The writer was engaged in August 1942 to investigate and report to the City Manager and Council in relation to various matters in connection with the Rochester water supply. All of these matters are directed toward putting the present supply in first-class condition and developing its resources to the fullest extent to meet both existing wartime demands and as far as practicable to provide for future water requirements of the City.
It was recognized that the work must be planned in such a manner that it could be carried out step by step under war conditions, without requiring either an excessive use of critical war materials or involving demands for labor and equipment at any one time beyond those available under the restrictions imposed by war conditions.
This report presents a plan for improvement and extension of the Hemlock water system not only to meet present requirements but capable of extension to meet future requirements up to 50 mgd. This plan may be considered as comprising:
1. The present project or First stage.
2. The future program, including the second and third stages of the general plan.
The present project or First stage of the general plan, and which is intended for immediate construction, has the following characteristics:
1. It utilizes only water from areas now partially utilized but utilizes the yield of these areas to the fullest possible extent.
2. The characteristics and hardness of the water will remain substantially unchanged, as it will be water from the same sources now utilized.
3. Construction of the present project substantially as planned is desirable if Hemlock Lake system is to be retained for future use, and is essential to any future economic development of a water supply program for Rochester.
4. The construction of the present project will provide a total dependable water supply of 40 mgd. This is enough for present needs under war conditions and for a period economic readjustment following the war. Post-war conditions and requirements cannot now be accurately seen.
It is always desirable for a city such as Rochester to have a dependable water supply developed and available considerably and in excess of its current requirements.
The present sources of supply used in the manner subsequently outlined can be developed to provide a dependable supply of about 40 mgd. This is not sufficiently in excess of present water consumption to adequately provide for future requirements for any long period of time. Study has therefore been given to the possibility of bringing additional water from adjacent areas into Hemlock Lake to augment the supply, and a project has been formulated, as subsequently described, which will provide an ultimate supply of 50 mgd.