upr000204 50

Mr, E. E. Bennett - Los Angeles Las Vegas - W 26 W M M a r 5 March k, & 1954 195^ cc: Mr. Ws. Reinhardt Mr. C. M. Cory Mr. W, A. Jurden Please refer to Mr. Cory's letter to you dated March 1, 1954, relative to transfer of water appropriation from Well No. 1 to Shop Well, in whioh he requests that I advise you the estimated time when it may he possible to use water from the new point of diversion. Today I disoussed with Mr. Jurden, Division Engineer, the question as to when he expects the work on the new elevated steel tank will be started and the estimated date when the water tank will be completed and ready for operation. Mr. Jurden advises that the tank contractor will start work of erection on March 15th and that the contractor's estimated time for completion la 75 calendar days, whioh will bring the completion date up to June 1st. After discussion, it was agreed that if everything goes along without any trouble and without complications, it might be possible to complete the tank by June 1st, but it is my opinion, in which Mr. Jurden concurs, that based on past experience with work of this nature the estimated com­pletion date of June 1st is entirely too optimistic, in fact, I would think that a completion date as of July 1st would even be somewhat optimistic, and it Is my own guess that August 1st would be more like the date when tank can be put in operation. My opinion is based on the knowledge that unforeseen difficulties are always encountered in work of this nature since, In addition to the erection of the steel work for the tank, it will probably require at least two coats of paint, which will probably require a period of at least two weeks, It will also be necessary to fill the tank with water for a test as well as to fill the tank at least three times after painting in order to chlorinate the tank and seoure a sample cf water for analysis by Health Department. If the Health Department analysis does not show a clear sample, it will, of course, be necessary to reohlorlnate it as many times as is required to procure a satisfactory sample. After all this is done, tank will then be ready for operation. With regard to the question as to when water can be used from the new point of diversion in the shop grounds, it is ray opinion that when the Shop Well is put in condition for operation and all of & MJhe connecting lines to facilities of the Railroad Company are con- MAR 5 Swueted, the Shop Well could be used for service to the facilities of the Railroad Company at that time, but it Is my opinion, in which Mr. Jurden concurs, that it would not be good practice to depend on the Shop Well entirely for water service to Railroad facilities without the availability of an additional source from the mains of the Water Company as it could conceivably develop that at peak demand the Shop m Well would not furnish sufficient water independent of a tank supply. This would be especially true if it became necessary S J at any time to start a fire pump for fire-fighting purposes or in case of well S failure. It would therefore seem that, if the present Shop Well is considered the new point of diversion, it could be used as soon as placed in working order and pipe lines constructed, on the assumption that water from the existing Water Company main would be available to supplement the well production at any time and as often as required during operation under these conditions.