Daily Republican., 1882-11-11

TaE WATER We DRINK.
The Report OF professor Leeds "I
HIs Analysis Of tho BrandyWi"e
~atAR.

LnO hbpOIt VI
HIS Analysis Of tine BTandywi"e
water.
Last evening the Council chamber
was we'll fillCi with interested parties
To hear Professor Albert r. Leeds OF
Hoboken, N. Y, read his report OF an
analysis which he has made OF the
water we drink, together with that OF
other proposc 1 sources Of supply. The
Tenort was illustrated with q large
chart which he had prepared 10 more
fully show the result OF the four series
of the analy sis. Wy Nah
s. ]. Wiley. G. E. Fritz, A: SPEAK
man. Samuel Bancroft, Jr., VIM FOR
te~. George II. Bates, Il. Tatn3H war
ner. George W.Stone, James BRADFORD,
George G. Lobdell, F. L. Gilpin, from
the Board Of Trade; City Councilmen
Paynter, Abele, Denney, BAugh, New
ELL Beecher, Stephenson, Menton'
smith, Eastburn, Bailey, Moore, Grubb;
CIty Clerk Fraim; Chief Engineers
Con veil and McIntire; and II. II. Nc
Mnllen and Walter Cummins, Esq.
The samples Of series 1st were taken
on May 9, 1882, at the following points
Rockland Dam, Squirrel Ron, Iall
Race of Barley Mill, Rockford Dam, b
DuPont's Dam, Bancroft's Mills, Rid
die Dam, third dam opposite Angus
tines Mills, Crooked Run, RattleSnako
Run. pump race foot Of Jefferson street.
Office of the Water Department, Clay-
ton House. Second series, samples ia.
ken june II, 1882, from Rockland daml
high service reservoir, receiving reser'
yoir, Cool Spring; distributing Teser-
voir, Cool Spring; pump we'll : once Of
Water Department.
Series 3, samples collected Septem Del
| 18 and 10, 1882, from Rockland dam
DuPont's upper dam, Rockland dam,
Riddles dam, Third dam, office o.
Water Department, BranVywine abov'
and below Coatbsville. Series 4, Mil
Greek at Richardson's mill, Red Clay
Greek at Philips mill, White Clay
Creek at Lancaster turnpike. INT
elements represented were Fres ano
AIbumenoid Ammonia, graduated from
.OO15 to .0695; Oxygen required to OK
! disc organic matter. Nitrates aud nj
ltrates. Chlorine graduated from .lO y
IL, 13: Hardness. mineral matter, or q ami
and Olatile matter, total solids, gradua
ed from Q to 81. The impurities reaches
their maximum at Crooked Run, an'
the Brandywine below Coatesville.
The professor said that he had visite'
lCoatesvilie. and found that while the
Ihad no regular system of sewerage, tf
greater part of the drainage empGiC
Into the Brandywine. The inhabitant
of that place are now agitating the sui
iect of sewerage, and If their views ar
Icarried out, the drains will be conduc
ed to the Brandywine. He also calle
attention to the fact that the cess poo
at the mills around Coatesville empt
} into the stream.
The professor made five divisions
follows:
j, First, the evidence of contaminatio
, Iby manufactures, sewage and oth'
sources % gathered by inspection; SO
ond, methods Of analysis; third, con
harrison of analysis Of samples; fourt
3 An inquiry into other proposed souro
Of water supply; fifth, the best avAil'
BILE point for water supply in the futu
+ in the event of change; final concl
t sions.
Q He said that he had noticed tn
many of the samples had become offe
sive to the smell aftor being kept
short time.
This might possibly be attributed
. the large quantity Of green gelatinior
alVn, notably Valisneria Spiralis, A
archis Canadensis and Potamoget
o that were found in the water at Roc
: land dam at certain seasons.
e He had noticed that one jar contai
u ing the samples taken at the dam, b
D. came exceedingly offensive in q fl
"a days.
- The analysis of the second series
q was surprised to find, corroborated Il
~ of the first, for he had supposed Il
- there was no contamination until
o water arrived at Rockland dam.
70 the opinion of the professor, many
j. the impurities that entered the stree
at Ceatesville were destroyed by
y effects of light and vegetation bett
the water reached Rockland dam,
70 had found that for eight miles this 8
Pc of Coatesville, there were no tish In
W BrandyWine, aud he attributed this
no the refuse that was thrown into
a stream from the mills at that point
III An explanation was then given
" " the methods employed in making t
~ ~ analysis, and after enumerating
u. ,n standards of purity, he condemned
@ @eS Mill Creek, White Clay and Red Y
90 Creeks as sources of supply stating I
the taste and smell alone pointed
their unfitness for potable purpoI
There was a greater contamination
~ the Brandywlne Immediately bel
Coatesville than at any point doWI
Rockland dam.
The Professor thought that If pro
ms vigilance was exercised to prevent
al. upper part of the stream being {
lin taminated by sewage refuse, Rockl
Ter dam would be the best source II
zee which to procure the water suppl!
ere the city. The report was lengthy,
Ids interesting, and about two hours "
TO occupied in reading it.