From the Media Centennial Edition of the Chester Times published June 2, 1950. Thanks to Wallace Tuckerman! Media Water Works 1947 Media Citizens are Justly Proud of Their Water Works The need for a good water supply for the new borough of Media was apparent to some citizens but it took at least three years for the idea to become effective. On September 21,1853 the borough council appointed a committee to confer with the County Commissioners about a purchase of an acre of ground at 5th and Orange sts. to be used for the site of the water works. This was accomplished for the price of $5000. In 1854 the first water works were erected at the place specified above receiving the water from Broomall Creek. The water was supplied without purification methods. It is said that a hydraulic ram of extraordinary size was installed and later replaced by a steam engine. A Town Meeting was called June 15, 1871 at which the council was authorized to buy the property of the Grist Mill owned by Lewis Pal- mer for the sum of $19,500 to be used for the erection of water works. This is their present location. In 1871 a special act of assembly was passed prohibiting the polution of Ridley Creek, the water supply of the borough. This was an exceedingly forward step, for not till 1915 was the same act passed to apply to other streams in the state of Pennsylvania. October 14, 1872 swimming was prohibited in Ridley Creek. In the spring of 1894 the grist mill was done away with and the property was devoted to water works. The capacity reached a million gallons daily in 1898. When the late Carolus Broomall was the engineer of the Media water works chemical analyses of water was made under his direction. It was at that time that the water wheels were installed by a man named Campbell. Surplus water operates the water wheels which in turn operate the pump. While it is said that the wheels can only operate when there is a good flow of water the arrangement nevertheless saves the taxpayers of the borough about $2000 yearly. Farm Land Surrounds Creek The beautiful Ridley Creek that provides the water is surrounded by acres of farm land. It is most important for the health and welfare of the people that a great deal of the land be allowed to drain into the creek. The borough owns about 300 acres of farm land around the creek. To protect the future supply of water the borough ought to add many more acres, for the future real estate developments coming too close to the water supply with roofs, streets, possible lack of sewers will create polution and make the creek give a smaller supply of depreciated water. At present we get 16 million gallons of water a day. The low supply is three million gallons a day. The normal consumption at present is one million gallons. Thus at present we do not need a bigger reserve than we have. Gus Houtman, president of borough council, who from 1938 to 1944 was the chairman of the water works commlttee of the council and who left no stone unturned to modernize and enlarge the plant, was kind enough to take us through the plant at our request. Just outside of the buildings there is an old dam which is utilized by this very modern plant. The excess water goes over the dam. The latter channels the water and sends it to the chemical plant and water pumps. The surface, impure water goes into the chemical plant where alum, lime and chlorine are applied to it and produce a coagulating action which makes practically all impurities drop to the bottom of the large settling basin out doors. The water travels there slowly and stays in the settling basin twenty four yours. Chlorine is applied two days before the water is consumed so that taste and odor are killed. One can see the bottom of the settling basin through 12 ft. of water. Toward the end of the settling process activated charcoal is applied for further removal of odor and taste. From the large settling basin and through a smaller one the water goes to the filters. It passes through three feet of sand leaving the filters crystal clear. The filters are cleaned out about every four days. It takes 1,000 to 16,000 gallons of water to clean one filter. Water Tested Each Hour The water is tested every hour for corrosion and chlorine content. Before it goes to the residents of Media, lime to removed acidity and a little chlorine to comply with the ;fate regulations are added. The water works has four electric dumps and the old fashioned water wheels mentioned before. The water is pumped to the reservoir at 8th and Monroe streets. There is a laboratory at the water works where the water is tested. It is unusual to find any bacteria in the tested water. Any careful housewife would be impressed and proud to see the cleanliness in the buildings, in the chemical plant, in the laboratory, a well as out of doors. The place was immaculate. The present chairman of the water works committee on the borough council is William West. The plan operates now in three shifts. There are four men employed and some one is an duty 24 hours a day. Jack Krause is the superintendent. Location Is Beautiful The location of the plant is beautiful. The old house of the late Lewis Palmer built in 1775-76 still stands giving a sense of history to this very modern water works plant. There is a mark on the building showing the 20 - 25 feet height reached by the water in the flood of 1843. Soon after Gus Houtman became interested in the Media Water Works the needs of the Borough and the growth of the area made it necessary to improve and enlarge the plant. The plant was rebuilt in 1941-1943 before the high post war costs came into effect. The borough of Media at present has the finest and most modern water works plant for any city of any size and the citizens of the town mat be justly proud of the project.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 01:15:31 +0000
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