62 



DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES 



causes excessive corrosion, were from two to three times greater than 

 the usual amounts. 



Depreciation was accounted for by setting aside annually an amount, 

 which, when accumulated with interest compounded annually at 4 

 l)er cent, Avould equal the first cost of the wells and pumps at the end 

 of their estimated periods of usefulness. The useful life of a well 

 usually was taken at twenty years. The life of deep wells in the 

 Tulare Lake Basin was estimated at from eight to ten years and some 

 shallow wells from which salty water is pumped were depreciated in 

 five years. The normal life of pumps and accessories was taken at 

 fifteen years, excepting those in Tulare Lake where ten years was used. 



It has been suggested that the normal life of deep-well turbines 

 should be taken at twelve instead of fifteen years. Such a change would 

 increase the annual allowance for depreciation on deep-well turbines 

 from 4.99 to 6.66 per cent and would rai.se the estimated cost of water 

 supplied by farm pumping plants about 5 per cent in most instances. 



The following table gives the percentage of first cost which must 

 be set aside annually to accumulate the first cost within the .indicated 

 time. 



Interest was taken at 6 per cent of first cost and taxes at 1 per cent, 

 excepting in Kern County Avhere an annual charge of 75 cents per 

 horsepower of connected load was made. The assessor of Kern County 

 places a valuation of $25 per horsepower on all irrigation pumping 

 plants, including wells. 



Cost of Water to Irrigators in the Foothill Citrus Belt. 



The foothill citrus belt of the upper San fToa(|uin Valley, extending 

 from Kings R.iver to Edison, a few miles east of Bnkersfield, is supplied 

 almo.st entirely with irrigation water pumped from wells. Only small 

 areas are within reach of gravity water. Because of the restricted 

 nature of local ground water supplies, pumping lifts are higli, generally 

 ranging from 100 to 250 feet, and the capacity of a pmnpiiig plant 

 seldom exceeds 450 gallons per minute, the grealer number del.ivering 

 less than 200 gallons per minute. From 50 to 75 per cent of the pumps 

 used arc (h^cp-woll plungers. 



The inf()i-ma1i(in obtained regarding the cost of water 1o irrigators 

 within this region is summarized in Tables 39, 40, and 41. 



Tabic 89 sets forth water costs within three irrigation districts 

 which delivered water to 14,533 acres in 1929. The usual cost of water 

 to the irrigator was taken as the sum of the a.ssessments and water tolls 

 charged for the 1929 season. In each district the cost of water to 

 certain iiulividuals was determined. It is imjiortant to note the wide 

 variation between the usual charge marie by the irrigation district 



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