National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-05-03

Balance in hands Of treasurer. o., $50 4S
Appropriation for fiscal year. .$52 235 90
Received on requisition........ 1880 "a
Balance due on appropriation ......... 81, ioI %
Total available ........................s ,T84 II
Estimated expenses for May s3,7so.s9.
IMPURITIES OF THE POTOMAC WATER
DR.. Verdi, from the special committee to whom
was referred the resolution OF Congress lnquirlng
into the causes of the muddiness and impurity Of
the Potomac aqueduct water, have the honor to
report that the question Of the Potomac water as
furnished to the city or Washington has been a
source of anxiety of interest and study the
part Of the Board Of Health for the last three
years; that they have at several times investigated
the causes of said impurities, and the water chem
icaIy examined, as will be found in fourth annual
report, but 1t was not in their power to remedy
OF another branch of the government; that your
committee ind that the muddiness is due to coca
siOnal and extraordinary flow of surface water
from heavy and continued rains, the melting of
snow or ice over extensive surface of clay soil
on either side of the Potomac and of other riyulets
and streams; that this muddness occurs partic-
ularly during the early spring when the frost
leaves the ground in q spOngy and soft condition
easily dissolved or carried away by water.fiows
At other seasons the growth of vegetation retards
THE FLOW OF THE SURFACE WATER,
thus giving it time to soak through the earth,
thus causing the water to undergo a process Of
filtration through the substrata OF sand and gravel
lying at some distance below the surface; that
vegetation is not only a mechanical but a chem
zeal system Of purihcation for foul water passing
through the soil imparts life to the plant, through
the cellular tissue of which 1t passes, giving up
elements for the nutrition of the plant. 1t is by
this operation and the natural publication by
sand and gravel that foul water entering q field
comes out fresh and pure as spring water.
Another source Of the impurity Of the water at
certain seasons, particularly during the summer
when the water is rarely disturbed by storms and
rains, is what is common to all stagnant waters,
namely, the generation of vegetable and animal
life, as conferve, alg8 and infusOria. The heat
Of the season also contributes to the propagation
Of said vegetable and animal life. This has oc-
cured in our rivers, streams and reservoir sew
eral times, when the water became very offensive
at least to the OlfactOries. These plants and
animalcul9 generate very quickly, and in a very
short space OF time the surface is covered with
them, but their organization is so imperfect that
heavy rain or strong wind destroys them, and
the wafer then becomes sweet as quickly as it be-
came foul and offensive. After a strong wind the
shores Of our reservoirs have been found to be
covered WIN green vegetation, cast npon them
by the agitation of the water. The water is then
clear
Our PEOPLE HAVE oFTES BEEN ALARMED
at the condition of the water in summer and
have attributed the fOulness and bad smell to the
presence of hsh or spawn; but that is an error,
the reservoirs are protected by screens, through
which only the minutest fish would pass; and,
moreover, living fish would not impart to the
water the offensive smell that characterizes ii,
An occasional tsh may get into n water pipe, die
and petrify, and when this is found it will suggest
that as the cause of the trouble, but in that case
the trouble would only be local, not general
The difference in the kind and quantity of AMI
malcular life depend not merely upon temporary
storage in reservoirs, but also upon the condition
of these as to cleanliness; If they contain much
mud and sediment and accumulation of organic
matter, then we may look for the presence in
abundance of minute annelide or worms Reser-
vOrs are exposed to light, air and the sun-the
air depositing on their surface many of the ami
through light and heat, an excellent field for
propagation 1t is well known that distilled water
exposed to air and sun soon becomes alive
with animaculi, and putrid from their
decomposition So it is with reservoir water and
with sluggish rivers: the surface becomes covered
with alga, which afford a indus for the shelter,
stead of being decomposed fish. as was supposed,
hat occasionally give bad smell to the wafer it Is
MS decomposition Of trees, imperfect vegetable |
md animal life, that give rise to the formation of
ulphuretted and phosphOretted hydrogen gas, 50 |
Intensive to the smell. |
FILTRATION WILL REMOVE THE INFusoRIA
Is well as the alga, and purify the water even |
rom mud. In London the various companies
have adopted the system of hlter-beds, but the |
process is very expensive. From Mr.. Theodore b. |
lucl, "GetnT' 4RGi pear. Of the " ashington aque
per square foot Of the sand floor is fair exponent
u the best English practice and it is a rate which
lhe closest attention, viii be certain to insure
'atlslactory results. This rate, Mr.. Same calcu
ates is equivalent TO sg3< United States gallons
Der square foot per diem.
Assuming the size of filter bed for such CITY |
Is w ashlngton to be one acre, this area gives
lltratton OF 1909 $40 gallons in twentyfour honrs
10 inter e, 900 gallons, now used in the city
necessary IN
he suppOsition that the flow of water tbroyyb
IA Oh them Is continuous through the twenty-four
equire subsiding reservoir y This process would
ntall very great expense at present, vet the
line will come when the population of Washing
liter beds for the publication of the water
The construction Of the AQueduct was COM
aenced during the administration of President
'lerce IN 1858, when the population of Washing
on was Of about $1,000 inhabitants II was then
Onsidered by Capt. Meigs, then chief engineer
mple slZe Tor the purpose of that population:
ut that population has increased three-foId
lnce then, and the draught upon the reservoirs is
Consequently so great now that their water is in |
onstant and rapid motion, not permitted to rest |
settle. and must. therefore, come in the condi- |
ION as it is issued from the river-muddy or 9TH
rwlse-to the consumers spgOt.
Running water. and particularly the water of |
ur Potomac, that is fed by rivulets and streams |
muddy drains of clay soil, require rest for tine |
epositlcn OF the solids it holds in suspension
THE PRESENT RESERVOIR
not of Sufficient area to afford that rest and |
lppiy the city with water at the same time. In |
We days the city of Washington would exhaust |
very drop Of water in the reservoir if the feed |
gppes were locked. Five days of settling |
Ould hardly be sufficient to clear the water 10 |
otomac could not be interrupted for that length |
time, because from the moment that the guam |
ty OF water is lessened in the reservoir lust in |
lat proportion the pressure is lessened, and be-
re one half Of the water was drawn from IL one |
All OF the city OF Washington would be deprived |
water on account Of the pressure lost at the res
yOir. Hence that rest cannot be secured
Paris and London, to secure rest to reservoirs |
r potable water, have introduced two systems |
water supply, one to carry the potable water |
Ie other the water for washing, culinary manu-. |
curing purposes, etc. The quantity of potable |
atef needed BY city is greatly less than water
me size, one containing drinking water and the |
her water for other purposes would be subject |
different rapidity Of motion. The one from |
hieh less water is drawn would have time to
tile, and would therefore give water a great |
al purer than the other. But even this system |
TOO expensive for our city.
Inc distributing reservoir receives when the |
nduit runs full, eighty millions of gallons every
Ienty-iour hours. This, divided by one hundred |
"a nifty thousand, our present population, would |
EN- to give
'E HUNDRED AND TwENTY-THREE GALLONS PER |
CAPITA.
his seems immense when II is considered that in |
ngland seldom are more than twenty-four gal |
ms allowed. But our public buiIdings. manufac.
RES, street washers, fountains. &c use mn A |
Try large proportion Of that supply, and, more
eT, our American people are fond Of water, and |
nope never to see the time when they must be |
inted in that salutary commodity.
\ our committee is aware that waste of water in
use OF great complaint, and to prevent this waste
guIatons have been promulgated metres sug-
,sted; &c But your committee dares assert that |
It drop Of water is wasted in the city of Wash.
gton, for every drop of water that escapes even
I0agn the negligence Of our people, is minute
asted that runs into our sewers and carries miles
i'd miles of filth therein deposited every minute of
e day, and your committee dare moreover assert |
at the health and mortality of severed CITY is |
st in proportion TO the quantity Of water that |
'ws through the sewers. Hence, as sauitarians |
least, We could not recommend any check |
'on the use or abuse Of water. But we do rec | ,
lmend that, inasmuch as an inexhaustibIe |
tier power is within our reach, more water be |
ought 10 the city, and that mere reservoirs be |
lit TO allow the water to settle and como into |
T homes in pure condition. !
MAJ. GEN. MEIss SUGGESTS
erection OF reservoir In the northeastern sec |
n of the city, 10 be filled during the night by |
e present water mains. This plan has al least |
E Recommendation Of being an economical one |
r seven or eight hours of the night but LITTLE /
ter is drawn from the pipes, and Is therefore |
Is Of seven or eight hours Of supply; a night | @
'eryoir would collect 1t and distribute II The | +
pply. / 4
MAJOR General Babcock and his assistant, Mr.. | {
mo, think that the present distributing reser- |
II might be extended and thus supply the def | J
ney: II would be an incalculable good to :
ashington II both propositions were adopted !
To the question of your committee. inouir-
whether the Potomac water uniformIy dis
buted through Washington would Secure |
later pressure, Mr.. Same answers: ssComDari- u
civ uniform distribution q VIZ 10 Il