Greater Johnstown Water Authority
Historical Records - Johnstown Water Company
Water Supply Planning

 Dear Sir:

     In presenting the following data and reccomendations concerning an improved water supply, I wish to recognize the valuable aid received from a careful perusal of the reports made to you by Messrs. Joseph Morgan and Geo. E. Thackray, and also from information derived by consultation with them. I am especially indebted to Mr. M. G. Moore for much data supplied, and for assistance rendered, which has enabled me to obtain a clear understanding of topographical and Geological conditions.

     The drainage areas of the Little Conemaugh and Stony Creek, as well as their tributaries, the present and prospective water supply requirements, and all elevations have been taken from the reports mentioned.

 The Johnstown Basin

     From the reports I learned that the combined drainage basin of the Little Conemaugh and Stony Creek, above Johnstown, covers 622.8 square miles. By liberal impounding and utilizing the entire drainage, over 400,000,000 gallons per day could be supplied; hence the volume of water obtainable is ample for any present or future requirements. But to construct works, which would conserve the waters of the entire basin is unnecessary, and would be impracticable, because of the expense, while to gain the advantage of gravitation the lower reaches of the streams are not available except by pumping.

     Mr. Morgan divides the drainage basin as follows:
Valleys in use or which may be utilized, 506 square miles, valleys not available for gravity supply 117 square miles. Of the portion which is available, 161.8 square miles is credited to the Little Conemaugh above the dam, which is now connected with your Works by a 20 inch pipe. The portion of the drainage of the Stony Creek, above Johnstown, which is availabie for a gravity supply, is given as 319 square miles. With liberal impounding reservoirs the Stony Creek could be depended upon to supply two hundred million gallons per day by gravity, and the Little Conemaugh 100 million gallons per day, by gravity. Omitting from present consideration the St. Clair, Laurel Run and Wild Cat Dams which are below tne confiuence of Stony Creek and Little Conemaugh, the only impounding reservoirs are those upon Millcreek, which care for a drainage of 5 1-10 square miles. You are, therefore, at present, practically dependant upon the minimum flow of the streams without storage.

 Division of Supply.
The supply required may be divided into three parts.
 

• (A) That for the present works, estimated by Mr. Morgan at 42,500,000 gallons per day, which, however, it is expected to decrease by improved appliances.
• (B) That proposed for the new Franklin Works estimated at 37,500,000 gallons per day.
• (C) That for domestic supply for the City of Johnstown, which is estimated at six million gallons per day.

     In accepting the estimates for 80,000,000 gallons of water required daily for the present Works, and the Franklin Works, I would invite attention to the fact, that this amount is one-third of the quantity supplied to the City of Philadelphia with its 1,300,000 inhabitants, and diversified industries. Making liberal allowances for the water drawn from the Rivers and from Artesian Wells by Philadelphia establishments, and for the large amount of cooling and condensing done at your Works, the quantity demanded still seems excessive. In the absence of an intimate knowledge of the water applications, I am not in a position to suggest material changed, but I believe that if the water used by each department was metered, as suggested by Mr. Morgan, and charged to the Department, there would be a material reduction in the requirements.

 Little Conenemaugh.

     Franklin Works being on the Little Conemaugh, it is natural to look to this for a source of supply, and to carry out President Stackhouse's suggestions, this will first be considered. It has been already shown that with liberal impounding reservoirs, a supply of water nearly three times as great as that estimated for the Franklin Works, can be obtained from the basin above the Dam on the Little Conemaugh. From a study of the topography of this basin, and making liberal allowances I would est£mate that the minimum flow seldom falls below twenty million gallons daily. But Mr. Thackray has estimated the daily minimum flow at 9,708,000 gallons. While I have no desire to question these figures, they are below any that I know of for other similar streams, and I consider it safe to assume a fIgure between that which Mr. Thackray gives and that which I give, say 15 million as the natural minimum flow at the Little Conemaugh dam. While the slopes forming the basin of the Little Conemaugh are steep, they are generally well protected by vegetation, and steep hillsides have more direct infIuence in venting water at times of heavy rain-fall than in encouraging the reduction of the minimum flow. Streams, such as the Little Conemaugh, are generally considered as capable of improvement for permanent water power to the extent of one-third cubic' foot per second per square mile, equals 28,800 cubic feet or 2l6,000 gallons per day, or for the basIn above the Little Coneniaugh Dam, 35,000,000 gallons daily. Hence the assumption of 15,000,000 gallons as the dally minimum flow is 0.15 cubic feet per second per square mile, or less than one-half what is ordinarily assumed for power calculations. Mr. Morgan gives the minimum flow of the Croton River, New York, at 0.15 cubic feet, which is more settled and cleared than the Conemaugh Basin. He also gives for the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia, 0.17 cubic feet per second.

     The Schuylkill River, above Philadelphia, drains one of the large populous areas in Pennsylvania, which is practically denuded of forests. During tne drought of 1895 this River was gauged for a period of 134 days (from the middle of June to the beginning of November) and the daily flow of the river (with 1900 square miles of drainage area) was determined to be 195 millions, and for a few days as low as 185 million gallons. Assuming the minimum flow of the Little Conemaugh as 95,000 gallons per square mile per day, this amount would, if applied to the Schuylkill River drainage, make the flow 4,500,000 gallons per day below the measured minimum. By using this figure for the Little Conemaugh drainage we have 161.8 square miles at 95,000 equals 15,371,000 gaflons per day, as the minimum flow. It will, therefore, be necessary in supplying the Franklin Works, to provide storage for such portion of the year as the flow is belcw 37-1/2 million gallons per day. An available surplus of 1,200 million gallons should, therefore, maintain the supply for the new Franklin Works. This amount of storage could be readily secured if it was practicable to occupy a portion of the destroyed South Fork Dam, as this is the best storage basin in the Conemaugh District, which I have visited, and the old structure could be repaired and made reliable, thus placing your water supply upon a permanent basis. It is probable, however, the public sentiment would not permit of carryring out this plan, and the occupation of the Valley by a Railroad would also interfere. I would, however, recommend that the possibility of securing a portion of the storage capacity formerly occupied by the South Fork Dam, be investigated to determine to what extent this could be utilized, without awakening public distrust or jeopardizing railroad or other rights. Storage could also be obtained upon the Little Conemaugh River by means of pools of moderate depths, and possible sites for these exist between the present Conernaugh Dam and Mineral Point, between Mineral Point and the Viaduct and above the viaduct, where a higher dam could be provided. The pools could be formed by crib dams with sluice gates, or they could be arranged so that a portion of the dam is fitted with removable wickets, similar to the dam opposite the Gautier Mill.

     The rapid accumulation of detrital matter carried down by freshets, will necessitate provision for flushing out the pools in time of high water, or of passing the supply around them in dry seasons, so as to remove the accumulation which limits the available storage. Pools or reservoirs on tributaries are preferable to those upon the main stream, for in the latter the dam must of necessity form the Spillway. The available width of water surface in pools would average about 400 feet, and if an average depth of 10 feet is obtainable there would be storage for 30,000 gallons for each foot of length. To impound 1,200 million gallons would, therefore, require the occupation of eight miles of the Little Conenaugh Valley. I doubt if half of this distance is available for pools between the Little Conemaugh Dam and the mouth of the South Fork. But it is possible to largely supplement the storage by a dam probably 40 feet high near the viaduct, which would back the water around the "Horse Shoe Bend" and into the tributary valleys, which enter at this point.

     It will also be practicable to construct reservoirs on Sandy Run a tributary to South Fork and on the Salt Lick Creek although the latter would seem to be a most desirable drainage area for supplementing your domestic supply.

     There are also sites for pools in the vicinity of Summer Hill and Wilmore, which will give considerable storage. These, however, might be subject to some interference from the improvement of intermediate powers. There is a mill at Summer Hill, but while the pool is not of sufficient size to hold back any considerable volume discharged from pools above it, it could to a limited extent interfere with the supply in times of drought.

    The pools which could be provided between the Little Conemaugh dam and the South Fork, and near Summer Hill and Wilmore, would probably give ample storage to maintain the flow of the Conemaugh to meet the requirements of the Franklin Plant. Practically the entire contents of pools or reservoirs on the Little Conernaugh above the pool supplying the intake leading to the Franklin Works would be available storage, for the head on the works would not be drawn down as the pools are exhausted, which is not the case with the storage reservoirs now in use or with some which are proposed.

     A survey of the Little Conemaugh above the dam is recommended so that the capacities of various pools and their elevation can be known definitely.

 Franklin Works Supply.

     Mr. Morgan estimates that of the total supply of the Franklin Works, nine million gallons per day is lost, therefore with a thorough re-use of water it may be possible to restrict the demands of this plant to the minimum flow of the Little Conemaugh. This, however, is not recommended, as you can probably obtain the additional supply by storage, cheaper than you can maintain the necessary pumping and cooling equipments.

     To convey 37,500,000 gallons (the quantity of water estimated as required for the Franklin Works) from the present Little Conemaugh Dam would require a pipe 60 inches in diameter. This size of pipe is recommended. It would deliver water at a head of about 90 feet on the Franklin Yard, or 70 feet on the open hearth floor, and 60 feet at the blast furnace yard. To deliver the same amount of water through a 48 inch pipe the head would be reduced 25 feet, and through a 36 inch pipe the reduction of head would be 80 feet. The present connection from the Little Conemaugh dam is estimated to deliver 6,000,000 gallons daily, at a pressure equivalent to 35 feet at the Cambria Blast Furnace Yard, but if 5,000,000 gallons are passed the available head will be 65 feet and if but 4,000,000 are delivered the head will be approximately 85 feet at the Blast Furnace Yard.

     In the above calculations no allowances are made for curves or obstructions in pipes, which increase the resistance. It may be found desirable to continue the use of the 20 inch pipe from the Little Conanaugh Dam, and lay a 48 or 54 inch pipe with a greater Inclination to a pool higher up the stream so as to secure greater velocity and also a head in excess of 60 feet at the Franklin blast furnaces. The extension of the 20 inch main from Franklin to the lower works can then be maintained so that in times of minimum discharge from the Little Conemaugh, the supply for Franklin works can be supplemented from reservoirs upon the Stony Creek basin. This would permit of reducing the storage capacity estimated from the Little Conemaugh, from 20 to 25 per cent. The 20 inch gas main which connects the Coke plant with Johnstown, could, (if laid to withstand the pressure) be utilized as a connection between the Stony Creek and Little Conemaugh supplies, to help out the Franklin plant. Thus the only new pipe necessary to be laId to connect the Franklin plant would be the large one 48, 54 or 60 inches diameter, to draw water from a pool on the Little Conenaugh. But at present the water in the Little Conernaugh is much inferior to that in Stony Creek, by reason of the active exploitation of coal mines, and the more rapid descent of the main streams. Whether this comparison will continue, or to what extent the water of the Stony Creek will be contaminated, is undeterminable. I would recommend that for boilers or other uses, where the acidity of the water causes injury, a supply be provided from a source which is free from the objection or which can be controlled.

    If the Franklin Works obtains its principal supply from the Little Conemaugh, water for boilers could be secured from a dam on the Sandy Run or possibly from a dam on Salt Lick. An examination of the suggestion which you made, to carry the water from the proposed Hinckston's Dam to the Franklin Works shows that a tunnel through the hill would be approximately 4200 feet in length, and would shorten the distance to be covered by a surface pipe line about 17,500 feet. Allowing for the expense for driving the tunnel and delivering the pipe into it at $10,000.00, and estimating extra labor of jointing the pipe in a restricted place, ad equivalent, the ditching and filling outside, we have the following comparison:-
 
 
 

17,500 feet of 24 inch pipe laid near to surface at $4.30 per foot	$75,250.00
Cost of tunnel	$10,000.00
	$65,250.00

    You will thus see that there is a material saving in utilizing the tunnel project, even if a smaller pipe than 24 inch diameter is used. As will be indicated later there are excellent sites for storage dams upon the tributaries of Stony Creek, and it would appear as desirable to use, at Franklin Works, a large amount of the water from this basin, which at present is of superior quality. The two 20 inch pipes now in place, connecting Johnstowm with the Franklin plant, each approximately 10,000 feet in length, will combined carry 6,000,000 daily, with a loss of head of say 10 feet, 8,000,000 gallons 'with a loss of 20 feet, and 10,000,000 gallons with a loss of 30 feet, plus resistance of bends, etc. You are therefore, in position, if so desired, to draw upon Stony Creek for a portion of the supply for Franklin Works. If these two 20 inch pipes were connected to the 36 inch main, so as to draw a portion of the Franklin supply from the Border dam, and if the Hinckston Run dam was also utilized to supply the Franklin works, the demand which this plant would make upon the Little Conemaugh drainage would not exceed 28 million gallons per day. This would permit of reducing the supply pipe from the Conemaugh pool to 48 or possibly 42 inches diameter, assuming that the 20 inch pipe is also used. This would also reduce the storage required upon the Little Conemaugh to 700 million gallons, an amount which could be secured as above suggested. You therefore have the option of using all Conemaugh drainage at Franklin works, except for purposes requiring pure water, or of employing say two third Conernaugh and one third other water without material changes in existing pipe lines. The supply from the Little Conemaugh would be improved by a small dam holding say 25 million gallons erected upon Slab Mill Run, to act as a distributing reservoir for the Franklin works, taking up the oscillations in the pipe line. This is not suggested as adding materially to the storage but to augment the average delivery of the long pipe line and increase the pressure at the Franklin works. A similar but less pronounced result could be obtained fran a water tower. The survey suggested would Indicate to what extent the lower basins of tributaries could be utilized enroute from the Conemaugh pools to the Franklin works.

Stony Creek.

A total drainage provided for of 48.7 square niles. With storage reservoirs properly proportioned to the drainage areas these should provide continuously a supply of 30 million gallons per day. This, if obtainable, would be sufficient to supplement the present supply to the Lower Works from Border dam, and furnish the domestic supply to the City, leaving the Franklin works to be supplied from the Little Conemaugh. It would, however, be wise to secure sites on the Stony Creek Basin for storage dams if it should be found that these could be constructed cheaper than suggested pools and dams on the Conenaugh drainage, or that a more desirable quality of water is obtainable from the Stony Creek basin. The Stony Creek has several tributaries each of which drains areas of greater extent than the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh. These tributaries are Shade Creek, Quemahoning Creek, and the Upper Stony Creek. Shade Creek was not visited but from the report of Mr. J. J. R. Croes and information supplied by Mr. M. G. Moore, I am convinced that the sites for storage dams exist upon this basin. A reconnaisance of Quemahoning Creek shows several desirable sites for impounding reservoirs, two of which could be of great capacity. You have, therefore, on Stony Creek ample opportunity for supplementing vour water supply liberally. Dams upon Quemahoning, Shade or Upper Stony Creek would discharge stored waters as required directly into the streams and not through pipes, but this water would be carried in conduits from the Border dam. The tributaries of the Stony Creek undoubtedly offer better collecting areas than those of the Little Conemaugh, for the fall of streams is less rapid, and the valleys broader; it is also probable that there will be less detrital matter carried by the streams to fill up the pools.

 I believe it would be to the advantage of your company to provide for the construction of a large reservoir or reservoirs upon the Quemahoning Creek, and to arrange for supplementing In the future the pipe line from Border dam.

 The Quemahoning drainage above referred to adjoins the Bens Creek drainage, in which you have already provided for a storage reservoir; it has the advantage over Bens Creek, however, in being at all points higher than any of the present sources of supply used for Johnstown or the Cambria Steel Company.

In providing storage I would recommend securing large capacity to care for future extensions, and to meet any possible curtailment of the natural minimum flow by artificial means, for, while, as before stated, the present requirements seem excessive, I recognize the value to a steel Industry of abundant water.

 It is possible that for a portion of the distance from proposed Quemahoning reservoir an aqueduct could be used, but from the Stony Creek, tunnels or pipe lines would be necessary and the prospect from present knowledge is not inviting!
 
 

Bens Creek.

 While either dam encloses excellent collecting areas the elevation of the water surface is so much below all other sources of supply now used by Johnstown or the Cambria Steel Company, as to limit their availability. Water drawn from either of the dams as located, can only supply portions of the new Franklin Works below the proposed Blast Furnace yard, and then the head would be too small for any useful purpose, and water would have to be pumped to make it serviceable. The water surface would fall, as the storage capacity is utilized, and to practically exhaust them the water level of either dam would not exceed 1,225 feet. This elevation would deliver little if any water at the Franklin Yard and only a scant supply at the Structural yard. When the reservoir is practically exhausted the water level would be but 35 feet above the old blast furnaces yard with 26,000 feet of pipe between the dam and furnaces.

 The site marked C-D) has the advantage over that marked A-B by reason of the Creek level being 20 feet higher at C-D than A-B, and the elevation of the water surface would be correspondingly increased. The high water level of the high dam at C-D is 1,300, but to drain the dam and exhaust the storage the level would be l,245. This when full would be 60 feet lower than the proposed Hinckston's Run Reservoir, 15 feet lower than the Conemaugh Darn Pool and below all other present sources of supply between these extremes.

 With the exception of Little Conenemaugh Dam and Laurel Run dam all the sources of supply now have water surfaces between 1.353 and l,364 feet, whereas the surface of the dam -~~:~r~sed at 0- '-'.-o%½d be but 1,300 feet. It would evidently be desirable, If possible, to maintain this equIlibrium, but allowing for friction losses In a line of 36 inch pipe 31,000 feet long delivering 15,000,000 gallons per day, the available head at the old blast furnace yard would be $5 feet and at the lower Caribria Yard the head would be 85 feet.

 The location C-D is more favorable than A-B for constructing a dam, because the valley is narrower and the creek passes over a rock bed offering secure foundation. It Is probable that the capacity of the dam at C-D would be 75 per cent that of the dam at A-B and the cost, but about 2/3 as much, and it may be practicable to further add to the height so as to equal the storage.

 It would, in my estimation be more desirable to select a site higher up the stream say at the forks of Bens Creek, where the level of the water is 1,315 feet and a fifty foot dam at this point would bring the water surface level with Hinckston's Run dam. Whi1e as large a dam could not be erected here as at A-B or C-D, good sites are found on both branches, say 1,500 feet above the forks. Two dams, one on each branch of the creek could be erected, which would probably impound together 800 million gallons, but the cost would be greater than a dam at C-D holding more water. In addition there would be probably two miles of pipe to lay.

 Much as I regret to sacrifice the excellent site offered by a dam placed near the line A-B, and feeling strongly impressed with the value of having as many of your reservoirs as possible at practically one level, I am impelled to recommend the construction of a dam at C-D, making this as high as detailed investigation will indicate as perfectly safe, as a compromise between what is desired and what is obtainable, because of the unexcelled site for such structure.

 In making this suggestion I am strongly influenced by the staterent of your Chief EngIneer, Mr. Morgan, that a reservoir on Bens Creek, at line A-B above mentioned would deliver water at the Cambria Works at satisfactory pressure.

 Mr. Morgan's familiarity with the requirenents of the works entitles his opinion, as to the head desired, to be accepted. If however, for any reason you believe the head should be increased at the Cambrla Works beyond what the proposed Bens Creek dam at C-D would supply, I would then advise the construction of a dam or dams as close to the forks of the stream as practicable.

 The storage capacity of Bens Creek can be materially increased by a supplementary dam at an excellent site on South branch about four miles above the dam suggested. This supplementary dam would discharge into the creek to replace water drawn from the lower storage, and by securing the site for it you would advance the future minimum capacity of the Company's works.
 
 

RESUME.

 None of the dams now in place, or proposed, will store sufficient water to give a daily supply of two-thirds million gallons throughout the year from their drainage basins, but it is deemed judicious to leave the subject of supplementary storage for future requirements.

 In view of the possible changes in the character of the water, and to permit of elastIcity in your general system, so that you may command a supply from either of the two main basins, viz: Stony Creek and the Little Conemaugh the following recomnendations are made:
 
 
 

• Construct a storage reservoir on Hinckston's Run as already suggested.
• Construct a storage reservoir on Bens Creek, at line C-D, and provide for a supplemental dam in the future upon the South Branch. (It may be found desirable to utilize the basin of Dalton's Run, a branch of Bens Creek to supplement Millcreek for domestic supply).
• Arrange for a large impounding reservoir or reservoirs on Quemahoning Creek.
• Select locations on the Conemaugh for storage basins, or pools, to supplement the present supply from that source.
• Connect the Hinckston Run Dam with the Cambria and Franklin plants principally for steam purposes.
• Connect Bens Creek dam wIth the Cambria Plant by special pipe line.
• Connect Franklin Plant with the supplemental storage In the Little Conemaugh by new pipe line to new pool.
• Connect 36 inch Border dam mains with the Franklin Works by the two 20 inch mains now in place.
• Provide for a future additional main from Border Dam to the Cambria Plant.
• Utilize the Millcreek, Laurel Run, St. Clair, and possibly Dalton Run Vallies for domestic supply.

 The Hinckston Run dam will save interest on its cost in reduced pumping expenses, repairs to boilers etc., the pipe lines and supplemental dams, or pools, can be put in place as needed, but complete detailed plans for the entire improvement should be prepared and adopted.

 These recomnendations, if carried out, will result in ultimately securing a supply of water, of even greater volumne than above estimated for, permit you to maintain control of the quality of the domestic supply, and of utilizing such parts of each of the main drainage basins as is found advisable, and allow of liberal use of water in your industrial works.

(Signed) John Birkinbine
Odd Fellow's Temple,

Broad & Cherry Sts.,
Philadelphia, June 12, 1900.