Water Supply for Construction Camps

Abstract

The Colorado River Aqueduct project is now so well known to every one, in outline at least, that a general desciiption hardly needs repetition here. A summary of its current status, however, may be of interest before proceeding in more detail with the camp water supply system. Although a separate Federal project, the Boulder dam is fundamentally necessary for aqueduct operation, as a source of pumping power as well as a regulated water supply. Its rapid progress toward completion, nearly two years ahead of schedule, is therefore of quite as great importance to the District as that of any aqueduct structure. Assuming average reservoir inflow, it is now officially stated that power can, if needed, be made available for the aqueduct by April 15, 1937, giving at least a year's margin of safety in this vital matter. Down the Colorado River 150 miles below the Boulder dam, at the Parker diversion dam site, actual construction is now under way. The contract for this unit of the aqueduct was awarded to the Six Companies, builders of Boulder dam, on Sept. 4, 1934, as a result of obtaining an allocation of $2,000,000 from the Public Works Administration including a grant of $500,000. It now appears probable that interstate litigation, which long threatened to delay the construction of this dam, has been successfully avoided.