter, the color removed depending to
some extent upon the condition of the water in other
respects. By reducing the rate of filtration the color
removal is greatly increased. The color is more effectively
removed from water which has undergone fermentation in
an uncleaned reservoir for some time than it is from water
86
in a flowing stream ; so that the color removal from the
Lynn ponds would probably be considerably greater than
it would in the case of the filtration of the water taken from
a river.
Experiments have been made by the State Board of
Health upon the filtration of the Lynn water and the
experimental results indicate that a slow sand filter operated
at about the usual rate will remove on an average at least
one-third of the color.
The color of the water will increase with the increased
use of water from the Saugus or Ipswich rivers, which are
highly colored sources of supply, and it may be desirable
to remove the color from a portion of this water, or possibly
to decolorize the entire supply at some time in the future,
but this can be done when the necessity arises. With
filtration of the present sources, if the sources are operated
to the best advantage ; that is, if the Saugus river water is
stored for as long a time as possible before being used, a
water will be obtained which is at all times much better
than the best water now supplied to the city. The water
would compare favorably in all respects with the water
supply of any of the cities in eastern Massachusetts sup-
plied from surface water sources, and would be free from
the tastes and colors to which every such water is subject
at times if unfiltered.
Very careful investigations were made by the engineer
of the State Board of Health and the city engineer of
Lynn with reference to the best location of filters. Further
investigations which have been made fail to reveal any
better site than that selected by them. The site selected
8 7
tor the filter-plant is at the city poor farm, where filters
can be built upon land not now occupied, at such an ele-
vation that the raw water can be drawn to them by gravity
from the various ponds and the filtered water can be
delivered by gravity to the present Walnut street pumping
station. The location of the filters upon the poor farm
land would not be objectionable, since they would be cov-
ered with earth and grassed over and would not be in any
way unsightly or interfere with the development of adjac-
ent property.
The water can be filtered satisfactorily by slow sand
filtration at rates of from 2,500,000 gallons per day and
upwards, depending upon the character of the water filtered.
The water drawn from the Lynn reservoirs after having
the benefit of long storage can be filtered at a much more
rapid rate than river water containing a large amount of
sediment, or which is highly polluted.
There will probably be times when the organic matter
present in the water drawn from the reservoirs is increased
♦
by the abundant growths of organisms that a fairly low
rate would be necessary, but it would seem to be perfectly
safe to count on filtering the water at rates of at least
3.000. 000 to 4,000,000 gallons per acre per day, and it is
possible that in the operation of the filter satisfactory
results might be obtained at much higher rates. For the
requirements of the city for a reasonable time in the future,
three acres of filters should be sufficient and this plant
when it is all in use will surely filter from 9,000,000 to
12.000. 000 gallons per day.
An estimate has been made of the cost of six one-half
88
acre filter-beds, so designed that additional filtering area
can be readily added if it should be found necessary. The
filters would consist of four feet in depth of suitable sand,
contained in masonry structures and covered with concrete
roofs.
The filtered water would be collected in a covered
masonry clear water reservoir located near the filters from
which it would flow to the pumping station by gravity, the
function of the clear water reservoir being simply to equal-
ize the flow.
The piping necessary to bring the water to the filters
and to convey it from the filters to the pumping station
would consist of a 36-inch pipe connecting with the present
pipes leading from Birch pond to the pumping station and
a 36-inch pipe from the clear water reservoir to the Wal-
den pond pumping station.
The present distributing reservoir into which the water
is pumped is an open basin holding 20,000,000 gallons or
between three and four days’ supply.
By filtration, the organic matter is changed over to min-
eral matter and this mineral matter furnishes food for
organisms. Organisms, therefore, grow more rapidly in
filtered water than in unfiltered water. The organisms do
not grow in the water, however, if it is not exposed to the
light. For this reason it is possible that it may be found
desirable at some time to separate a portion of the reser-
voir so that the water will not be stored for so long a time,
reserving the water in the remaining portion of the reser-
voir for use in emergencies ; or it may possibly be found
desirable to cover a portion of the reservoir in order to
8 9
keep the water from exposure to the light before it is deliv-
ered to the consumers. It is likely, however, that this
will not be necessary. There are numerous cases where
filtered water is exposed to the light in such reservoirs
without any marked deterioration in its quality, and it is
my opinion that such will be the case in Lynn.
It is probable that it may at some time be desirable to
relocate the distributing reservoir, constructing it at a
higher elevation in order to give greater pressure in the
city. When this is done, it will be wise in any case to
build a covered reservoir, but until that time comes it is not
likely that the reservoir will need reconstruction.
Should the filters be constructed at the present time, all
of the sources of supply would be continued as at present.
The only work which it would be necessary to do in addi-
tion to the construction of the filters, the clear water-basin
and the necessary connections with them, would be to drain
the swamps on the watersheds of the ponds, in order to
reduce so far as possible the color of the water before it is
applied to the filters ; and for the same reason it is desir-
able to install a pumping plant at Montrose to lift the water
from the Saugus river into the canal, and thus obviate the
necessity of flooding the vast areas of swamp above the
canal each time that the water from the Saugus river is
taken into the system.
The cost of the work necessary to be done in connection
with the construction of the filters would be approximately
as follows :
9 °
Six i -2 -acre filter beds complete with all
connections, regulating apparatus, etc.,
Clear water basin ....
36-inch C. I. main to filters .
36-inch concrete main to pumping station,
$177,662
16,897
23,490
20,400
Drainage of swamps ....
Pumping plant at Saugus river
$ 2 3 8 >449
7,000
6,000
Engineering inspection and contingencies
15 per cent. .....
$ 2 5 I >449
37 . 7 2 7
Land damages .....
$289, l66
10,000
Total ......
$299,166
By the purification of the water of the present sources by
slow sand filtration a water will be obtained which will at
all times be clear, tasteless and odorless, and will be an
excellent water for drinking and other domestic uses, hav-
ing all of the good qualities of the present supply with the
objectionable features removed. The water will still have
some color but by the drainage of the swamps upon the
watersheds the color of the water applied to the filters will
be much less than the color of the water at present supplied
to the city, and by filtration about one-third of this color
will be removed. As a result, the color of the water fur-
nished to the city will be hardly noticeable in an ordinary
glass. The color will increase, however, as it becomes
necessary to use a larger proportion of water from the
Saugus river.
9 1
The quantity of water which can be obtained from the
present sources in a very dry season will probably be
sufficient to supply the city until about the year 1922. If
the town of Wakefield should exercise its right to take
water from Lake Quannapowitt, the time would be shortened
somewhat, but even should all of the water be taken from
this source, which seems unlikely, the present sources
would last until at least the year 1919. Should the water
be filtered, the future supply will undoubtedly come from
the Ipswich river, and plans have been made of various
schemes for taking water from this source when it shall
become necessary.
The water of the Ipswich river is more highly colored
than the water of the Saugus river, so that when this source
is taken, unless some method of decolorizing is adopted,
the filtered water is likely to be quite highly colored. It
will probably be found desirable whenever the water of
this source is taken to remove some of the color before it is
discharged into the present sources, or to decolorize the
entire supply.
The best place at which to take the water of the Ipswich
river in connection with the present sources is in the vicin-
ity of the mouth of Will’s brook, a short distance above the
paper-mill. At this point the stream has a large watershed,
and the stream is only a short distance from the edge of
the watershed of the Saugus river. The water from this
source can be pumped into the watershed of Beaver dam
brook, from which it will flow naturally to the present
intake at Montrose, or it could be pumped into the
watershed of Pillings pond, from which it could be con-
9 2
veyed by gravity into either Hawkes pond or Walden pond,
thus obviating the necessity of pumping from the Saugus
river into the canal ; or the water from the Ipswich river
can be pumped directly into Walden pond at a considera-
bly greater first cost that in the case of either of the other
schemes, but saving the necessity of pumping water at the
present Walden pond pumping station.
When the water of the Ipswich river is pumped into the
present sources, it would be possible to construct open sand
filters at a small expense, upon which the water could be
discharged before entering the present sources, and a por-
tion of the color removed from the water by the application
of chemicals.
It is certain that the water from the Ipswich river can
be much improved before it is discharged into the present
sources, but the determination of the best method of doing
this may reasonably be left until the necessity for it arises,
since, what seems now to be the most satisfactory method,
may fifteen years hence seem less desirable.
Supply from rietropolitan District.
Of the possible new or additional sources of supply
there seem to be but two which are feasible, the Metro-
politan Water Supply and the Ipswich river.
The Metropolitan Water District was formed by Chapter
488 of the Acts of the year 1895. It was the intention of
the framers of this act to include Lynn in the district, but
this was successfully opposed by the authorities of the city
of Lynn, so that the city was not included. The district
has constructed works sufficient for several years in the
93
future, and has paid the cost of maintenance and a portion
of the amount necessary to pay the bonded indebtedness
has been assessed upon the cities and towns in the district.
If it could be shown to be for the best interests of the city
of Lynn to enter the Metropolitan district at the present
time, this could undoubtedly be accomplished, but it would
certainly be required that the city should pay upon entering
the district at least its share of the amount already paid in
to the sinking fund in the past, as well as assume its share
of future payments.
If the city of Lynn had entered the Metropolitan district
and had paid a portion of its assessment each year, but be-
ing still supplied from its own works, as in the case of the
city of Newton, its aggregate annual assessments would
now have amounted to over $80,000.00. It is certain that
in justice to other portions of the district, the city would be
compelled to pay this amount for the privilege of entering
the district at the present time.
The distributing pipes of the Metropolitan system have
not been constructed with a view to supplying Lynn and it
would be necessary should Lynn be supplied from these
works, to construct a pipe line from the Fells reservoir into
into the city at a cost estimated in 1894 to be $300,000.00,
but if built now the cost would probably be greater than
this.
The annual assessment, if the city should take all of its
water supply from the district would now be in the vicinity
of $80,000 per year. This would make the total cost of
entering the district in the vicinity of $400,000 and the
annual assessment $80,000.
94
To offset this in part, it would be unnecessary to use the
present pumping station, and the maintenance of the
present reservoirs would also be unnecessary. This would
mean a saving of perhaps $20,000 per year, making the
annual cost about $60,000 per year. This is very much in
excess of the cost of obtaining an ample supply of water
for the future requirements from other sources and of filter-
ing the entire supply ; and the quality of water supplied
by the Metropolitan district would be inferior to that
obtained from the Lynn sources after suitable filtration.
The Metropolitan supply, unless the consumption of the
water in the district is cut down, will not be sufficient for
the needs of the district for more than a few years in the
future, and the addition of Lynn to the district would
shorten the time during which the present sources will sup-
ply the rapidly increasing population. When an additional
supply becomes necessary, the annual payments will prob-
ably be increased considerably.
It has been suggested that the Metropolitan District
might take the present reservoirs of the city of Lynn and
use them, making a payment to the city for the same, as
in the case of the taking of Spot pond. This does not
seem to be probable in view of the fact that the water fur-
nished by the Lynn reservoirs without filtration is of quite
inferior quality as compared with that of the Metropolitan
supply. The reservoirs would appear to be of no use to
the district, except for the supply of Lynn and possibly
Swampscott and Nahant, and the district would have to
maintain another pumping station to supply these places
from the ponds.
95
Had the city entered the Metropolitan district at the time
that the district was formed, it is possible that this might
have been the best and most satisfactory solution of the
water problem. At that time, the Hawkes pond reservoir
had not been constructed and the Walden pond dam had
not been raised. These structures cost, together with the
pumping plant at Walden pond about $700,000 and the
city is paying at the present time about $42,000 annually
for interest on the cost of the works and as a contribution to
the sinking fund to retire the bonds. This amount, in addi-
tion to the cost of maintenance, would now be saved had
the city entered the Metropolitan district in the beginning.
Ipswich River.
Authority was granted to the city of Lynn to take water
from the Ipswich river by Chapter 508 of the Acts of the
Legislature of the year 1901. Section 1 of this Act is in
part as follows :
"The city of Lynn may for the purpose of providing an
additional water supply for itself and its inhabitants, take
by purchase, or otherwise, the water of Ipswich river and
its tributaries, including Martin’s pond, above the point
where said Ipswich river intersects the junction of the
boundary line of the towns of Lynnfield, North Reading
and Middleton, reserving to the owners of mills on said
river their rights as mill owners to use such waters as
flow to said mills, and the dams connected therewith,
except so far as said city shall from time to time actually
divert and use the same for the purposes named in this
act ; provided that the city of Lynn shall not take water
9 6
from the Ipswich river except when the daily flow of said
river at the paper mill dam in the town of Middletown
shall exceed ten million gallons, and then at such times
said city may take all of the flow of said river in excess of
ten million gallons and no more, and shall only exercise
the right to take the waters above mentioned, during the
months of December, January, February, March, April
and May.”
The act also provides that no application for assessment
of damages shall be made foi the taking of any water or
water rights, or for any injury thereto until the water is
actually withdrawn or diverted. It is understood, how-
ever, that the city has made certain payments to some of
the owners of water rights on the river in Ipswich.
The Ipswich river watershed is contiguous to the water-
shed of the Saugus river. At the lowest point where water
can be taken under the act above cited, the river has a
watershed of about 45 square miles. The watershed con-
tains the villages of Wilmington and North Reading,
besides a large scattered population. The total population
on the watershed is estimated to be 3,900, or about 87 per-
sons per square mile. Near the head waters of the river
in the town of Wilmington there is a tannery which now
discharges a large quantity of very foul wastes directly
into the stream.
The principal tributary of the river is Martin’s brook,
which enters the main stream 3.5 miles above the point
where water may be taken. This brook has a watershed
of 12.4 square miles which contains a population of 565 or
45 persons per square mile. Martin’s pond is located on
91
this branch and on its shores are about twenty summer
cottages, the occupants of which are included in the above
figures. There are no serious sources of pollution on
Martin’s brook, except what may come from the use of
these summer cottages and the use of the pond for pleasure
purposes, and the water from this branch could be made
safe to use for domestic purposes by removing the cottages
around the pond, and by proper regulation of the water-
shed.
On the main stream above Martin’s brook there is a
population of 2,530, or about 104 persons per square mile,
and the tannery is also in this portion of the watershed.
The river is bordered throughout a large portion of its
course by extensive swamps, and Martin’s brook has even
more extensive swamps than the main river. The water is
highly colored and contains a large quantity of organic
matter due to its contact with the vegetable matter in the
swamps. The river has but little fall through much of its
course, so that it would be difficult to drain the swamps.
Martin’s pond is a shallow pond, having an area of 90
acres, and a maximum depth of about 6 feet. The bot-
tom contains a deep deposit of soft mud. At one time the
water in Martin’s pond was at a higher level, and a dyke
was constructed to prevent the water flowing back from the
pond into the watershed of the Shawshine river. At cer-
tain seasons of the year, the pond is practically filled with
organisms, and it does not seem feasible to improve its
character, except at a great expense.
The water furnished by Martin’s brook, while it could
be made safe for domestic purposes, is exceedingly high
9 8
colored, and if diverted into the present sources of supply
would increase greatly the color of the water furnished to
the city.
The water of the main stream of the Ipswich river above
Martin’s brook would be considerably polluted by sewage,
and to use the water from this source it would be necessary
either to remove the tannery, or to thoroughly purify the
wastes from it, and then to treat the water either by storage
or filtration, as in the case of the water from the Saugus
river. The same is true if the water should be taken
from the main stream at a point above the paper mill.
It is evident, therefore, that there is but little advantage,
from a sanitary point of view, in taking the water of the
Ipswich river ; and the appearance of the water supplied
to the city if taken from this source and possibly also, the
taste and odor, would be less desirable than that of the
water furnished by the present sources.
Analyses of samples collected during the past season
from the Ipswich river and its tributaries at different points
are given in the accompanying tables ; and for purposes of
comparison, analyses collected at practically the same time
from Saugus river at Montrose are given.
c
o
—
C
>
£
j=
i
c/)
a
Bacteria
per c. c.
UOJJ
. . . 0
P '0
• • • q
ssaupjBH
Pp ri- 00-4-
pauinsuoQ
uaSXxQ
rO m m vO
q tp vo q*
|nitrogen AS |
.0001
.0001
.0002
.0000
as- 2 §
8 8 8 8
3UUO[ll3
00 m *0*0
10 q\ M -
AMMONIA
Albuminoid
Sus-
pend’d
.0010
.006S
.0064
.0184
Dis-
solved
Tt- 00 Tt* O
On 00 M N
0 * K-. N M
q q q q
Total
S' VO 00 '*■
a x <8 a
00 00
Free
00 00 vo n-
S* 3- S- 'S
00 q q
RESIDUE ON
EVAPORATION
uoptu
-Sj uo
ssop[
uo 0 10 0
ip vq q q-
po m pi ro
IBtox
uo 0 00
pp O q q-
vo to l> vo
ODOR
Hot
decid’ly
veg. and
earthy
distinct,
veg. and
unpl.
decid’ly
unpl. and
oily
uroglena
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
Cold
distinct,
veg. and
earthy
distinct,
veg. and
unpl.
distinct,
unpl. and
oily
uroglena
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
APPEARANCE
Color
O vo
VO XT) IO H
Sed-
iment
slight
cons.
cons.
v. slight
•p
3 —
H
v. slight
v. slight
v. slight
v. slight
Date
of
Collec-
tion
1907
July 9
Aug. 29
Sept. 17
Nov. 5
jaquinu
0 w vo Qv
1 & 5 |
58 £• S S
Martin’s Brook.
Bacteria
per c. c.
: : j 8 •
uoji
.0200
ssaupxeii
1.0
2.10
1.6
2.1
1-7
pauinsuoQ
u sSAxq
w m vo
q\ tri \q up xip
NITROGEN AS
I 1 ? i !
o o o o o
sapuiiN
.0010
.0090
.0060
.0020
.0010
auiaomo |
<8 <»«?'? 00
# rO *-• m
AMMONIA
Albuminoid.
Sus-
pend’d
$ § S ^ 'S
8 8 8 8 8
Dis-
solved
\Q M 00 tJ- VO
o\ 0 n 00 n
M M M t- g
0 0 0 q q
Total
O c* vO 00 n
n" to S' § «
q q q q q
Free
O N O CO
S’ 8 5 $ 5
0 0 q q q
RESIDUE ON
EVAPORATION
uopxu
-Si uo
ssot;
K i? !? • 8 3
« d d -j- tn
m° X
ro m’ <0 O' \o
ODOR
Hot
distinct,
veg. and
musty
distinct,
veg. and
musty
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
decided,
musty
and unpl.
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
Cold
faintly
veg. and
musty
distinct,
veg. and
musty
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
distinct.
musty
and unpl.
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
APPEARANCE
Color
1. 00
•S 2
.60
1.2S
1.30
Sedi-
ment
slight
v. slight
cons.
v. slight
v. slight
Turbid-
ity
v. slight
v. slight
v. slight
v. slight
none
Date
of
Collec-
tion
1907
July 9
Aug. 29
Sept. 17
Oct. 30
Nov. 5
aaquin^
Stiff
$ £■ S 8 8
fs
o
o
1—
ca
B
u
c
Bacteria
per c. c.
: : : : s i
uoji
.0120
ss 3 up«H
o o o ro <-<
pauinsuo3
udSAxQ
VO ~ vo 00 00 vo
On >h rO MD t*- xo
NITROGEN AS
saiHUN
§§§§§§
o o o o o o
SOJBJ^XK
o ° o o o o
§ 8 8 8 8 8
aui-iopiQ
o VO <-o 00 00
N N ro rO fO fO
AMMONIA
Albuminoid
Sus-
pend’d
o n oo n o o
M N CO N
8 8 8 8 8 8
i >
flo
75
vO e* OO
N N On O 5 "
q q S 8 8 8
Total j
^ V? g. & £
o q 8 8 8 O
Free
1
.0020
.0060
.0028
.0036
.OO 36
.OO 36
RESIDUE ON
EVAPORATION
uopiu
-Si' iio
ssot;
10 O VO VO VO
•-< q C\ c* fo
ci fO *H N* rO fO
I^ox
8 i? 0 ? <8 R 3
tJ- VO fO V) 'O
ODOR
Hot
decidedly
veg. and
musty
distinct,
veg. and
unpl.
distinct,
veg. and
earthy
distinct,
veg. and
earthy
distinct,
veg. and
earthy
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
Cold
distinct,
veg. and
musty
faintly
veg. and
unpl.
faintly
veg. and
earthy
faintly
veg. and
earthy
faintly
veg. and
earthy
distinct.
veg.
APPEARANCE
Color
>00 10 v? 00 0
ON uo vq rr>
Sedi-
ment
slight
v. slight
cons.
slight
v. slight
v. slight
Turbid-
ity
v. slight
none
v. slight
v. slight
none
v. slight
Date
of
Collec-
tion
I 9°7
July 9
July 29
Aug. 29
Sept. 17
Oct. 30
Nov. 5
aaquin^
00 CO ~ Th VQ H«
VO Tt" GO N CO ~
r- ~ • 0 0 O on
S <8* S* 8 S 8
1
T3
C
O
CL
£
+3
s-
G
Bacteria
Per c. c.
8
cO
UOJJ
.0120
ssaupjBH
00 M O 00
d « m d
p9umsuo3
uaSXxQ
ON VO ^ VO
Tt" CO CJ
NITROGEN AS |
sgjixiJN
§ § 8 §
q q q q
S9}KJ}Ifq
.0020
.0000
.0020
.0010
3UUOIIIO
c* M 00 VO
CO CO
AMMONIA
Albuminoid
Sus-
pend’d
VO 00 rh (SI
S* ^ 8 J?
q 0 q q
Dis-
solved
t 2 58 vS
q o 5 q q
Total
O O N N
00 vO On
ro co rh CO
OOOO
Free
.0036
.0116
.0048
.0064
RESIDUE ON
EVAPORATION
UOI}IU
-Sj uo
ssot;
O 0 to O
Tj- W 00 '<*-
M* N CO
TOOj.
10 O VO l/}
vo up q n
tJ- Tt- tr) so
ODOR
Hot
distinct,
veg. and
f. earthy
distinct,
veg. and
unpl.
distinct,
veg. and
f. musty
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
Cold
distinct
veg. and
f. earthy
faintly
veg.
f. unpl.
faintly
veg.
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
APPEARANCE
Color
VO Tj- VO vo
00 vo q q
Sed-
iment
v. slight
slight
cons.
slight
Turbid-
ity
slight
slight
decided
v. slight
Date
of
Collec-
tion
1907
Aug. 29
Sept. 17
Oct. 30.
Nov. 5
jgqumjq
00 N <» 2
O \Q C/D
S 58 8 8
Skug River at Entrance to flartin’s Pond.
Bacteria
per c. c.
uojj
.0120
ssaupjBH
« m o
pauinsuo3
uaSXxo
O N Os O
N r-r> Tj- ro
NITROGEN AS
.0001
.0001
.0001
.oooo
.OOIO
.0010
.0010
.OOIO
3UUOPO
VO VO 00 00
N CO ro ro
AMMONIA
Albuminoid
Sus-
pend’d
8 8 <8 'S
8 8 8 8
Dis-
solved
'S ? $ s-
cO H-t HH c*
o o o o
Total
vO ^ vO O
*-* Os o*
CO ih *-< N
o o o o
Free
'8 8" *8 8"
8 8 8 8
RESIDUE ON
EVAPORATION
uopiu
•Si uo
ssot;
O O lO O
qv x>» qs ov
ci h< ■-«* cJ
mox
O vo O vo
vq ~ q Tt-
VO 4- vo vo
ODOR
Hot
distinct,
veg. and
musty
distinct.
veg.
distinct,
veg. and
f. unpl.
distinct.
veg.
Cold
faintly
veg. and
musty
distinct.
veg.
faintly
veg.
distinct.
veg.
APPEARANCE
Color
O n VO
Tt- CO Tt- q
Sedi-
ment
v. slight
slight
cons.
none
Turbid-
ity
v. slight
v. slight
v. slight
v. slight
Date
of
Collec-
tion
I 9°7
July 29
Aug. 29
Sept. 17
Nov. 5
jaqumjq
OQ N N
V? $ c c»
Saugus River at Montrose.
[parts per 100,000]
Bacteria
per c. c.
' : : : 8 : $
l> H
• . . VO
UOJJ
. . . . O O
vo vo
" ' * • S o
ssaupjpjj
n q\ vo 00 q
4* 4- VO CO CO CO
poumsuo3
uaSAxQ
cO •- 0* *>. N O
00 vo vo 0 ►h 0*
| NITROGEN AS
N N ^ N HH O
8 8 8 8 8 8
q q q q o q
0 0 0000
§ 8 ? 8 8 §
aimoino
S> \q SB. 08 q\
AMMONIA
Albuminoid
Sus-
pend’d
O Th 0 00 00
8 8 f 8 § t
Dis-
solved
VO VO 00 rf N O
T*- !>. O HH
N H-< N CO CO CO
O O OOOO
Total
O C* CSI Tj- 0 00
!>• hh VO ^ VO
C* C* N CO CO CO
O O OOOO
Free
.0046
.0060
.0072
.0020
.0048
.0048
RESIDUE ON
EVAPORATION
uopiu
-Sj uo
sso^i
O O O VO 0
co tj- rt- ^ vq
cO CO CO cO cO co
I^ox
O VO O O O VO
\q q vo go 00
00 06 d\ ^ 00 t>>
ODOR
Hot
decided,
veg. and
f. musty
distinct,
veg. and
unpl.
decided,
veg. and
musty
distinct.
veg.
distinct.
veg.
distinct.
ve g-
Cold
distinct.
veg.
distinct,
veg. and
unpl.
distinct,
veg. and
musty
faintly
veg.
faintly
veg.
faintly
veg.
APPEARANCE
Color
00 vo N N O Tt-
tj- vo 00 qv qv
Sed-
iment
v. slight
slight
v. slight
slight
v. slight
v. slight
T3
'Jo g
0
H
v. slight
v. slight
v. slight
slight
none
v. slight
Date
of
Collect-
tion
1907
July 9
Aug. 26
Sept. 17
Oct. 29
Oct. 29
Nov. 7
•siaquin^j
N VO M
3 ^ g. < 55 *
§ vH" $8 SB S8
The investigations which have been made show very
clearly that there is no advantage whatever in taking water
from the Ipswich river or from any of its tributaries at the
present time, as the water should be purified or decolorized,
and the expense of obtaining it would be much greater
than the expense of obtaining water from the Saugus river.
It is evident, however, that future additions to the supply
must come from this stream and the source will be a
valuable one for the city, although the water will probably
be used only after purification.
Various schemes for utilizing the water of the Ipswich
river both independently and in connection with the Saugus
river or some of its tributaries, have been investigated.
The schemes investigated are as follows :
Scheme /. Convey the water of the Ipswich river above
Martin’s brook to Hawkes pond by gravity.
Scheme 2. Pump water from Martin’s brook into the
watershed of Beaver dam brook ; thence by gravity to
Hawkes pond, intercepting water from Pillings pond.
Scheme 3. Pump water from Martin’s brook to the
watershed of Pillings pond ; thence by gravity to Hawkes
pond.
Scheme 4. Pump water from Martin’s brook to Pillings
pond; thence by gravity to Walden pond.
Scheme 3. Pump water from Martin’s brook to water-
shed of Walden pond.
io 6
Scheme 6 . Pump water from Ipswich river at Will’s
brook to Beaver dam brook watershed ; thence by gravity
to Hawkes pond, intercepting the water of Pillings pond.
Scheme 7. Pump water from Ipswich river at Will’s
brook to the Pillings pond watershed ; thence by gravity
to Hawkes pond.
Scheme 8 . Pump water from Ipswich river at Will’s
brook into the watershed of Pillings pond ; thence by
gravity to Walden pond.
Scheme p. Pump water from Ipswich river at Will’s
brook to Walden pond watershed.
Scheme io. Pump water from Martin’s brook into the
Saugus river watershed, pumping water from the Saugus
river at Montrose as at present.
Scheme //. Pump water from Ipswich river at Martin’s
brook into the watershed of Saugus river, pumping water
from the Saugus river as at present.
Scheme 12. Pump water from the Ipswich river at
Will’s brook to the Beaver dam brook watershed, taking
the water from the Ipswich river as at present.
Scheme ij. Pump water from the Ipswich river at
Will’s brook to Pillings pond watershed, pumping the
water from the Saugus river as at present.
Any scheme for using the water of the Ipswich river or
its tributaries without filtration involves the drainage of the
107
swamps on the watersheds of the present ponds ; covering
or removing the mud on the bottoms of the ponds and the
protection of the ponds from pollution in the manner previ-
ously described in connection with the development of the
present sources. It would also be necessary in order to
obtain the best water possible to construct pipe lines so that
the water could be drawn by the pumps from any one of
the ponds. Any scheme for using the water of this river
would also involve payment for the diversion of the water,
to the owners of every mill privilege between the point of
taking and the sea. In case the water is taken from the
main stream, it would be necessary to remove the tannery
in Wilmington or to provide for the thorough purification
of the wastes discharged therefrom.
io8
Scheme 1 .
Convey Water from the Ipswich River above Martin's
Brook to Hawkes Pond by Gravity.
Above Martin’s brook in the vicinity of the Reading
water works there was formerly a mill pond, and it has been
suggested that a dam might be constructed at this place to
raise the water somewhat so that it could be conveyed to
Hawkes pond by gravity. The construction of a dam at
the point proposed would flood great areas of meadows to
a slight depth which would result in water of very objec-
tionable quality, so that it would not be feasible to construct
anything more than a small intake reservoir at this point.
The elevation of the meadows at the pumping station is
about grade 74, and it would not be desirable to raise the
water much above this elevation. The length of a gravity
main from the water works pumping station to Hawkes
pond would be about 6.4 miles, and a conduit laid with a
fall of five feet in this distance would discharge into
Hawkes pond about 11 feet below high water mark, which
would practically mean that the conduit could only be used
when Hawkes pond is empty. A gravity line would have
very deep cuts through a territory where the cost of con-
struction would be large, and on portions of the line piles
or some sort of timber foundation would probably be
required. The estimated cost of such a line is $350,000.
The water furnished by this scheme would be of such
quality that it would require long storage before it could
Lynn Water Works
no
safely be used and it would be more highly colored than
the water of the Saugus river. In order to obtain the stor-
age required, it would be necessory to pump water at
Walden pond pumping station as fast as it was discharged
into Hawkes pond, and when Walden pond was filled, to
shut off the water and allow Hawkes pond to fill from its
own watershed. This scheme seems to be entirely
impracticable both on account of the expense and the poor
quality of the water obtained by it.
Ill
Scheme 2.
Pump water from Martinis Brook into the Watershed
of Beaver Dam Brook ; thence by Gravity to Hawkes
Pond , intercepting Water from Pillings Pond.
This scheme is not feasible on account of the difficulty
and expense of constructing a suitable gravity line from
Beaver dam brook to Hawkes pond. The water of Martin’s
brook and of Pillings pond could be made safe to use for
domestic purposes without purification ; but the water of
Beaver dam brook receives considerable pollution, and if
this source should be used without purification it would be
necessary to provide for the removal of the sewage from
the village of Lynnfield center.
1 1 2
Scheme 3.
Pumf Water from Martin's Brook to the If at er shed
of Pillings Pond ; thence by gravity to Hawkes Pond .
By this scheme a water could be secured which would
be safe to use without purification. The water of Martin’s
brook, however, is very highly colored, and the effect of
introducing this water without decolorization would be to
increase the color in the water supplied to the city. It
might be possible, however, to decolorize the water by
filtration through open sand filter beds before it is dis-
charged into Pillings pond, and in this way secure water of
very good quality. The expense of taking water from
Martin’s brook in this way, including the cost of the work
necessary to be done on the present sources, would be in the
vicinity of $375,000, and it does not seem necessary or
desirable to go to this expense at the present time, since
the water from the Saugus river can be used in connection
with the water from Pillings pond for many years, furnish-
ing a water which will be of as satisfactory quality for
domestic purposes as that obtained from Martin’s brook.
A sufficient supply could be obtained from Martin’s brook
and Pillings pond to supply the city until about the year
1923.
Lynn Water Works
Scheme 3
Scale
Scheme 4.
Pumf the water from Martin's Brook to Billings
Pond ; thence by gravity to Walden Pond .
This scheme has all the advantages of the previous
scheme and the additional merit of discharging the highly
colored water of Martin’s brook directly into Walden pond,
where it would receive the benefit of long storage, which
would remove a portion of the color ; furthermore, the
Walden, pond pumping station could be abandoned, thus
doing away with the second pumping of the water. Were
it not for its large cost this scheme would have much merit.
It would be necessary if this scheme were used to do all
of the work in the improvement of the present sources of
supply which was contemplated in connection with pre-
vious schemes for using the present sources and Pillings
pond without filtration and to construct a 10,000,000 gal-
lon pumping plant, a 30-inch force-main 21,650 feet in
length and a 30-inch conduit from Pillings pond to Wal-
den pond. The cost of this work would be about
$210,000. It would also be desirable and possibly neces-
sary to remove some of the color of the water of Martin’s
brook before discharging it into Pillings pond at a further
expense.
If the scheme of diverting Pillings pond into Walden
pond in connection with the development of the present
sources were adopted, the pumping of the water of Mar-
tin’s brook into the Pillings pond watershed would be worthy
of consideration when an additional supply of water
becomes necessary.
Lynn Water Works
Scheme4
Scale
ii 6
Scheme 5.
Pumj) the Water of Martin's Brook to Watershed of
Walden Pond.
This scheme would involve the construction of a force-
main 7.4 miles in length and a pumping plant capable of
raising the water from Martin’s brook into Walden pond at
a cost of about $240,000. The water secured in this way
would be the same as that secured by the previous scheme,
except that the better water of Pillings pond would not be
included, and for this reason it does not appear to have any
advantages over Scheme 4.
*
Lynn Water Works
n8
Scheme 6.
Pump Water from Ipswich River at Will's Brook to
Beaver Dam Brook Watershed ; thence by gravity to
Hawkes Pond, intercepting the Water of Pillmgs Pond .
This scheme like the others which involve the convey-
ing of the water of Beaver dam brook to Hawkes pond by
gravity does not appear in any way as desirable as other
methods of obtaining the water.
Scheme 7.
Pum'p the Water from Ifswich River at Will’s Brook
to Pillings Pond Watershed ; thence by gravity to Hawkes
Pond.
The adoption of this scheme is not desirable, since it
involves the filling of Hawkes pond with the polluted water
of the Ipswich river and the second pumping of the water
at the Walden pond pumping station. The period of
storage possible in Hawkes and Walden ponds would not
be sufficient to insure the complete removal of disease
germs from the water.
120
Scheme 8.
Pump Water from Ipswich River at Will’s Brook
into the Watershed of Pillings pond; thence by gravity
to Walden pond.
The carrying out of this plan would involve practically
the same construction as in the case of Scheme 4, except
that the length of force-main required would be 12,500
feet, and the cost of the pumping plant, force-main and
gravity line from Pillings pond to Walden pond would be
$135,000. By the adoption of this scheme, water would be
obtained which would be somewhat similar in character to
the water which would be obtained by the scheme pre-
viously described in connection with the development of
the present sources, except that it would be more highly
colored, and a sufficient quantity of water would be
obtained to last until 1930 with the present restrictions on
the use of the water of the Ipswich river. The total cost
of obtaining water in this manner would be about as
follows :
Intake on Ipswich river
.
$5,000
Pumping plant
10,000
Force-main 24-in. 12,500 ft. .
.
50,000
36-in. conduit, Pillings to Walden .
65,000
Drainage of swamps
.
7,000
Improving bottoms of ponds
Pipe line from Hawkes pond
to Walden
75, ooo
pumping station
Extension of pipe through
tunnel of
39,000
Birch pond
.
9 > 5 °°
William S JofJHSO*
122
Pipe line around Birch pond .
$ 43 > 5 °°
Pipe line to Breed’s pond
20,000
Protection from pollution
50,000
Land and water damages
75 ,° 0 °
Engineering inspection and contingencies
$449,000
15 per cent. .....
6 7 > 35 °
Total ......
$ 5 i6 > 35 °
This scheme does not seem to have sufficient advantages
over the scheme previously outlined for using the Saugus
river to warrant the extra expenditure, but it seems likely
that the future development of the supply may be along
these lines. It would be possible in connection with this
scheme to provide for the partial purification of the water
of the Ipswich river before it is discharged into Pillings
pond. This might be done by the construction of open
sand-filter beds, similar to those used for the purification
of sewage, at a comparatively small expense. Such filter-
beds would remove a large part of the color from the
water and would improve its character in other respects.
Lynn water Works
124
Scheme 9.
Pump Water from Ipswich River at Wills Brook to
Walden Pond Watershed.
This scheme is substantially the same as the scheme
previously outlined, except that Pillings pond which
furnishes the best water would be left out. Such a scheme
would cost about $170,000, and seems at the present time
to have no great advantage over the scheme of pumping
water into Pillings pond watershed. It is possible, how-
ever, that if the Ipswich river is not used for several years,
it may at that time be more desirable to pump the water of
the Ipswich river directly into the Walden pond watershed
rather than to take the water of Pillings pond.
Schemes 10, 11, 12 and 13.
These schemes all involve the use of the Saugus river
substantially as at present. The Saugus river in connec-
tion with the ponds will probably be sufficient to supply the
city for about 15 years. At the end of that time the con-
ditions on the Saugus river watershed may have changed
to such an extent that it may be desirable to eliminate the
Saugus from the supply ; so that it has not been considered
desirable at the present time to make detailed investigations
of these various schemes, further than to show that either
one is perfectly feasible and at a reasonable expense.
There appears now to be no advantage in pumping
water from Martin’s brook or from the Ipswich river in the
125
vicinity of Martin’s brook rather than to pump water from
the river at Will’s brook, and the cost of the latter scheme
would be considerably less than the cost of pumping the
water from the vicinity of Martin’s brook.
Conclusions in Regard to the Ipswich River.
Should the water of the Ipswich river be taken at the
present time, the best method of securing it would be to
pump from the river in the vicinity of Will’s brook, dis-
charging into the Pillings pond watershed. From Pillings
pond the water would be carried by gravity into Walden
pond.
The cost of such a scheme, including the improvement
of the present ponds and their watersheds, and including
an estimate of the damages for the diversion of water from
the Ipswich river and from Pillings pond, and the cost of
removing the tannery wastes and other sources of pollution,
would be $424,000. The damages for the diversion of
water are likely to be large.
The water obtained in this way would not be of as satis-
factory quality as the water obtained by the development
of the present sources, with the use of Pillings pond in
the manner previously outlined.
126
Summary.
SUPPLY FROM METROPOLITAN DISTRICT.
If it could be shown to be for the best interests for the
city of Lynn to enter the Metropolitan district at the pres-
ent time, this could undoubtedly be accomplished. Should
Lynn be supplied from these works it would be necessary
to construct a pipe line from Malden into the city at an
estimated cost of more than $300,000.
If the city of Lynn had entered the Metropolitan dis-
trict in the beginning and had paid a portion of the assess-
ment each year, being supplied from its own works, as in
the case of the city of Newton and the town of Hyde
Park, its aggregate assessments would now have amounted
to over $80,000. It is certain that in justice to other por-
tions of the district, the city would be compelled to pay
this amount for the privilege of entering the district at the
present time.
The annual assessment,' if the city should take its entire
supply from the district, would now be in the vicinity of
$80,000 per year.
To offset this in part, it would be unnecessary to main-
tain the present reservoirs and pumping station, which
would mean a saving of perhaps $20,000 per year, making
the annual cost about $60,000 per year greater than the
cost of maintaining the present works. This is very much
in excess of the cost of obtaining an ample supply from
any of the other sources investigated, and of filtering the
entire supply, while the quality of the water supplied by
the Metropolitan works would be inferior to that obtained
from the Lynn sources after suitable filtration.
*
127
Ipswich River and Martin’s Brook.
Authority was granted to the city of Lynn in 1901 to
take a portion of the water of the Ipswich river. At the
point where water can be taken under this act, the river
has a watershed of about 45 square miles. The water-
shed contains a population of about 4,000, including the
villages of Wilmington and North Reading. Near the
head waters of the river in the town of Wilmington there
is a tannery which discharges large quantities of foul
wastes directly into the stream.
The principal tributary of the river is Martin’s brook,
which enters it about 3.5 miles above the lowest point
where water may be taken. The brook has a watershed
of 12.4 square miles, which contains a small and scattered
population. The main portion of the Ipswich river would
not furnish water which could be used without purification
in some way and in this respect it is not materially differ-
ent from the Saugus river. The water of Martin’s brook
could be kept free from pollution at a reasonable expense.
The color of the water of the Ipswich river is higher
than the color of the water of the Saugus river ; and the
water of Martin’s brook is even higher colored than the
water of the main stream, so that without decolorization in
some way the water of either stream would be of very
unsatisfactory quality.
Investigations which have been made show that to con-
vey water from Martin’s brook into the present ponds
either by gravity or by pumping would be a very expen-
sive undertaking and the result would not be satisfactory.
128
To get the water from the main stream of the Ipswich
river to the present ponds would be less expensive than to
take the water from Martin’s brook ; but in this case, as
well as in the case of the use of the Saugus river, the
water would have to be purified before it could be used.
Without purification, the Ipswich river would not furnish
water of satisfactory quality. With purification the Sau-
gus river would be likely to furnish more satisfactory
water than the Ipswich river, and at a much less cost.
Beaver Dam Brook and Pillings Pond.
The possibility of‘ using these two tributaries of the Sau-
gus river has been investigated. Beaver dam brook fur-
nishes water of little better quality than the water of Sau-
gus river, and the expense of securing water from this
stream would be large in comparison with the quantity
which would be obtained. Pillings pond, the other tribu-
tary, could be made to furnish water of much better quality
than any of the present sources of supply, and it is possible
to get the water into the ponds by gravity at asmall expense.
The yield of Pillings pond, together with the ponds which
constitute the present sources of supply, would in a very
dry year be no greater than the present consumption of
water in the city. It would still be necessary, therefore,
if Pillings pond should be used, to use the water of the
Saugus river at times.
Lynn Water Works
Scheme A
Scale
William S Johnson
130
Improvement of the Present Sources Without Filtration.
Scheme A.
The ponds which constitute the present sources of sup-
ply can be improved so as to furnish water which will be of
fair quality, and as safe as any surface water source in the
midst of a large population can be. In order to accom-
plish this without filtration, it would be necessary to drain
thoroughly the principal swamps upon the watersheds,
remove or cover with gravel so far as possible the mud and
other organic matter upon the bottom of the ponds, construct
sewers and drains to remove the sewage and street wash
from the most thickly settled portions of the watersheds ;
construct water-tight vaults where vaults are necessarily
situated within a short distance of any stream, purchase
land where the most dangerous sources of pollution exist,
and maintain a constant and thorough inspection of the
ponds and their watersheds by capable and trustworthy
men. Pipe-lines should also be constructed so that the
water can be drawn from any one of the ponds in sufficient
quantity to supply the pumps.
The water of the Saugus river cannot be made of satis-
factory quality, except by filtration or storage, although
its quality can be much improved by ditching the swamps,
preventing the direct discharge of sewage into it, and by
the sanitary control of the watershed. If the water can be
stored in a reservoir for a sufficient time before being used,
it could be made perfectly safe for domestic purposes, and
at the same time a portion of the color would be removed.
Studies have been made of the possibility of providing
for the storage of Saugus river water in Walden pond for
a sufficient time to insure the destruction of all disease
germs, but the supply from the other sources is so limited
that without some supplementary supply the period of
storage during a dry season would be too short for this
purpose.
With Pillings pond added to the present ponds, enough
water would be available during any year of average rain-
fall to supply the present requirements of the city without
the use of any water whatever from the Saugus river.
During a very dry year it would be necessary to pump a
small quantity from the Saugus river, the quantity increas-
ing each year with the increased use of water in the city.
Plans have been made, therefore, for utilizing the water of
Pillings pond in connection with the present sources, as
follows :
Construct a small intake basin on the Saugus river at a
point below the present canal in such a manner that the
water will not flood the meadows ; erect a 10,000,000-
gallon centrifugal pumping plant, electrically operated ;
lay an 3 8-inch force-main on Lowell street to a point
where it would intercept a gravity main from Pillings pond
to Walden pond. The main from Pillings pond to Walden
pond would be constructed of concrete 36 inches in diame-
ter. At the point where this main crosses Hawkes brook,
gates and a blow-off would be provided, so that the water
of Pillings pond could be discharged into Hawkes brook
when desirable. The 36-inch pipe from Pillings pond
would carry more water than the pond would yield, but
this size is recommended, since if this scheme is adopted
i3 2
the extension of the supply will be by pumping the water
of the Ipswich river from the vicinity of the paper mill
into the Pillings pond watershed, which can be done at a
comparatively small expense.
The adoption of this plan, together with the improve-
ments of the ponds and their watersheds will give the city a
water which will be safe as it is possible to secure from
surface water sources situated near a large population.
The water will be highly colored, though not so much so
as at present. It will have a vegetable taste and odor and
will be subject to occasional growths of organisms which
will make it offensive, but the troubles in this respect will
be much less frequent than at present.
The following is an estimate *of the cost of construction :
Drainage of swamps ......
Improvement of bottom of ponds ....
Pipe line from Hawkes pond to Walden pond
pumping station ......
Extension of pipe through tunnel above Birch pond .
Pipe line around Birch pond .....
Pine line to Breed’s pond .....
Intake basin on Saugus river .....
Pumping plant including station ....
Gravity main from Pillings pond to Walden pond .
Force-main from Saugus river to connect with above
gravity main .......
Protection from pollution .....
Land and water damages .....
$7,000
75,00°
39,000
9>5°°
43>5°°
20,000
5 , 00 °
6,ooo
65.000
18.000
20.000
25.000
Total $333,000
Engineering ‘inspection and contingencies, 15 per
cent 49>95°
Total
$382,95°
i33
Improvement of Present Sources by Filtration.
Scheme B.
By filtration, the water of the present sources can be
made of perfectly satisfactory quality ; and it is undoubt-
edly a fact that in common with other cities supplied from
surface sources located near a large population, the city of
Lynn will find it necessary eventually to filter its water sup-
ply whatever plan is adopted to meet the present require-
ments.
There are two methods of filtration which might be
adopted ; the first known as slow sand filtration, which con-
sists in passing water through a bed of sand at a rate of
from 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 gallons per acre per day.
The second known as mechanical filtration, which requires
the use of chemicals and sedimentation, after which the
water is passed through small filters at a rate of from 100-
000,000 to 125,000,000 gallons per acre per day.
Both of these systems of filtration are in common use and
both give good results ; but, for the city of Lynn I would
unhesitatingly recommend slow sand filters in preference
to mechanical filters.
By slow sand filtration, all tastes and odors would be
removed from the water, and water would be supplied which
would be clear, odorless, and in every respect of satisfac-
tory quality, except that some of the color would still
remain.
The use of a coagulant and settling basin before filtra-
tion would insure a practically, colorless water ; but with
slow filtration alone, after improving the watersheds of the
I 34
ponds by the drainage of the swamps, a water would be
furnished which would have a color very much less at all
times than the color of the best water supplied to the city
under the present conditions.
The most favorable site for the filters is on the poor
farm, where there is unoccupied land at such an elevation
that the water can be conveyed to it from the ponds by
gravity, and the filtered water can be conveyed to the
Walnut street pumping station by gravity. This is the
site selected by the engineer of the State Board of Health
and the city engineer of Lynn, as a result of the investi-
gations made by them in 1906.
Plans in sufficient detail for reliable estimates have been
made for a purification plant consisting of six and one-half
acre filter beds enclosed in masonry structures, the roofs
to be groined arches supported by concrete piers, the fil-
tering material to consist of four feet of sand. The filtered
water would be collected in a covered masonry reservoir
located near the filters, from which it would flow to the
pumping station by gravity.
The piping necessary to bring the water to the filters
and to convey it from the filters to the pumping station
would consist of a 36-inch pipe connecting with the pres-
ent pipes leading from Birch pond to the pumping station,
and a 36-inch pipe from the clear-water reservoir to the
Walnut street pumping station.
Careful estimates have been made of the cost of con-
structing the filters, and it appears that the six filter-beds
having a combined area of three acres, together with the
clear-water reservoir and all necessary piping, would cost
Lynn Water Works
Scheme B
Scale
136
$275>ooo. Should the water of the present sources be
filtered, it would be desirable to drain the swamps upon
the watersheds of the present ponds in order to reduce the
excessive color of the water entering the ponds. It would
be desirable also to provide for obtaining water from the
Saugus river without flooding the great area of meadows
above the canal as is necessary at present. To do this, an
inexpensive pumping plant should be installed at Montrose
to raise the water from the river to the canal at times when
it is desirable to use this source. This could be done at an
expense of about $6,000.
The total cost of works for improving the water by
filtration would be as follows :
Six 1 -2-acre filter beds complete, with all
connections, reglating apparatus, etc. .
Clear-water basin ....
36-inch C. I. main to filters
36-inch concrete main to pumping station,
$177,662
16,897
2 3i49°
20,400
Drainage of swamps ....
Pumping plant at Saugus river
$ 2 3 8 ,449
7,000
6,000
Engineering inspection and contingencies
15 per cent ......
$ 2 5 1 >449
37 > 7!7
Total .......
Land damages .....
$289,166
10,000
Total .......
$299,166
i37
The distributing reservoir into which the water is
pumped is an open basin. When filtered water is exposed
to light in such a reservoir, organisms grow more rapidly
than in unfiltered water, and there is a possibility that it
may be found desirable to separate a portion of this reser-
voir so that water will not be stored for so long a time, or
to cover a section to keep the water from exposure to light.
It is likely, however, that this will be found to be unnec-
essary.
Future Supply.
The development of the present sources by either of the
schemes outlined above would provide the city with a suffi-
cient supply of water until about the year 1922. If the
town of Wakefield should exercise its right to take the
water of Lake Quannapowitt, the time would be shortened
somewhat. The future supply will evidently come from
the Ipswich river, and plans have been made of various
schemes for taking water from this river when it shall
become necessary.
If Scheme A is adopted, the best method of taking water
from the Ipswich river will be to pump from above the
paper mill into Pillings brook.
If Scheme B is decided upon, there are several methods
of using the Ipswich river which would be perfectly feasi-
ble, and the selection of the particular method may reason-
ably be left until the necessity arises.
With the Ipswich river added to the present sources, the
city will have sufficient water to supply its requirements for
many years in the future.
i3«
Conclusions.
The investigations which have been made show clearly
that it is for the best interests of the city to improve the
present sources of supply rather than to attempt at the
present time to obtain water from a new source. By clean-
ing up the ponds and their watersheds, taking Pillings pond
and constructing pipe lines from the various ponds to the
pumping station at a cost of $383,000, water can be
obtained, if the watersheds are carefully guarded, which
will be practically free from disease germs. The water
will, however, be colored, will contain a considerable
quantity of organic matter and at times will be objection-
able on account of tastes and odors.
By the construction of filters, together with the drainage
of swamps and the construction of a pumping plant at
Montrose at a cost of $299,000, water can be obtained
which will have little color, and which will be absolutely
clear, tasteless and odorless.
The cost of operating the filter plant will be about $6,000
per year, which is practically the interest and the contri-
bution to the sinking fund required by the extra cost of
Scheme A; so that the annual payment required by the
city by the two schemes would be practically the same.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM S. JOHNSON,
Civil Engineer.
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Zynnfl’* 1 *
ar- V
CITY OF LYNN.
••• 1892. -:-
Compiled, by EL. Star eft,
CE.
MAP
OF THE
Lynn Water System
'SC / AL£_
5=3 Ora wNoZ
Pla te No. /&/ .
Pipe /4rea&
/8"
-
254
22’
300')
30"
-
70 &'°° 6
36’
-
/ 0/7
30’
-
706 *2 e/4/2
42"
«
/385~
43’
“
/scs
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