The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-13
THE WATER SUPPLY.

RESULTS OF MIcRoscoPIcAL OBSERVATION OF
THE CRoToN-LAKE AND SPRING wATER-A
SIMPLE REMEDY TO KILL THE IMPURITIES.
In the Croton Water Bureau at the City Hall large
and well executed painting is suspended exhibiting a
view OF the Croon dam and the surrounding scenery
1t evidently taken in the fall OF the year, judging
from Tho tnts of the foliage and the circumstance that
the water is represented falling in beautifully curved
sheet the top OF the dam. ''That, " observed a
HERALD reporter yesterday of the engineers Of
the bureau, Mr. Burcte sis not correct picture Of
the Croton dam 1t is to be seen to-day" NO."
said he, the waterfall is there. Tho is be-
low the level of the top OF the dam, but it is four or
five feet higher than 1t used to be kept formerly"
allow do you account for Its present discoloraon ?'
'Thc Croton water was never clear. Some of the
a dark wine color; but there is nothing
wrong with it that account. The grass and weeds
along the banks Of the lakes dried up by tho heat
and then when the rain came they washed down
and discoloscd tho water. No process Of hcring
whatever can take away that discoioration. but the
water is, nevertheless heathfuL"
Tho reporter visited several drug stores 10 find
whether tho condition OF the intcrfcred with The
business Of compourd,ng artificial mineral waters but
found there mpaint in that direction, as the
change OF flavor too slight to mako itself ap
parent in simulated decoctions like ychy and Kssin
gen water As for banishng the present flavor of the
Croon by processes Of filtration chemist appears
have boon as yet successful In dong
Speaking OF tho
SUPERIORITY CRoros
over spring DIR. Chandler says -'Pond lake and
river waters although containing the same mineral
impurities are generally purer than spring water for
tho reason that while those bodies OF water the
waters of spring they also considerable guam
tity OF water which has simply run over The surface of
the earth When shower comes up portion OF the
water goes through tho soil and issues u spring,
but large portion OF it the soil and goes
into the lakes and without taking with much
mineral matter For this reason the waters OF lakes
and ponds are much purcr than those Of tho
springs in tho same locality. Rivers are more
likely to be charged with suspended impurities for the
that their waters which have not been filtered
through the SOIL carry with them certain quantity of
mud and organic matter When water flows into lakes
and the sediment subsidies 1t becomes clear, but in
streams, where tho water runs rapidly IL has OPP
porunty deposit its sediment and often appears
very turbid. Rivers flowing through populous DIS
trcts and receiving the drainage OF The town their
banks often become contaminated with sewage to such
dcgrcc as to make them positively offensive and dan.
10 those who drink their water The waters OF
ponds are more largely supplied by springs They are
generally clearer than those OF rivers as the suspended
impurities subsidc. They often exhibit more
or less color due to peaty matters hold IN solution
Such matters are entirely harmless"
WHAT MICROSCOPES REVEALS Q
Mr. John Nichols, the microscopic, took glass of
water from an ordinary tap and submitted IT to MI
croscoplcal analysis
"what The result of your examination Mr..
Michels ?" inquired the reporter.
Mr.. MIcHELs--l find that tho water Is at present
highly charged with tho decaycd debris OF aquatic
plants generally dsincgraed into such fno particles
that they float and remain suspended IN the water. On
tho larger pieces tho pretty vortccIle still sport
ing and great variety OF infusoral lifo prcscnt
also found IN considerable numbers the remains OF
particularly offensive form of animal life the presence
OF which, under such circumstances. was 10 INC novel
and incomprchcnsblc The vegetable matter present
was so tar decaycd as to be OF bright golden color and
has undoubtedly rendered the water temporarily pu.
crescent and unfit for drinking purposes.
"What remedy would you suggest to render 1t whole
~
Mr. MrcnELs-Until the Croton water improves in
quality II should for drinking purposes DO boiled and
filtered or bOth whom convenient but where neither
OF these remedies can be employed quantity OF vcgc-
liable charcoal in It's natural condition, not powdered
should be thrown into the cIstern This will to
certain extent mitigate the evil by absorbing much Of
the nOxious gases. and this simple precautionary
ments and by families visiting the country aud eav
ing their houses unoccuped. In addition IN such
cases, would be wise II on their return they cmptied
their cislerns and obtained fresh supply. For chill
drcn and even admits very agreeable method OF pre-
pairing tho water for drinking purposes is tho old plan
OF hrst boinng and then pouring upon highly
toasted bread. This when rendered cold forms ycry
refreshing wholesome and palatable drink.
SIS this vegetable infusion OF poisonous charac-
Mr.. MIcnELs-I notice that tho growing aquatic
plants are Unusually loaded with animal lie, much of
which undoubtedly passes to the Croon water which,
In the absence of any general plan OF filtration, is
little better than pond water In regard the living
animal organisms found in water, believe the major
ity perfectly innocuous when alive. some species
are, tho other hand. highly dangerous, the evils
arising from which, however, tend to future compica.
tons rather than to present inconvenience. As no
mitigation OF the condition OF the Croton water be
anticipated Tor some time, anu the weeds rot II may
probably BIO even worse, precautionary measures
should be adopted The principles and methods of
constructing filters well known and 1t requires
but little ingenuity 10 mako them on large scale.