Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-10 00:00:00

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER COMMITTRE.

London, July 24 1857.
Sir,—ln accorclarce with the several resolutions of the
Water Committer, conveying instructions to Mr. Hawksley,
Dr. Smith, and myself to undertike such experiments as
might be found necessary for the better puri3cation of the
Rivington water. I commenced the j)int operations for this
purpose on the 3rd instant, at the corporation works at fior-
wich.

It may be necessary to state that previous to this, on the
passing of the first resoltrion, which placed the matter in the
hands of Mr. ilawksly, I made a series of laboratory expe-
riments by his direction, wi h samples of water forwarded to
me for that purpose from Rivington.
Specimens of the water then purified have been already
laid before the committee. The results of the preliminary
experiments have been of considerable value in guiding those
on a still larger scale.
So many experiments still require to be made on a variety
of subs ances, however, that at this stage it would be altogether
premature to make a definite recommendation in favour of any
one plan of purification over ano her, though in compliance
with the recent resolution requesting a report of the progre-s
made up to this period I now furnish the following brief state-
ment :

Before commencing the experiments at the works, as a
preliminary step, I mule myself fully acquainted with the
quality of the materials used, and the results of the mode of
filtration now in op-ration.

As tar as a system of mechanical filtration goes, with th
materials and mode no general Emit can ba found, though
observed some trifling matters of data '1 which are susceptibl
of improvement, but to which it is unnecessary to do more that
allude at present.

With regard to the results, I can only say that en making
several examinations of the water filtered by the present plan,
as taken from the pure water tanks, I found it perfectly free
from supended matter, tlkongh retaining that slight tinge of
colour the removal of which forms the chief object of the
present inquiry. Before the latter can be fully seen, however,
it is necessary to examine a considerable volume of the water,
an ordinary drinking glass hardly showing it. The rcsalt of
experiment shows the colour to be slightly due to the sub-
merged portion, peaty earth, in the bed of one of the reservoirs,
though chiefly to soakage of the equally submerged vegetation
in all of them. 1 may remark, at the samo time, that whilst
the colour of the vegetable matter thrived from both sources
is considerably heightened by combination with a trace of iron,
yet the same circumstance renders vegetable matter, when
found in this state in water, comparatively harmless as regards
health.

On finding the ordinary fi'tering operations to this extent
ccmplete, the whole of my attention was directed to devise
tome additional means of depriving the water of this tinge of
colour.

It may not beont of place to remark here, that ever since the
period when the increased requirements of the population of the
towns began to compete with the manufacturing operatinns on
the banks of the smaller streams in the country, a mode of de-
'riving water of a tinge of colour analogous to that in question
has remained to this moment a problem prac,ica!ly unsolved.
The whole of the present
.experiments, therefore, have been
made with a view of arriving at some means of effecting this
important object.

It the commencement of my own inquiries I was RlM-
eently aware that any subs!ance to be substituted for or com-
bined with mud and gravel, and to be equally available for
filtering and decolourising purpose•, must at the same time,
like them, tomprie simple application on the largest *wale, and
also be aveaded with little cost ; moreover that it should in
itself be incapable of imparting any forego property to the
water it decolourised.

Up to 'his period, to a certain extent, charcoal is the only
known substance possessing 'he decolourising property sought for,
though it is hardly necessary to add that, apart from its first
cost, in addition to its wear and tear,' several practical difE-
culties attend its nee even on a scale of moderate magnitude,
but which would be much increased in operating on one so ex-
tensive as that at Riving'on. These have always had the
effect of preventing its general use. In a subsequent report,
howev‘r, the extent of the decolourising powersof this subs'ance
will be set forth as compared with the others to which I am I
about to refer.

The substance which at present appears above all others to

best effect the purification of water, in the sense now required,
is the magnetic piotoxide of iron.
.A.fter mAing anurnerous and lengthened series of experiments
on every substance that gave 2. reasonable promise of effecting
this object, those made with this oxide have been so satisfactory
to vll who have witnessed the results, as to leave no doubt of
its capabilityof effecting the thorough diseolourisa,ion of this or
any similarly tinged water, whilst in addition it is found to im-
part an unquestionable improvement to its flavour. Indeed,
experimentsmy go to show that water with a much
deeper tinge than that found at Rivington, may be rendered
br7ght and colourless almost instantaneously. From the
melt of a series of carefully made experiments I am enabled
to add that none of the ordinary noxious gases are retained i❑
water that has passed through this medium.
I have the strongest reasons for believing that the presence
of this substance in certain rocks and soils effects the change
known to take p'ace in water during its passage from the tarrface
to those points where it is found to issue as " spring water"
In a word, I believe it to be the chief agent in the formation
of spring water, proporly so called, as, among other indications
of this view, in the vicinity of rocks abounding in this sub-
stance I have always found the water to be the purest and
least coloured. The same even applies to surface water found
in similarly constituted formeiens.
Hitherto my experiments have been made with this sub-
stance in its crystalline state, in vadable proportions, mingled
among the sand used in ordinary filtration. Whether those
intended to be made will eventuate in showing this to be the
beat mode of using it, I am at present unable to determine.
It must be borne in mind by the committee that as the
properties and applications cf tWs substance, as a purifying
agent, are altogether new, and that consequently other chemists
haze had no opportunity as yet of determining the peculiar
action it exercises on water, I am therefore at present limited
to referring to my ow❑ experiments—as witnessed, however,
by Mr. Hawks!ey, D Smith, and others. At the same time,
I have every reason to believe that these gentlemen agree as
far as they have seen, that I have not over-estimated its pro-
perties, thouch they very properly concur that, before ventur-
ing to recommend its adoption, other experiments will have to
be made to determine its practicability and cost on a large
at ale.

It will be obvious that in the matter of cost our caknla-
tions will he less with reference to that of the material i.sclf—
the maximum of which leas been alrearly ascertained—than
to those items which may accrue out of its necessary or inci-
dental waste in-the course of practice, together with the altera-
tion or erection of auy works which may be found necessary,
and any increase of labour entailed by its use. As far as we
have gone, no formidable difficulties of this nature have pre-
sented themselves; at the same time, the solution of these
questions is only to be arrived at by larger and more con-
tinuous exp?ri-nents
The principal point of the future inquiry will he directed
to ascertain how far the peculiar derolourising powers of this
or any other substance which we may subject to experiment
may be retained without cleansing or renovation. All ob-

viously will depend on this. As a proper check on my own
conclusions with regard to the magnetic oxide, I am grateful
to the committee for having associated me with Dr. Smith,
as, notwithstanding what has been advanced favourable to its
employment, it is by no means improbable that .he experiments
we have in preparation may result in showing some prac-
tical objection to its use which have been hitherto overlooked
by myself.

I must not omit to mention that the white proto.carbonate
of iron, in its native state, possesses similar decoloutising pro-
perties, though in less degree than the protoxide. It is pasifie,
however, that cur subsegent experiments may show the former
to possess advantages over the latter.

Both of these substances have been recently found in this
country in a singularly pure state. To these natural sub-
stances I may add chit the magnetic oxide of iron, prepared
artificially, possesses prop?rties analogous to the same oxide as
found in the natural state.
Several other substances have been suggested and tried in
the course of tho experiments, but not having been found to
answer it is unnecessary to enumerate them heie.

I have now to add a-few words in reference t() the artificial_
stone filter patented by Mr. Ran'ome, of Ipswich. This
gentleman having forwarded twelve flags of this mateaial to
Harwich, for the purpose of experiment, a tack, 8 feet by 6,
was erected for them, of Staffordshire brick and cement, in the
bed of the Byewasla stream. The filtering flags which formed
its bottom were carefully j ined together by us with Portland
cement. This scale was considered sufficiently large to enable
us to fairly estimate the merits of this 'mode of filtration.
After several experiments this artificial material wts found
to perform the operation of mechanical filtration very well,
though not better than ,he natural steno filter patented by
Mr. Foster, of Liverpool, which latter had been previously
tried by me with socimens of Riviogton water in London.
Whatever may be the relative merits of these filters for de-
priving water of matters in suspension, and apart from their
relativ cost, on a scale commensurate with the rtquirements of
the Rivington supply, it is sufficient to state that they possess
no power of theoleurising the water,with which we had to deat,
and are, therefore, considered inapplicable.
In the latter respect, the filter beds now in operation are, by
a comparison of results, evidently superior.
1 shall report the resui•s of the experiments we have now in
prep.-460n 4t snore length lu my next report; and, I trust,
by the time they are completed, to be able to jointly
recommend some definite plan capable of surmounting the
diffieulty.

To meet my engagements, I have been obliged to return for
a fel, dap, to London, but shall shortly resume the experi-
mants as Norwich, for which purpose matezials are in prepara-

Hi hero the experiments at the works have been attended
with some inconvenience and delay, from the difficulty we
experienc,d at first in obtaining a proper head of water at a
Vac° in other respects fitted far them. These we scarcely
expect will occur again It mast not be forgotten that our
experiments were made in the bed`of a stream, and in the
open air, subject to the chances of wet or dry weather.
I have the honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant,
Joseph Cooper, Esq. THOMAS SPENCER.
Mr. Alderman COOPER Moved severally theree mmenda-
tions contained in the proceeding-, which were seconded
by Mr. Hodson, and agreed to.
A memorial was read, signed by forty waeherwomere
resident in the neighbourhood of Lodge-lane, complaining
that since the introduction of the Rivington water they
could not make the linen they washed as white as before,
and that the parries who employed them complained of the
appearance it prefen ted.
Mr. Alderman COOPER, in moving the confirmation of
the proceedings, expressed his regret that the committee
were unable to lay before the Council the complete reports
which they expected to have, but declared his belief that
in a week or two the reports would be prepared, and
would be laid before the next Council. He therefore
hoped that the Council would agree to postpone the
question for one month.
Mr. Ilonsois seconded the motion.
Mr. Alderman BENNETT said, before he proceeded to
remark upon the general subject he begged leave to refer
to the supply of water given through the fountains recently
erected in the town. Mr. C. P. Melly deserved the thanks
of every inhabitant of the town for the weal facilities
he had given to the poorer classes to ob.ain a
draught of water as they proceeded along the street.
(Hear, hear.) Ail those who had watched the
working of that philanthrophic effort must feel
gratified to see the hundreds and thousands of labourers
and others who, instead of going into the alehouse for their
pint of beer, sari fled themselves at the fountains lately
erected. The quantity of water thus consumed was a mere
trifle as regarded the general supply, yet it was amply
sufficient for the drinking wants of scores or thousands
who availed themselves of the facility thus afforded. It
was a great boon to tile poorer classes of the public, and
Mr. Melly deserved the thanks of all the inhabitants of
the town. (He.ar, hrar.) He believed that gentleman
had spent hundreds of pounds in carrying out his scheme,
and he did not think the money could have been spent in
any other way which vvculd have produced o ie-tithe of
the benefit. (fear, hear.) In reference to the general
proceedings, Mr. Bennett said that whatever might have
been his inclination, there wee very little room for com-
ment; for although a resolution was passed in the month
of May, that the water was not fitted for dietetic purposes,
still, in the month of August, they had nothing before
them, in any peacticd form, to comment upon. The farther
they went into the matter, the more intricate did it
become. The water in January last was admitted into
the town pipes fur drinking purposes, the committee
having no precaution whatever to ascertain whether it was
salubrious or st all fitted for the requirements of the public.
The water in many paits of the town was wholly unfit to
drink. That which he received in his own house was
frequently of so slimy and so ropy a character, as to be
rendered entirely unfitted for all purposes connected with
the stomach, whether. in l's raw state or after being boiled.
The complaints of the water were now all but general.
The samples of water which were sent to him made his cflice
seem like a chemistry laboratory; and this was not only
the case with him, but many specimens were sent to others
also. He had specimens containing a large quantity of
vegetable matter; he he I samples containing a large quan-
tity of animal matter, and others again with a mixture of
both. He believed Mr. Woodruff had a sample sent to
him, the same as one he had himself received of a nasty,
thick milky hue. The party who tent it told him the water
was drawn cut of the main after it had run for
two hours. Ile had himself been drinking spring
water from the Sohs-street well, since the introduction
of the Rivington water int) Liverpool. As this was
very troubleso.me, requiring him to send a man there
every morning for the water, and as he was
anxious to know whether the pike water, irrespective of its
colour, was safe for the drinking purposes of the family, he
emptied his cistern, and sent a portion of the sediment to
a chemist, The report Di the chemist was that ho fognd