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, ~ ') :; l. (oj; .) III METROPOLIT._N IVATEH DISTRICT PUlllp;lIg p/a111.s The District pumping plants were operated to maintain a con- tinuous flow of water through the Colorado River aqueduct except for four scheduled outages of short duration to work on the main aqueduct and on the transmission system. The total lost time for outages was about eight days. The amount of water delivered was equivalent to the output of olle pump for the entire year plus the output of a second pump for 22 per cellt of the year, or stated other- wise, the output of two pumps for 61 pel' cent of the year. The maximum number of pumps in operation at one time was two per plant. Routine operation and maintenance work consisted of cleaning and repairing electrical and mechanical eqnipment in the plants, filtering the lubricating and insulating oil, cleaning switch houses and racks, painting and repairing cottages, painting transformer stripping cranes, repairing roads, and servicing and repairing auto- motive equipment. At Gene pumping plant a dormitory and mess hall were operated continuously for employees not living in cottages, and a guest house was maintained for the convenience of District directors conducting their local officials on tours of inspection, the Los Angeles office staff, and visitors to the aqueduct. .Maintenance \\"ork, differing from the normal routine work, was brought about by damage to a pump motor bearing, a fire, and a flood. The thrust bearing of a pump motor at Iron Mountain was damaged slightly when operated with a low level of oil in the bear- ing chamber. A spare bearing was installed and the damaged bear- ing returned to the factory for repair. During the early morning of September 21, 1950, a fire of un- determined origin completely destroyed the superstructure of the garage at Hayfield pumping plant. Prompt action by the operating force prevented damage to the oil storage room, gasoline storage tank, and the gasoline pump. A garage of fire resistant materials was designed to replace the one burned. Conetruction was nearly complete at the end of the fiscal year. On July 6, 1950 a heavy runoff from a severe cloudburst north- west of Eagle Mountain plant overtopped a protective embankment and flooded the plant area, washing mud inside the plant and de- positing debris in the canal forebay and reservoir. No serious dam- age was found when the structures and equipment were cleaned UJl. Other rains damaged the road along the Colorado River, and patrol roads along the transmission and telephone lines. '1