Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-03
The Board of Health and Muddy
Water.

SPRING FLOODS MAKE MUDDY WATER AND
FILTRATION WILL PURIFY 1T.
The Board of Health met last night and
Mr.. Marbury, from the finance committee
submitted statement showing expendi-
lures for the past month 81, 125 %. leaving a
balance of 81 $50 As on hand. DR.. Verdi, from
The special committee TO INQUIRE into the
cause of the muddy condition OF the PotO-
mac water, read lengthy report that the
muddiness 10 due to occasional and extraor-
dirary flows OF surface water from heavy
and continued rains, the melting of snow or
Ice over an extensive surface of clay soil on
either side of the river. and of other rivulets
and streams; that the muddiness occurs
during the early spring when the frost leaves
the ground In soft condition. At other sea-
flow OF the surface water, giving it time to
pass through the earth. causing process of
liberation through the substrata of sand
and gravel; that vegetation is-a mechanical
ard chemical purifier, for foul water passing
through soil imparts life to plants through
the cellular tissues, giving up elements for
tnelr nutrition IL is by this operation and
ire natural publication by sand and gravel
mat foul water entering a field comes
out again fresh and pure as spring water
Another source OF impurlty Is what is COM
mon 10 al stagnsnt waters, the generation
OF vegetable and animal life, as cOnferva,
slg<', and infusoria, developed by heat.
these plants and animRculC generate very
quickly, and come TO the surface, but their
organization is so imperfect that heavy
rain or a strong wind destroys them, and the
water becomes sweet as quickly as il became
-.
g. proved by the filter beds of London. Half
cubic foot OF water per hour per square foot
OF lie sand floor, Is q lair exponent of the
kHGilsb practice. and will insure satisfac-
tory results. Assuming tie size OF a filter
bed for sUch a city as Washington TO be one
acre, this area gives a rItration of 3, 900 $40
Gallons in - hours. To filter ., 900 600 GAL
Ions. now nScd in the city, filters OF this
size would be necessary on the superstition
THAI the flow Of water through six of them is
CONTIGUOUS through line q hours. Even these
nuHrS. 10 be successful, would rec u!re q sub
siding reservoir. This process would entail
very great expense at present, vet the
time viii come when the population OF
Washington will he so great as TO
imperati vely demand filter beds for the
publication OF the water. The present
afford that rest required and supply the
city with water a the same time. In Eve
days the city OF Washington would exhaust
every drop OF water In the reservoir If the
feeding pipes were locked. Five DAYS of set
tling would hardly be sufficient to clear the
water 10 satisfaction, but even IL il did the
How from the Potomac could not be inter
Tupted for that length Of time, because from
the moment that the quantity OF water is
ton the pressure is lessened, and before one
a3lI OF the water was drawn from il one
halfof the city OF Washington would be de-
psived OF water on account OF the pressure
lost az The reservoir. Hence that rest cannot
be secured.
After the reading o! the report a lengthy
discussion followed on c0nferva. infur0si3
nsh spawn, young eels, dead cats and ba bies
and the report was adopted.
Health Officer Keene then submitted his
weekly report, and the board then went into
secret session.