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.