The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-15
Muddy .Rater-FiIters.

Editors Dispatch: Twice within the last
few days the attention OF the readers OF the
Dispatch has been called TO the eyer-recur-
ring nuisance OF muddy aoater. These pub
lications bring to mind subject intimately
connected Herewith which is OF llnceaslnS
interest and importance to the citizens OF
Richmond, and should, in my humble opln-
ion, receive the immediate attention OF her
authorities.
Il apnears that the well.ntended efforts
CT the Committee on Wafer to supply clear
water from the reservoir have failed; and
it is evident, whatever be the cause OF the
failure, that for the present at least, aud
for an indefinite period in the future, we
must be content to have muddy water, or
no water at all, supplied to our dwellings
after every considerable rainfall. The
pressing question, then, is, How shall this
water, so repulsive to the eye. and so un-
fit for drinking, cooking, and washing, be
cleared so as to fit it for these important
uses :! The use OF atun for this purpose is
presumed to be familiar to all our people;
but, while very eflectual, it is Objectionable
(unless the proportion of alum be carefully
reoulated), because OF the hardness and the
decided taste which it communicates to the
water; besides which, some persons are ap-
Drehensive that the long-cOntinued pre-
sence of this foreign ingredient may not be
entirely innocuous to the health OF the con-
sumner. who has to take the water into his
stomach in so many forms.
Practically speaking, the only alternative
| to the use OF alum is that of some form OF
| filler; and this is the particular subject to
| which | have referred, as claiming the at
tention Of the city authorities. II they
cannot furnish us with pure water, such as
is really fit for the uses for which nature
supplies this vitaly- Essential fluid, they
surely ought to deem it duty to help us
to make the best OF the turbid aud insight
" infusion OF red clay which they do fur
nish us. Some filters, rs the old-tashioned
one OF Mediterranean stone, filter admira-
bly, without imparting any dlsagreeable
taste or odor 10 the water (provided they
be kept clean), but do their work so slowly
as hardly to furnish more than drinking
water for an ordinary family. Others,
which filter much more rapidly, and pass
the water beautifully clear, render it at the
same time SO hard as to be un pleasant to tile
taste, and as unit for washing as that cleared
with an excess OF alum. Others, again,
which arc said to be free from objection on
either score, are so costly as to be beyond
the means Of the larger proportion Of our
people. The important problem is to find
the filter best adapted for general use--onc
which shall yield clear water, free from
hardness or unpleasant taste, in quantity
sufficient for the drinking. cooking, and
washing OF an ordinary family, and which
can be bought at price which will place
it within reach OF persons OF limited means.
Surely this Is problem well worthy OF the
best attention OF our city authorities, and it
is one about which the mass OF our citizens
(the present writer included) are greatly in
need Of reliable information. | do not know
whether the duty Of cnlightening them be-
longs more properly to the Committee on
Water or to the Board OF Health. | re-
spectfuly suggest TO the City Council the
Dropriety of committing the subject to one
OF these bodies for thorough investigation
and report at the earliest practicable day.
They may be assured that our people will
heartily thank them for such action, and
will most gladly learn from some authentic
source the best means OF relief from the
intolerable nuisance Of muddy water.
Another suggestion 1 would take the lib
erty OF making to the Council that they
pass without delay special ordinance to
forbid Mr.. Sch9n to make any further eXhl.
bition of that great glass globe filled with
James-Riyer water which stands in the win,
dow OF his cigar-store, on ths corner OF
Main and Eleventh streets-an exhibition
which says more plainly than words tt
every visitor soiourning in Richmond, and
perhaps contemplating residence here
..Stranger, il you come to Richmond tt
live, here's tue stuff you'll have to drink
PUBLIC HEALTH.