Water Conservation in the City of Pasadena Citation Hale, Frank Sherman (1927) Water Conservation in the City of Pasadena. Bachelor's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/NXJ2-WD48. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06232015-093920385 Abstract The object of this report will be to make a complete study of the water that is wasted in the storm drains of Pasadena and determine if there is any practical way of conserving this water. Item Type: Thesis (Bachelor's thesis) Subject Keywords: Civil Engineering Degree Grantor: California Institute of Technology Division: Engineering and Applied Science Major Option: Civil Engineering Thesis Availability: Public (worldwide access) Research Advisor(s): Unknown, Unknown Thesis Committee: None, None Defense Date: 6 June 1927 Record Number: CaltechTHESIS:06232015-093920385 Persistent URL: https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06232015-093920385 DOI: 10.7907/NXJ2-WD48 Default Usage Policy: No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. ID Code: 9032 Collection: CaltechTHESIS Deposited By: INVALID USER Deposited On: 25 Jun 2015 14:55 Last Modified: 16 Aug 2023 22:04 Thesis Files Preview PDF (Thesis) - Final Version See Usage Policy. 3MB Preview PDF (Map of Pasadena) - Supplemental Material See Usage Policy. 23MB Repository Staff Only: item control page

WATER CONSERVATION IN THE CITY OF PASADENA F. Sherman Hale June 6, 1947 • OBJECT The object of t h is report will be to make a complete study of the water that is wasted in the storm drains of Pasadena and determine if there ls a ny practical way of conserving this water. -1- The subject matt er of t his re port has for a long time interested Pasadena's business men. They have made their interest kno wn in many ways, some by writ int; in the paper, others by coming u p to t he city water office a nd talking of the plans. One real estate a g ent was so int e r- ested in thi s problem that he offered a t h ousand dollar prize to any one who could devise a method by which t h e water flowing away in the storm drains could be reclaimed and used by the city. The answers that he received were excee,J inc;ly interesting, but when they were tur ned over to the city water d epartment they proved to be only an irnae;inary solution and not at all practical. Most of t h em would not work a t all and t h ose t hat wo uld work wer e so expensive tha t they would be very impra ctical to use. One of the best solutions was published in the Star New s. This art icle treated t he whole question so extensively that. I h a ve embodied. it in my report an:i the following i s an exact copy of the a rticle just as it was published. "Although the plan is one of interest, Samuel B. Mor :i: is. chief eng ineer-sup erint endent of the M:unici pal Water Depa rtment does not ree;ard as practicable the scheme sug5e sted by Ernon V. Oliver, Por tland , Oregon, fo r the conservation of flood water in Pasadena. "In a letter to !!he Star-News, Mr. Oliver, wh o is a former resident of Pasadena, s u5gests that the city conserve the s torm wate r by having large storag e pits dug thr·out;.hout t he city, filled with coarse s and and. gravel , -2- into w:Bl.1ch the water would percolate. By t h is means, he believes, the underground source of supply would be replenishe,l. " Mr . Morris , after reading i'.'Ir. 01 i. v e r' s au5e;esti on, admitted that it was unique and might have merit in some sections, but that t h e cost wouLI make water almost proh.i.bitive. Roundly, Mr. Morris esti mates it would cost about $ 3000 per acre to carry out Mr. Oliver's plan. "Mr. Oliver writes thH.t he is interested in Pasadena's water problem, which he bel:i.eves ls, by all adds, causinc; more vexation and worry t h an any other that now confronts Southern Ca.lifornis. "Havi n5 pointed out the need of con servine; every dro p of r a in water, Mr. Oliver t e lls how, in his opinion, this scheme c o uld be carriecl out. He states that Pasadena possesses the lesal right of emine nt domain over all of the prop erty within it s city limits, and, therefore, can pass an or1inance requirine; a ll property owners to save a l l the water that falls on the ir land. 11 He would put unemp loyed men at work dit;i:;ing deep holes in every block, wells f r om seventy five to one hundred fe e t in depth, and from ten to fifteen feet ln diameter, wl th tunnelled arms r a diating outward and do wnwarJ. from the bottom o f each pit for a d istance of one hundr ed feet from the :vertica l shaft. Then he propos es that the holes be filled with sand and gravel and the tops o f t h em useu in summer time a s s and playgrounds for children . The earth -3- from the p i ts, Mr. Oliver would. use in filling in low lands. "'By Having e nough of these pits", states Mr. Oliver, in closing, "every drop of ruinfall could be conserved and none would reach the ocean. be full of water. Your sub-soil would The n grea,t areas otherwise unoccupied could be ple,ntec.l to ctlfalfa, eucalyptus and fruit trees ho.vine; lone; root systems. These wo uld thrive on the under- ground supply, and a vegetable covering for your soil would be obtai ned tha t would keep your now parched a ir humid and tend to increase your rainfall, thus r eversln5 the vicious circle that no w obtains, wherein a lack of rainfall prevents vegetation from gr owing and a lack of vegetation tends noticeably to decrease the rainfall and speed up the runoff of what l i ttle does fall. 11 " Here, at least, is a plan that created a great d e a l of attention and appears practical until it has been stu1ied a littl e f arther i n to it. First, however, I want to say a word or ~wo about the v!ate:c supply of the c ity and explain why the:c e is such a gr 2at need for concern over the city's water supply. The city of Pasaden a has two source s of water supply, one from the mountain streams in the mountains to the north of the city and t he o ther sourc e from t wo naturc:.l undergro und basins. These natural basins were form ed by the f u.ul ting of the earth's crust and erosion of the earth's crust tipperl downward towards the mountains -4on the north and upward to the Bouth. If it had not been for th e re.pid erosion of the strec.,ms thu.. t kept filling in the depression with loo se e;ravel and rocks from the mount a i ns to the north, gre '. ,.t lake s would h av e be en formed, but instead of lakes, two undergro und bas ins were formed in which the water for past geological years has been stored. The edges of these blocks as they tipped prevented hard materials wY.icl!. have resisted erosion and they, due to the fact that they have not been washed away as fast as the surrounding soils, have formed hills which ar•e plainly visible t o a nyone visiting Pasadena. The edbe of t he upper basin is not s o plain but as you go north a lone:; Li nc ol n Avenue you find B. place wher e the road is in a cut. This cut marks the inters ect i on of Li n coln Ave nue and the ed6 e of the uppe r block. If you observe carefully you c a n follow the low rld ~e that lies in an east and west direction from there. The edge of the lower basin ls more prominent, being marked very plainly by a ridge of low hills just south of Pasadena. Both the Raymond ani the Huntington hotels are built on this ridge of hills. This ridge of hills extends from the Arroyo Seco on one side to the mountains on the other, thus forming a complete dam across the v a lley. In developing her water supply the city of Pasadena has pumped water from this underground basin so fast tha.t in late years the water level in 1 t has been r a pidly lowering and deeper and deeper wells have had to b e dug. Even to a casual obs:erver it is very plain that the surface -5o~ in this way c1e c:r.·0a ;:;es ve:r ;v ra1J i ol y ;J .: J.Dil1S the water l owers. a~3 'l 'h i s means th-1t as t he ' .at.J:c is 1n1mveo from doe·pe:r and cl ·3 ep el' ·;JG lls th..o same \TOlrune of . :::i.to1· d i l l lo ~er tho level OI ev3n i C thera ~ ere th~ bas in that muah more. nc limit t c thi Gapth to best that the c ity of ~asadena ci~ Devils Gate Da m vr1s huil t trol ~ha f l ood s ~ram t he ~rr o 70 '.::he re is a ~ hich water might ;Ontinue to dr1w water from .or t~j() Reco ana to Tmn1o s"0 --1;o conth i s in ~rea se J ust ·1bove Devi l s r~ i1 1 ;e ''hm th ·~ sa s t s i J " uf th_. ::'.rro"· o 0eco is p orous 1 seep into it ·2n d re:r)lenish the urn:; ;r 1::rourn1 i) :J.~; ins. the wcounc1 to those urni ;:rg:rcund 11ac:0 in:.: : n n~turql so lution ! ~:hat is , d L: th1 ~ uro Hero yo u ha v I t ha s thu c incrcas a the the wat er 2 t th 2 JU:r~ace vi t:c: in whi. .J ' l 7,h.; v.> ator will collc ::;t '.llY ~ l reidy .:1nrJ onc r 2t in? snci need the water . see~o into -6- I.Ir. ::orris estimates th·1t the z.:ost of savinc tlce 'i:ate:c JY this method will he about thr ee thousand dollars per acre , a fi,.;?;ure t1nt at 0 1103 mu1:e::3 the ··!l au irxpnactiuul and almot-it stu_ a~) ir1tc t11G llot.:_1il::1 will r , a l ize that whut auneared to be suc h ~ iJGSG :JOSt 80 T.C!Ll0}1 n10J1ey? i s comn l i8atod ~y /:..s VJG YJG simple solution many dJtails. The firscG ste-o in thu stu.cJ:.· of this probler:1 is to arains in ordsr to know ho~ much tu sav e. ~he runof f a~ta J3ull etin ·To. 5. TJonthl y 19 2!1 - l <.125 fo:-c 3 ~J'l.' G • ; j in .',Cl'e - feet Nov. 4.0 19 2?i-1 J2i± l <;-)24:-1925 1 925-1926 Jan. 57 . '7 ~:ubi)ion ''!ash 21.2 !J:7.4 24.9 24.8 2~5. 4 : 25.Lb 6 8 .16 56. . 5 71.9 158.0 21 2.7 6.2 . Cl'e-feet Upper ,\J.haubra ash ! :onthl~J ~uno:ff in Season Upper Fe i). 2.2 61.0 ti. 8 15.5 9L.i:. 2 106 1 98 Jc t. 24.2 Season 1928-19 .:::A :L92.5 -1926 •',verages :~unof:f Oct. Dea. 49.3 = )U'. ~~nl'. 2b.G 9!.J:. 6 77.3 i:J() • G 1-I8~V June '2ots. l 1 8.6 6. 7 342 Sl8 10.7 1155 91 4 2.3 5<Jl.o .Jun. Feb . T.T.ar. Tot . 23.2 I.I8.:'l Jcme 8 1 34 t.13. 8 2i:52 ~"ov. Do ,:; 11.i:. 9 2 1 .2 14. ;5 2.0 41.0 11 • 9 ~8 . 9 16. 8 18. ;3 3 7.7 60. 0 , I .:.~or. £1:. 5 • Lj, 15.7 94.0 21 0 61 . ;0 111 1 2. 1 318 . .i. ..!,... J.3 68. 1 <no 720 .\ ve::::·ap:ss J:lOTCl;J 4l~?. 3 -7To t al d ve:ra~~es rno u.11 t . 1 i nf:-) mi l es cf 'J oth stonn Qj'.' J10l" t ~ 1.8 ::i ·:J ~ ~usinoss c -r~ is 10113 . 6 ac:,·e r~i rains 1')81' d lstri~t. I -~ i ·-'· . :: . r: ~ ,. C· l- - ~- -~· ~ !. J . ·~ J_ .-',:~/.; :. · S J..-·~ • ~:_ T!.li f; Thus a~re ~eet ye:i.·~· . P.::l G J. c! e.11.:J. • ~· :. ~ () _(1.l ...., f0:>t in nits . the~e Doul d have to ~a i Yol u~e o~ l, 4 JO -8- land . already rtm t he cost of constructLE1 ri.~Y)i.! t five tirn.es nse . L i e), e ~· tllan Th e p i t vii lJ_ cloe; the sand 8..nd :.11[-1,Jc 1~ it so tl1 at the sand ·wi ll have to t)e the sands o ? the :oi ts to theundere;rouncl basins . Thus, besides th,· or:icinFLl 2_)1·ohil)itive cost , thc; Te is a cost of upkee::i_) vrhi ch is equally l)l'ohi o i ti ve . Iir. Oliver ' s p l e,n to us e the a.,rrny of the unemr>loyed solution. Any one who JcnoYiS anythinl; ab .·ut excayation knows that excavR.tinc in la1·e;e qu e,ntj_ ties fr om one :~1 lace by steam -9- shovel is ve )'}:/ much ch ea})er than excavat~Li1c; an eciEal •rolume from a lot o:C' ::;;laces by hand even when labor i s To Ela.Jee thes (~ ind i Yiclua l ve~cy cheap . sand ;. its vroul r1 only comi~ lic ate t he u i:i- cl'eaned a large number i:1ould have to r)e cleaned and cared for . ti c a l is to construct <!, :':'e servo i r \~ri t:h car1aci t y enoul)'J. to hold the i7<1,t81' :i:'o i:· a fe1i months a1111. i:mm~) it up back of Dev:i:ls Ga te Darn in o :i-.. cler to a llow it to see~_ . lnto th 1~ sub basins there . Since the dn:dnage ditches are stil.l there these basins ·F ould no,t h;:i,ve to 1J c~ l arge enou.['.;11 t o store n.11 the -rmt · ~ i~ . To construct. suer., a :ceserv oir , ~O sui-,::_:, os ~ A faLC' es- F e use 1 0 acres . The x 4~ , 560 x 1 0 ; 1 3 , 068 , 000 cu~ i~ feet 1:2_. 068 , 0 00 ~ !1_83 ~ 000 culJi c yards · · 2? · __ ~3 . :;o cost of excavatine; ·i)er yard 14'1 , 900 . 00 cost of earth \7 0l'k.• on i·eservoir Concrete to cover 6" 1Q._~ t13 , 560 x _5_ 2 :Note : F Rc to .i. ~- dee ~-- = 272 , 000 cubic fe e t of' concre te L'1: if :to ti::Jc r~ account o ? s i de walls ri.ncl lX3.. rti tions . F:rom Her::::·iman' s hru\dbook re:Ln:!.o:: ·ced concr,ete, six :i.nch,.:; s thic k , is 50 to 80 cents ::/~r cubic f 8e t . o;"' concrc-d ;e · ould be sirn}.) le anc1. it is n bic; job 50 cents 1:; r Ro Thi s t h at unit of voltune is rro·bably a ve1:y hiQ;h f i c;l.l.re . $ . 50 x 272 1 000 = $136 , 000 cost of concrete. I -10Cost of constructinu; :reservoir-. -- Excavaltiliin Concrete Total ~~144 ' 900 1.3.6,000 280, 900 280 , 900 x . 05 It lla.s been estimated as :;;;? to raise 1 acre :foot 100 feet . 1,000 acre feet to be raised 550 feet. 1 , 000 x 550 x 100 $? c $38 , 500 14 , 0115 ~:;52' 54f) It ;:!ill cost over ~'.;5:-~ , 000 this 311~ar just to catch b;y thB time that th e aclcl:L tiona l ex:;_;ense of ·build.inc 0,ddi ti on:-t:L i t i:rould run the cost away up a1::iove tb.e in·e sent v a l uation o:!:' the doui)ly the/c ::.:iressnt valuation. Ano th' " r and ::.n ·o baiJly a more economj_cal :;)l an Yrnuld lJe to dive~ct as r1u.wh of the wo.:te:r f:co111 -G11 G h:Lche:'. part s of Pasadena as i:!:ill :florr oy c;rav i ty to Devils Gate Dam. storn1 clrainf3 enlaTc;e· a cnrt;:1,:Ln section to al1 orr for settline; r-md s t orac:e o f u;:;.ter so that it vrolJld. be conven:Lent to :_:;umi) . Estims~t.§_ Of ._'E"le Wat,:;J Value of This F lan . J':':corn J.Jos Flores Canyon and Ruhbion Canyon could -11- aid runoff. •• 1nc'-t_ " F, _ - . • i r·'l f'',O''- _·int,o t,_r1.. 8 O::c about 600 'l .-.C1'.l'lO:f·.f ; ~ 15 •,: 0··;tT1· - - "" v "',__,·O acT~':! ·?-ro1··1 1/il. • •• .. . -~·o v l/"?, • ._. o·~· .L -'·o+r,l I; vc•, feet . The nest tld nc i s to discover· the point at or u:;) to thh; u11.-e:c d:ca.in. build ;:1, r 1.~servoi:c m11all size ancl settl • nc basin in v/hj_ch to It -1-•1' J_ . . .L_ C"' ... v o·? __ ·r-;,; c• -·:r·-1"v_l.-1J \,( _,_.L,. c' T -.,i 11 J • • \, _. . ... bP _, ••)"·2 J i 500 ce:c ·tD.,i:t1l~~- . \:.r ot1J.. cl i10t 1");'· _._ _.1' ___ lJe :/e~-1r . Cai;i talize~l val l:e o:\:' this nater ec1uals 8 , 500 :: :;;;1<W , OOO . 06 Estimated ca3)aci ty of reservoir . Ha:~i rnum flow as :ceco · (l8d in }.'ast thre '"" years i s i~::o ~-) e l"" n1011 t.11 . :3 c~c I'(~ 1 33 x 43 , 56 0 fe r-~ t. ~ = 133 5 , 800 , 000 ct~Jic fe1t voD ~ue of uater --l,29G , OOO CUJ)iC :fe 3 t J'.' e!•10Ved l'.)y l:.il,l.I'.lrs tl , 50Ll, 000 cubic :feet ca:cmci t;;.- of reservoir T o 1'.)uilcl m ch a res e rvoir it unld ts}:e e. ·;:i t cove~·:·inc; -12Cos t of Re s ervoir- S ite ::~: l.) ' 000 Exc c-1,va tion 20 x r~ :r r- ,) ~ r ~'- :={ !5 - 4: ; 15 60 x . 60 • 27 ~··LJ s ~oo ·~,> .::C I 0 x 5 x 11 3 , 560 .,.. . 50 c ~'~.:68 . t:l f)Q ----- ~,. 2 Co st o f ;.::ti.rt1::,;inc;-150 x 2 . 5 x 07 Tot.;·ti:t ~.; ;- ·~ i~·!.c:t:i,:, :~ = c o;::; t o f:" ~.:u;, tti11.(:; r.'n,-L<.H" 1X~l")k i n t o Devils GF:.t. c~ Dam :'';111.0 000 " -- ' . lmt t he ca:::italiz ed. vah~ e of ·c,1~_ ;:; ~7<:± e r d oe s no t in a n y vm:/ i n to Devils Gn te Dam, •)asin fro r«1 Devils GP..tc Dam t t r"ms t !)e a c;aJ.11 ) ti.rn: >ed to the sur- :face a nd that vrould cost mo re money . ible L:' ·cL-.: v a l 1'e o:C' t h e u a ter \'I<>vs to d ouble tl'la t a t the }_)resent ti it1e . -13Conclnsion • sons . S ec oncl , <::.n eco iwni_ c st"..vine:; o:L drain so tlla.t Ymte· ' . --. -, 1i.ll :Cl o•..' i n :i_ t by ere.vi t y t o Dev il s Gate Th:L :!.',1_ , it ':!:his c.'! .ulcl not presen t selling ~r ic e .