Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-03 00:00:00

REPORT OF MR. SPENCER.

Rivington, August 28, 18.57,

To tie Chairman of the Water Committee.

Sir,—The resolution of the Water,
.Committee of the 22nd
instant requesting a report to be rendered by Mr. llawkesley,
Dr. Smith, and myself on the 29. h, in reference to the
Rivington water, reached me here on the 27th, I being absent
from London when it arrived at my residence.
As regards myself, were the experiments with which I have
been engaged, since my last report, altogether completed, the
shortness of this time would have prevented me from detailing
them fully, 'Those, however, with reference to the use of the
magnetic protoxide of iron, are so far complete, as to make
their application a question for the engineer to determine on
their practicability and cost on a large scale.
This will be more apparent when I state that the employ-
ment of this substance, or, indeed, that of any other which
will effect the decolorisation of water, will involve a distinct
mode of filtration, differing in principle from that practised
where water is oought to be freed from mechanical impurity
only.

Independently of the plans I wati'd suggest to the engineer
—my experiments fully warrant me in stating that the tinge
of colour now contained in the Riving:on water may be
altogether removed by the employment of a small proportion
of the above-named oxide mingled with the ordinary filtering
sand. All the rest remains with the engineer.
The engineering part of the plans 1 contemplate have been
already named in outline to Mr. Hawkesley, but since arriving
at more matured conclusions with regard to them, his length-
ened absence in the north of Europe has prevented me from
entering on them with him as *o their mechanical and mone-
tary details. As regards myself, I cm see no difficulty to
their application in either respect on the most extended scale.
At the same time I need hardly add that your adoption of this
or any other plan must rest wits► the favourable report of the
engineer.

I may as far state here, however, that I am fully impressed
with the necessity of having the decolourising filter beds—if I
may so call them—situated close to the source of distribution,
at or near to Kensington. There are a variety of reasons in
support of this opinion. Besides which, the same locality
would apply not only to the employment of oxide iron in the
process, but to that of any other substance which may be found
to effect the object in question.
I have to state, in conclusion, that, in the course of my ex-
per;ments, I have met with several substances besides those
named in my former report, more or loss capable of decolouris•
ing water, thong's I consider the former by far the best.
Among the latter I may mention a sandstone, met with in
Sornersetshire and Devonshire, which contains a large per
cen'age of protoxide of iron. Also, an ironstone, found at the
Ebbto Vale Iron Works. Crystalised limestone (carbonate of
lime) will reject the same object, The crystalised chalk
precipitated from the hard water at the Piumstead Water
Works, near Woolwich, 'effects the same object. This
substance is, in fact, a limestone in powder. Chalk limestones
that are not crystalised have little or no effect except in large
and impracticable quantities. This I have fully ascertained by
the result of experiments made with chalk whiting at Riving-
ton.—l have the honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant,
Joseph Cooper, Etq. THOMAS SPENCER.

.-..-.

FROM DR. ANGUS SMITH.

Sir,—As I answered in the committee. room several questions
about the Liverpool water, and the committee were in great haste,
it may possibly happen that words may be quoted not exactly bear-
ing my meaning. I therefore send the following:-
1. I have never thoroughly examined the Liverpool watet, supply,
and never, of course, reported on it ; I never saw the water as it
comes into the town; what I have seen in the hotels is filtered,
2. I have seen the reservoirs and filters. During the cool weather,
at the beginning of summer, the water was such as to make me
surprised at the vile character attributed to it by some persons, but I
accounted for this by supposing it to be hurt on its passage. If it
were supplied constantly in the condition in which it was in early
summ-r, there would be no rational objection to it, although it is
desirable to have it colourless.

3. During the autumn the water has become very Bark, and, as it
now is, may fairly be complained of as unpleasant to drink and to
look at. I am inclined to think also that some persons may be
injured, especially if they take a dislike to it, and ara readily
affected ; but, I am not a medical man.

4. I think steps ought to be taken to remove this evil permanently,
at present it is occasional. If it suits private persons to have filters
to remove the c,lonr, would It not be cheaper to have these filters,
made by the public, even if animal charcoal were employed ? I do
not suppose such an expensive substance ne-d be recommended, but
a new and of filter is a moat desirable thing.

5. I believe there is no need of haste in deciding. I have always
found that, as soon as the cool weather begins, the water from these
hills become colourless, or nearly so. It is probable, therefore, that,
in a few weeks, the water will be such as to furnish no sound cause
of complaint, or urgent change. Ido not think. it fair to judge from
is condition during thefirst winter.

6. Viewing the ground generally, I cannot suppose that all the
water from that district is brown even in autumn; and I know for
a certainty, that many of the streams are 45 fine as can be desired;
might not the brownest bs allowed to run past the reservoir daring
the time that the colour lasts ? But this, and a few other remarks
may be left to the a❑gineer.
7. As the relation of the water to lead, such fears may be entirely
dissipated, if lead cisterns are accorded, and the lead piping made as
short as possible.
8. Even if the water wore not improved for a Paw years, I believe

it would be a small hardship, if it be correr, that the deep colour
and taste are only occasional as I believe. Until public means be
adopted for its removal, it cannot be a great hardship that private
families who dislike the colour should use, as at present, their own
filters. A little experience and calm inquiry will point out the way
to proceed. Filtering completely removes the colour, and the water
is faultless. Can this be done on a large scale ?
9. To give up even partially, as has been proposed, a great and
magni,cent work from such insufficient objections as I have seen,
and without a struggle to remove there, does not seem to me at all
wise.

I may add one thin; which strikes me. When any information is
wanted on the m 'Ater, a number of men are called in, at great expense,
and their opinion obtained en the condition of things at the moment-
Now these conditions are constantly changing—the water is scarcely
three clays alike. If you want a thorough knowledge of it, it could
/Je obtained boot by appointing a person to examine it once or twice
a week, perhaps every day, for a year, and to make every possible ex-
periment with it. After that time it sh mid be examined at longer
intervals. It is worth the trouble, and such a report wo,xld be of
more value thaa that of a col:ection of the most eminent chemists
given hastily on a mere examination of specimens. It w rad also
cost less money than is now frequently paid when several persons Li'a
suddenly called in, It might form part of the doily work of some
person residing In Liverpool.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,

ItOBT. ANGUS SMITH.

Mr. Shuttleworth,
20, Devonshire-street. Manchester,
30th Aug., 1857.

Mr. Alderman COOPER, in moving the confirmation of
the proceedings, said that within the last week the propor-
tion of Rivington to well water had been as two to three,
and in the week preceding as four to three. As to the re-
ports that were just read, the committee had not had time to
consider them, and they therefore recommended the Coun-
cil to refer them back for the purpose. It was very true
that the filtration, as far as it went, did not meet the views
of the committee, but they hoped that means would be
devised for its improvement.
Mr. Alderman CIIILTON seconded the motion.
Mr. Alderman BENNETT said that before the debate took
place, he wished to call the chairman's attention to a
resolution in the proceedings, which, he apprehended, was
passed inadvertently. At the last meeting of the commit-
tee there were two bills before them from Mr. Spencer, and
they were so unsatisfactory to the committee that it was
determined not to pass them until they were certified by
Mr. Hawkesley. They both refer[ed to the Rivington
works, but he saw by the proceedings that one of the bills,
amounting to upwards of £lOO, had been passed, no doubt,
inadvertently. He would move that it be not paid until
further investigated.
Mr. Alderman COOPER explained that there were two
bills before the committee which were not certified, the
one having reference to Mr. Duncan, and the other to Me.
Hawkesley. When Mr. Duncan was directed to make
experiments on the water, he employed Mr. Spencer,
and it was to Mr. Spencer's bill that Mr. Bennett
alluded. The bill was, however, certified by Mr. Duncan,
and was therefore passed by the committee.
Mr. Alderman BENNETT : His it been paid ?
Mr. HODSON : By this time it has been paid in due
course. - (Laughter.)
Mr. Alderman BENNETT observed that he would have
the matter investigated in committee.
Mr. Alderman PARKVIt observed that there was no
doubt that the gentlemen who advocated the Pike scheme
from the first, were new, in their own minds, convinced
that it was a failure. He appealed to Mr. Alierman
Holme if it were not so. They admitted that they wore
wrong in their judgments, and he hoped they would not
now persist in opposing anything that would tend to a gratis:
factory settlement of so important a question. He pre-
sumed that the Mr. Spencer from whom they had the
report, was Mr. Spencer who was so active when the
scheme was being got up, but he would ask where was the
reat Mr. Hawkesley ?
Mr. Alderman COOPER : He is in Stockholm. (Laughter.)
Mr. Alderman Froooo4od to say that he gave