The New York herald., 1876-08-18
THE CROTON WATER.

WHAT A HEAVY RAIN WILL ACcoMPLIsH-A
GOOD sUGaEsTIoK-cLEAN OUT THE PARu
RESERVOIR
The Croton water stl continues though in q dimin-
ished degree, to be subject OF complaint among
Chief Engineer Campbell of tho Croton
Bureau explained 10 HERALD reporter Yesterday that
unusually hot and dry tho water at the
dam falls to that extent that there no overflow and
consequently good deal OF vegetable matter collects
the surface and mpregnates the supply. The latter
extends from the dam where forty feet deep
in gradually decreasing volume for distance OF five
miles The water here especially at this time Of tho
year. perfectly still body. Tho streams that come
pouring into it. particularly after a rainfall brina
down good deal OF soil and vegetable
matter, but when they strike the great
motioness mass OF water at the dam
their contributions become In great degree Uttered
Still there nbrous matter that dries under the
and easily washed away by casual rains that
floats TO the surface and remains At the dam This,
has its effect in discoorng and altering tho
flavor the The only help for 1t is in rise OF
the streams. when that happens, It docs after
fair downfall OF rain, there Is overflow at the dam
and consequent carrying of Of oil the surface water
bearing these weeds and plants brought down by
the streams The thus carried over the dam
tumbles into bed many feet below and
ave miles to The Hudson River with that
state of affairs great body Of the Croton water
the dam Is Kept perfectly pure. without the overflow
It is Impossible prevent the accumulat o Of
vegetable matter the streams bring down. Hood
bstom of the dam would only lower the supply with
out disturbing the condition OF the surface To the
right OF the dam the opening OF the Croton aquednct
bearing the water into New York city SO long as there
Is an abundant supply ana the wafer is kept moving
over the dam the aqueduct is bound to receive puro
body Of water. Mr. Campbell was disposed to think
this year than before. On bong asked as to whcthcr
DO considered the presence OF large mass OF
FISH IN THE RESERVOIRS
instrumental IN altering the flavor OF the water, IN
SAID :! think the presence of live fish has tendency
to purify rather than corrupt the water Last year
had the new reservoir in the Central Park sened with
net but there was only paliul so OF small fish
up there for anything that may get into the water.
Thcy have boat to out with and pick up whatever
sometimes OF KIND give dshy the Croton,
and that may account for the impression that the taste
is Is derived from the actual presence OF nsh. IL
nual agitation about the Croton for tho pur-
pose pose of - selling patent altering machines .
reporter that he had received good many complaints
about the Croton but had yet learned of single
case OF sickness resulting IRON It's In fact"
said he, with the exception OF such sickness
from the excessive heat this has been remark
ably healthy" On being asked what remedy he
sdered the best Tor keeping the water the reservoir
in the Park pure, the idea like sudden CLEAN Of
light appeared to strike tho Professor that it would be
CLEAN OUT THE RESERVOIR
THAT can be DONE" said he, though perhaps not
without Inconvenience this season The reservoir
divided BY wall used for more easy communication
between the gate houses While Of the
out thoroughly; and II has never, l believe,
been done since It was built would be good thing
to make the experiment When they cleaned out the
lakes the Park years ago they brought out
a black sediment from the bottom and proceeded to
was valuable but the smell irom was so
abominablc and dangerous that the Board Of Health
mad to protest think 1t would do no harm to clean
the reservoir"
rnTKRING THH WATER
he said, the process is as simple as 1t is cheap.
Any porous material may be employed In tho con-
struction OF filter. A most eIectnas OF filter
consisting OF little cup filed with char
coal and sand and provided with n network of wire
gauzc Above that IS placed a common sponge,
pressed firmly into Its place. that Il entirely fills tho
space. This is incased in a little perforated cup and
is placed the charcoal vessel. The which
passes through this ls therefore, obliged to pass
through the sponge and then through the charcoal
The advantage OF this hltcr Is that when IL
cogged and the flow OF water is impeded by the i'm
purities separated 1t is merely necessary open 1t and
Impurities OF animal and vegetable origin often
rendered inert and harmless by simple boiling DIS
tlation Is really the most effective method for purify
Ing water but 1t Is only applicable in special cases
LATEST ANALYSIS OF THE cRoroN.
The following is the latest analysis OF tho Croton
water file al the Health Department.
SANITARY BUREAU. HEALTH pErARrxxxI.
70 DR. DE +. DAY, NJ b.. sAslrAnY SurKnlsrrspssT:-
have the honor to report the following Of the
II, 1885,
Grains U s. Parts
Gal of 23l lOOODO
Appearance, very turbid; light green
yellow.
Inorganic
Organic aud volatile matter-I.oss
ignitaon .-.----...-... 0723 ~
Total solids in solution dried 260 +. 44O9 75a
Suspended Impurities.
Total solids. carbonate Of lime its
equivalent, hardness. ............. 1871 SlA
Oxygen required oxidize organic
matter. =. ...........................o oll9 o2of
Chlorine ......................
Respectfully yours T. WALLER
Assistant Sanitary Inspector.