Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1870-11-16

Z. ~.
the action Of different waters upon lead,
we have made hundreds of analyses, and
have found but few from ponds, lakes,
and open reservoirs that do not contain
elements which exert a protective influence
upon the surface Of the metal. The first
chemical action Of water upon lead is us.
ually that of oxidation. The oxygen,
which enters into combination with the
metal come from the air always present
in water; or possibly it may come from
the water itself through chemical decom.
position the result of galvaDic action
The oxide Of lead is a Soluble compound,
and quite poisonous. If the results of the
contact of water with lead were to stop
here, no. family could use leaden pipes
with impunity. 20 Theoxide woald continue
to form as fast as it w:s washed away and
dissolved by the current, and shortly the
whole structure would be destroyed. But
most waters contain, or hold in solution,
another element, carbonic acid, which
readily combines with the oxide, and
forms new salt This is the carbonate
of lead, and fortunately is aasoluble, 81
| The first action, then, Of most water;
upon lead is to form upon the surface q
coating of the white oxide of lead; the
second action, to change this dangerous
soluble oxide into a hard insoluble car
Donate, and this, adherlng to the whole
interior surface of leadeu pipes, prevents
furthe' contact of the water with the met
al, and all decomposition ceases. This il
a plain statement of the way in which
lead is usually acted upon by water; ant
if there were no disturbing agencies tt
GENE in and interfere with these results
we would hardly require safer or better
water pipes than those constructed o
lead
1t will sometimes happen that well anC
spu,ng waters contain other agents which
{,SSterfere with the chemical changes W.
have described. Many wells in the North
ern States are fed by springs which perco
late through or over beds of rocks charged
with iron pYrites, or sulphuret of iron
This mineral is usually found in the form
little cubes, very hard and dense, anc
having a golden yellow color. Thes'
cubes are often supposed to be true COLL
by welI.diggers. We receive a CAREFUL,
done-up package of this mineral as offer
as once week during the year, sent tt
us for chemical anal ysis, the finder heliev
ing he has discovered a gold mine. w
are always sorry to be compelled to furn
ish results which demolish the foundation
upon which rest "great expectations.
Waters brought in contact with such min
erals are often iinpregnated with an Of
fensive gas (sulphuretted hydrogen, Q
sulphydric acid) and the taste is unplcas
ant. Their action upon leaden pipes is D
an unfavorable nature, producing some
times rapid decomposition. We have no
sufficiently investigated the nature Of thi
action to be able accuratelylto define it
but it is certain it occurs, and leadenpip
should not be employed to conducttsuc
waters. ''"'., ' D. , -,
h Organic matter from vaults and cess
pools frequently 6pds its way into wells
and changes the character of waters $
that they become dangerous in their inAu
ence upon lead. Some waters are decid
edly alkaline, and thus the action of car
bonic acid upon lead oxide is neutralized
and it remanins in solution.
| The nature of the action of water upo
lead is changed from local Causes, operat
ing within the pipes themselves. Lime
\ leaves, and other substances which ma
tbe deposited in u the angles or bend
| Of pipes, will modify the chemical
changes, so as to render an otherwise sat
pipe very unlafe!...,a The twisting and beml
ing of pipes when placed ip pesitiORs dis
.tturb the crystalline structure Of the meta
Hand give rise to electrical currents, wRic'
promote its solution in water. Well
waters and sspring!waters'ar usually NOR
unsuited to lead conduct on than those q
ponds and rivers. 3i3asll s4iU- n Il >.
Ihuihs service-pipes for aqueduets, lea
pipes will, under ordinary conditions, DC
J. liver water free from lead contaminatitr
In a city or town sqpplJ,, where the ger
q eral influence of the waters is protective
as described above. there will be l0ca
causes op rating, through the agency !
which some families will suffer from lea
poison. .s, - n. .st J,i, .l;.
In majority Of wells, lead conductip
pipes can be used with safety.
I A CARBON wATER-PIPE,
50 called, was manufactured and ,introdp'
ed some years since, but we have lcparne
but little regarding its success, ltIwf
- I;.IL ol oenh.lt aup eand nri,