THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND TOTAL INVESTMENT
Practically everybody takes the water supplied
by the Borough for granted. Few know of the intricate details
that go to make the distribution system the ingenious methods
of controls and repairs, the various types of materials used,
the size of the pipes, the depth of laying them, the system of
record-keeping and marking, not to mention the staggering figures
of cost. This system is based on similar systems going back as
far as written history, as far as the time when the first cities
came into being. Those ancient systems have been refined by modern
engineers to a point where "guesswork" is almost non-existent.
Just picture our large cities such as New York, Philadelphia,
Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland or Los Angeles without a precise and
accurate water distribution system or without a body of trained
men entrusted with the task of overseeing its operation and maintenance.
When you turn the water on in your bathtub or shower or when you
draw a glass of water from your faucet or when you need to wash
your face or hands do these thoughts occur to you? There is an
aggregate investment of $5,711,000 in plans, plants, machinery,
metals, terra-cotta, plastic and metal pipes, valves and myriads
of other assorted objects, all combined to bring this water to
your fingertips.
There are nineteen miles of sewer lines covering the entire area
of the Borough of Beaver. This is estimated at present day prices
to cost $180,000 per mile for a total investment of $3,420,000
for sewers. In addition there are twenty-one miles of water lines
at present day prices costing $60,000 per mile to install, for
a total investment of $1,200,000. To these amounts must be added
the sum of $25 1,000 for a new reservoir completed in 1971. Also,
must be added $655,000 for the Sewage Treatment Plant completed
in 1963 with additions and refinements added in 1970 and 7 1.
The new pumping station completed in 1952 at an estimated figure
of $175,000 at present day prices for an overall investment of
$5,711,000.
Whether the "Water Works" are large or small, supervision
must be maintained on a twenty-four basis all the year around.
It requires constant alertness and instant reaction to sudden
changes. These may be in the form of heavy rains, floods, earthquakes,
landslides, shifting of the land below the surface that may affect
the distribution system or sewers, a long drought, etc. To these
one may add the normal breakdowns that come from unknown causes
or normal wear and tear, such as faulty material, human errors
and a host of others. There are 300 main valves in Beaver's distribution
system, arranged on a block basis.
The Borough is responsible not only for providing an ample supply
of water to the residents but it is also responsible for making
certain that this water is pure and safe from bacteria of disease
that might create a health problem. Most common of those health
hazards are gastric disorders, known also as amoebic dysentery,
cholera, malaria or typhoid fever. To this end the Borough early
in 1900 in accordance with the Federal Health Laws and after consultations
and approval of the Public Health Authorities, introduced chlorination
of the water supply, making it absolutely safe for human consumption.
The chlorination process is made up of four parts chlorine to
a million gallons of water. The federal and state public health
laws makes this mandatory.
If fire breaks out in a house or any other structure or business
concern, there is always water available to help in the human
effort to quench the flames and save valuable property from destruction
or to save human life. Close your eyes for five minutes and try
to visualize a community without water for one whole day and make
an effort to compile the consequences. It would be terrifying
indeed!
It must be repeated over and over again that water is one of the
three most precious elements, indispensable to life. It behooves
every person, young or old, to develop an appreciation toward
this most important property without which there cannot be human
life or any other life.