CHAPTER IV, SECTION 3

SECTION 3
FRESH WATER DISTILLATION AND DISTRIBUTION
The fresh water requirements were based

on forecasted peak populations with an estimated
daily per capita consumption of 40 gallons in

the permanent camps and 35 gallons in the

temporary camps. Experience gained with distill-

ation units had indicated that they serve satisfactorily as the source of fresh water when provided in multiple units of liberal capacity to
permit the fairly extensive maintainance necessary for this type of equipment. In determin-

ing the number and capacities of units required

at each camp, consideration was given to “down
time” of 25% for the units installed and to the
difference between rated capacities and actual

SITE
Elmer
Fred
re

Ursula
Yvonne
Tare
Charlie

Fox

Nan

NO.OF
UNITS
6

3
i*
8

in February 1954, the month of peak population.

600

Elect.

600
a
00

Diesel
Diesel
ect.

150

Gas

600
200
600
150

4

150

4

ing tabulation indicates the location of all units

RATED OUTPUT COMPRESSOR STATIONARY OR
G. P. H.
PRIME MOVER
PORTABLE

5
3
1**
11

4

yields due to the fouling of tubes in use. As the
program developed, it became apparent in April
1953 that it would be necessary to provide
additional distillation units to meet the expected
fresh water demands. After evaluation of all the
factors available at that time, a decision was
reached to procure six 600 gph and four 200 gph
additional units. Though theoriginal concept of
the number of camps and population estimates
changed somewhat thereafter, the acquisition of
these additional units permitted the provision of
adequate plant capacities at all sites. The follow-

150

Diesel
Diesel
Elect.
Gas
Gas

Gas

CAPACITY
PER DAY

Stationary

Portable
Portable
tationary

Portable
Portable
Stationary
Portable
Portable

Portable

Portable

134,400

187,200
14,400
9,200
39,600
14,400

14,400

14,400

* Used only for several days during emergency
landing of Bikini Personnel after Bravo event.

** In inactive status.

The distillation units with their related

equipment such, as boilers, pumps, and chlori-

nators, were housed at the temporary camps in
simple inexpensive, expendable buildings. Figure
4-23 shows the installation at site Charlie.
Ground andelevated storage tanks were provided in quantities to provide storage of one day’s
supply of fresh water. The piping to the elevated
tanks was so arranged that these tanks rode the

distribution system and thereby provided the

necessary head. Asbestos-cement pipe for distribution lines was used for reducing the cor-

rosion problems since it was available at Jobsite. Shallow salt water wells conveniently 1ocated adjacent to the distillation plants were
the source of salt water. Figure 4-24 shows a
typical elevated tank at a temporary campsite,

Operating experience indicated that consumption could be held to low rates only with
careful water discipline by users and continued
surveillance of the distribution systems to detect and rectify leakage as early as possible.

Demands for fresh water were heavy for washing down planes, for decontamination purposes,
and photographic laboratories. Also, the distillation plants on LSTs did not operate satisfactorily when the vessels were beached and it
became necessary to augment the supply of
water to these vessels from the source at Elmer.
Records of daily production and consumption
records for all purposes were maintained and

reported monthly to the AEC. Consumption for
both Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls is shown in
the table at the bottom of page 4-32.

Page 4-31

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