A Pitometer Water Waste Survey in Lachine, Quebec

Abstract

The City of Lachine is situated ten miles west of Montreal, and has a population of 19,000. The water system was constructed in 1889, at which time, water was pumped directly from the St. Lawrence River to the water mains. In 1932, a filtration plant and new pumping station were erected and the old pumping station was discontinued. The total water consumption of the City is measured by a 20-inch by 10-inch Venturi meter. Water is filtered and chlorinated at the filtration plant. Eight rapid sand filters provide a capacity of 8,000,000 gallons per day. The water distribution system has a total range of 33.2 miles of main varying from 4 to 20 inches in diameter. There are no tanks or reservoirs. All industrial plants are metered for commercial use, the fire lines are also generally metered and about 10 per cent of domestic consumers are metered. After the very cold winter of 1933-1934, where many water mains and house connections were frozen, the water consumption increased every month until the New Station was pumping at full capacity, reaching a peak of over 7,000,000 gallons per day. Emergency repairs were done, but still the water consumption was about 5,000,000 gallons per day. A pitometer survey was then decided on and a contract was awarded to the Pitometer Company of New York.