Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-21
THE WATER QUESTION.
Something About Clear Water and
How to Get 1t.


Editor Morning NeloS: read with in
terest the article in your issue of June II,
signed "Yorick," concerning the water
question, and send you the following re-
marks on the subject: 1t is not de-
slrable, and it is rarely the case, that ar
teSian wells are used when another source
OF unfailing water supply is available,
and in this city they would not, in my
opinion, for the following reasons, be
either advantageous or reliable: Artesian
well sinking is expensive and speculative,
the cost varying according to depth;
speculative because any citizen desiring
to do SO, at future time, for the require
ments OF his business or trade,
might sink we'll to
greater depth than those supplying the
city, and thus drain the area controlled
by them; or earthquakes might disturb
the water bearing strata, and in this way
entirely destroy the wells. Almost all
cities on the banks of or near rivers, I'M
less within a reasonable distance OF lakes,
utilize the river water for domestic and
other purposes, and there is no reason
why there should be any grumbling in Sa-
Vannah at the color CT the water, as it can
easily, and at no great eXpense-certainly
not as much as the cost of sinking
artesian wells - be clarified be-
fore it leaves the pumping station
by a simple system of filtration.
such as is Ia use in London and many
other cities in England. London, which
obtains its water supply from the Thames,
river polluted with the sewage of sew
eral large towns higher up along its
banks, purities its water by fltering it
with gravel and sand. through which it
flows into reservoirs, and from there is
pumped into the mains sup
plying the city. After this sim
pie process the water is perfectly clear
and almost tree from any organic impuri-
ties. Now, according to the analysis of
the Savannah river water given by your
correspondent "YOrick," there is little to
be done but 10 remove the Objectionable
yellow tinge, aud render the water pleas
ant to drink and enjoyable to battle in,
aud this at the cost OF a few thousand
dollars could easily be done by the sys-
TEN which | mention. The suggestion of
your correspondent to have a reservoir on
HutchinsOn's island is not desirable.
as the original cost of laying pipes across
the river TO the city would go far towards
building the filter beds which | recon-
mend, besides the liability of the pipes
being damaged by strong current dur
ing a freshet. In conclusion 1 may re-
mark that on my first visit to the bath
room at the Pulaski Rouse, Immediately
upon my arrival in Savannah some
months ago, returned to my bedroom in
disgust, under the impression
that the waiter in filing the
bath had dropped handful of
earth or sand into the water, and even
when told that that was the normal con-
ditlOn of the Savannah water | could
scarcely conquer my repugnance to battle
in it. Even now, though have of neces-
sity become slightly recOnciled to il, no
one can long more than do to be able to
battle in water which will not give one
the fear Of being dirtier after washing
than before, l. G. Glow.
139 Perry street, June 10.