The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-14
Characteristics and Dangers Of Our
Drinking Fluid.
ORGANIC IMPURITIES
The District from Which the CrOtOn Is Collected
and in Which Il Is Stored.
WATER IN OTHER CITIES.
Suggestions from Practical Men on Publication
Of Water for Domestic Use.

General Egbert L. viele Will publish in the SAINT
tdrtuUl for April IS ON exhaustive article on the
"Water supply OF Towns and Cities" The proofs
having been Kindly placed at the disposal OF the
HERALD, mis- argument Is presented below as Of
deep interest to the public in connection with the
pending discussion on the sanitary qualities OF our
CrOton. which just now comes to our tables ringed
with green, II not EXCEPTIONALLY contaminated
As the health or all communities depends
largely upon the purity OF the water with which
they are supplied, and as the fitness OF water Tor
domestic use dimnshes In o direct proportion to
the amount OF organic matter that Is present in
solution or otherwise. IT becomes subject OF
view, that the source OF water supply should
be beyond the possibility OF contamination.
tained principally from wells but as the popula-
ton increases these wells become unfit for use,
and as soon as the number OF Inhabitants is sum-
GENTLY large to warrant the expense the water Is
supplied from reservoirs, either artificial or nat
ural located at remote distance, where IL IS al
lowed to accumulate Tor general distribution. At
first glance 1t would appear that the latter method
would accomplish all that could possibly be de,
water from never-faillng source, free from all
communicating influences Incident to near prox-
| unity to crowded habitatiOns and yet experience
has shown that, IN the absence Of proper precau-
tons. the more abundant the supply or water the
greater are the evils to be feared. While
there are many distinct elements which enter
| into the discussion OF proper water sup
case that ali other questions are subordinated to
| those relating to cost, and such plans are most
least least p It does not ~ any means, fol-
| low that the most expensive plan is the best 1t
may 1se a. ali os
points. While it Is possible TO secure IN many
Instances, neyer.failng supply OF pure water
from remote lakes, yet 1t cannot be denied that
very large number OF our towns and cities have
been too needless in deciding the water question
voiving errors which Unfortunately are. from their
nature, accumulative The usual course OF proceed.
| Ing in the construction oil works for supplying
water on large scale Is 10 secure, In accordance
with legal statutes, the control OF stream OF
da@ Is then 0s e ps
or the stream, pen1nd which the water IL
accumulated, to be drawn of for distribution
! as 1t may be required. From this reservoir the
water is conveyed, In cOnduits, to a smaller res
ervolr, rom which the distribution takes place.
II the original source is sufficiently elevated the
movement OF the water is effected by gravity; II
not, steam is used as an auxiliary In Its collec.
works In America are those OF the CITY of New
York, which Is supplied with water from the
| CrOtOn River and its branches.
THE SOURCE OF OUR SUPPLY.
OF Putnam and Westminster where the irregular
facilities for the construction OF storage re-
seryoirs, OF which two have been completed
these, Known as " the he's Croton Lake, is
situated thrty.two miles from the extreme
able or 500 100000 gallons. From this reservoir
artificial lake the water Is conveyed through
close conduit OF masonry as far as the Harlem
River, and thence through iron pipes and masonry
TO large open reservoirs in the Central ParK. one
being LOG acres in extent and and another 50
acres; from thence the water is partially distri-
buted and further conveyed in iron pipes under
ground TO another reservoir OF four acres In ex-
tent at F0rty.second street and Filth avenue,
whence more extended distribution taxes place.
The second storage reservoir Is situated In Put
nats mas OF Is
from this reservoir to the CfQtOn Lake through
the open, natural channels Of The river and It's
hru nRhn nAfh arc O,lr To tn Nfyne
OF construction on the east branch OF the Cr0ton
Of an estimated capacity OF 5000 600, 600 gallons.
raj channels as the previous one to the Croton
Lake reservoir. On It's completion the total stOr-
the city. about ooO 600 gallons. In addition to
the reservoirs referred TO locations have been de-
clded upon ior others as they may be required,
the whole aggregatiDg supply or 81, 0O0 900 900
gallons. The utmost capacity OF the present aque
duct is 115,000,00O gallons. While the daily con.
sumption has been l04. 000 600 gallons These data
are cited to show the manner In which large
bodies OF water are accumulated and distribute ed,
and the description Will serve an Illustration OF
all water works OF tue same general character OF
construction
DANGERS.
II Is very evident that a large amount OF circum-
speciIOn, not only IN the original plans, but in
their daily conduct and supervision, Is necessary
to insure a freedom from impurity and contamlna-
uon In the first place, the geological character
istics OF the country from which the supply is
Water. derived from certain formations is
almost sure to prove destructive to
| health, elmer by reason or eX-
| cess OF mineral Ingredients IN solution,
which act injurlously upon the system. or in con-
sequence OF geological faults and assures afford
| ing passages through which, by Infltratlon, con.
| tamlnatlon may be conveyed for long distances.
1t has been asserted tnat cholera was transmitted
through large sec lion OF the West rom the con.
! taminated water which penetrated The assures Of
! the limestone formation, descending by the force
Of gravity TO the lowest levels, and impregnating
| tons Of this rock. Leaving out the geological
considerations, and supposlng that by means OF
| y-I. anff.r ~
! minerals In solution has been determined beyond
! doubt to DO free from objection we have yet the
most important question OF all to be decided, ana
that Is the result OF q rigid microscopic examina-
| ton. While this Is the real PIVOT upon Which the
TesTr az pure wafer tadus as Ieen ~
nored Ia the discussions which have arisen out OF
! tits subject.
| Anayt teal chemists, both in this country and in
Europe, have asserted that the oxidizlng process
| to when organic matter is subjected IN running
water Is such as to insure thorough publication;
but tine theory is based entirely upon the eject
| which oxygen has upon decomposing organic
matter, and 10 entirely nIerentla in Its character.
structive IN Itself Of all animal vegetable
germs. II 1t were 80 oxygen, instead Of being
the great element OF life, would lie the chief
agent OF death. All organic matter Is out the
development OF germs, and an inmsorial germ
which may be IN perfectly healthy and harmless
state at certain temperatures becomes diseased
and destructive OF nealth at a higher degree
OF temperature. IL was remarked by a dis
tlngushed American SCIENTIST Professor A. A.
Hayes OF Boston, who was In London In
1898, when tue thames River became such a
scOurge as To Ill the whole city with alarm and
CONSERVATION, that the cause OF the calamity was
really due TO the sudden rise In temperature
winch TOOK place In the waters OF the river; in
fact, That an increase OF deg. Fahrenheit caused
wholesale destruction OF germs ana a consequent
putrescence productive OF widespread disease.
TINS element OF temperature mus; be considered
always IN connection with the accumulation OF
water In storage reservoirs The presence OF Or
game germs cannot be ignored. Water in storage
reservoirs derived largely rom the drainage OF
open farming country and incipient villages, IL
nj ant
mails and organic impurities. in this condition IL
Is exposed, especially IN the hot weather OF mid
summer, to the uirect action OF solar light and
heat. 1t Is during this season of the YEAR thar
the rapid development Of animal ana vege.
table organisms taxes place from spores con.
veyed into the water from tne atmosphere and tho
earth, 10 i've, propagate, die and become putres-
cent. Inc cons ant recurrence OF these cond.
az rest or mOXea snMlY- q Ia Iakna La M