Two Big Missoula Water Pipes – 1940
Two Big Missoula Water Pipes – 1940
20 – Inch Pipe Will Be Laid To South Side
$50,000 Added Improvement to Water System Is Announced.
A 20-inch steel pipe, leading from the distributing reservoir on Water-Works Hill to the south side, will give better water service to that part of the city, it was announced yesterday by the water department of the local division of the Montana Power company. Work on this improvement will be started about August 1, said C. H. Christensen, division manager here. Plans for installing the new pipe have been under consideration since last autumn. Its expense is expected to be in the neighborhood of $50,000.
Additional Improvement.
This improvement in the water service will be in addition to the 30-inch steel pipe installed last year, and running from the intake dam on Rattlesnake creek to the distributing reservoir. This pipe – Mr. Christensen says it has provided better pressure – was laid at an expense of approximately $90,000.
In making this announcement he also called attention to the purchase by the Montana Power company of “many thousands of acres of land adjacent to the Rattlesnake, with the idea of excluding all possible sources of contamination” from the stream. This represents an investment of more than $100,000.
Mr. Christensen also stated that the improvements made and ordered amount to full compliance with direction to the company from the Montana State Railroad and Public Service commission to take such steps as might be necessary to maintain adequate pressure in all parts of the system.
In a general discussion of the situation, the division manager said:
“The extreme hot weather and long-continued drouth has imposed a heavy duty on the Missoula water supply.
“In order to maintain pressure, in view of the continued drain through thousands of outlets, it has been necessary temporarily to employ the pumping installations held in reserve in several parts of the city.
“We are primarily and sincerely interested in maintaining the purity of the water supply under pressure sufficient for the needs and uses of our customers. To that end, the company has, within the last three years, acquired many thousands of acres of land adjacent to Rattlesnake creek, with the idea of excluding all possible sources of contamination from the stream.
“Pressure has been aided by the completion during the year 1939 of a new pipe line of 30-inch diameter, leading from the intake dam on Rattlesnake creek to the distributing reservoir on the hill northeast of the city. This improvement was made at an expense of approximately $90,000. Some weeks ago, the Railroad and Public Service commission of the state of Montana directed the company to take such steps as may be necessary to maintain adequate pressure in all parts of the system. The completion of the supply line serves to increase the quantity of water available for the system, and also improves the pressure particularly on the east side of the city.
Work to Start Soon.
“Plans have been in progress since last October, and construction is expected to start about August 1 on the installation of a 20-inch steel pipe, running from the distributing reservoir to the south side of the river, which is designed to improve pressure in the area south of the river, as this line will not be trapped on the north side. This improvement is expected to require an outlay of approximately $50,000.
“The company has long followed the practice of surveying for leaks in the distributing system owned by the company, and in promptly repairing these when found. This practice will be continued during the summer and fall. This program is also in conformity with the order of the Public Service commission of the state, recently entered requiring the company to exercise diligence in that respect.
“It is expected that the recent heavy expenditures and those now contemplated, will continue in order to meet the requirements of a growing population and an expanding residential area.”
The above article appeared in The Sunday Missoulian on July 14, 1940.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/352183072
Montana Power Putting in New Reservoir Line
Emergency Addition Is Being Made Over 3 ½ Mile Distance From Intake.
The Montana Power company is building a new continuous wood stave pipe line from the intake reservoir at the dam in the Rattlesnake creek to the distributing reservoir on Waterworks hill.
The new 30-inch pipe line is an emergency addition to the present one that has been in service for 37 years and is being put in as a safeguard for the water system that supplies Missoula. It is said that with the new system going in that any break or cloudburst or other unforeseen disaster will not leave the city without protection until repairs.
The improvement represents an expenditure of about $100,000. The C & P Teaming and Trucking company of Butte has the contract for the excavation and the back filling. The National Tank & Pipe company of Portland has the contract for supplying and erecting the pipeline.
The work requires 35,000 cubic yards of excavation. A total of 200,000 board feet of clear timber will go into the construction and 30,000 feet of half-inch steel bands will inclose the pipe line when it is all matched together. The lumber arrives here knocked down and is assembled into the continuous line right on the ground. Approximately a quarter of the line has been finished and the project will be completed probably in September.
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on August 1, 1939.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/352127624/?terms=intake%2Bdam
A photograph of the 30-inch wooden stave pipe line is found on page 10 of The Mueller company document – see link below:
http://muellermuseum.org/library/MR_NewsLetters/Mueller_Record_Oct_1956j.pdf