Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-14
.AsCAsrRK JUNs IA. isss
The Water Supply.

It is not easy to understand why the
city continues, and proposes to continue,
topump mud to the hereservoirs. The new
water works are being built, at large ex-
pense, for the supposed purpose Of sup
plying pure water to the city. The loca-
ton has been changed SO as to take the
supply from the Conestoga beyond the
influx Of the city drainage. So far as we
know, this is the only reason for the
change. The present water works sup
ply water as abundantly and cheaply as
the new structure and more cheaply
when the water power is used. There is
no reason for the change except TO sup
ply purer water. But how much purer
1t will be is shown by the present mud
which comes to us from far up the
Conestoga valley. We have had no rain
fall in the vicinity Of the city during
this month, and it is clear that the
mud borne to us in the water is far
away mud, and that the theory that
water puriGes itself in three or four
miles OF a streams flow, is not correct 80
Tar at least as mud is concerned; and one
would think that mud would settle TO the
bottom as quickly as any impurity. 1t
has been astonishing TO note the thick.
ness of the hydrant water supply on this
occasion, knowing the distance OF the
flood that made it so. 1t is demonstrated
that the removal of the pumping station
above the city sewerage limit will not
suffice to give us pure water, because the
drainage Of the whole Conestoga valley
c0ntaminates it.
1t Is clear that the present expenditure
for new water works is folly IL it is not
accompanied by some plan to pump clean
water into the reservoirs. The old
reliance used to be on these as settling
basins but they are far too small for
their work and the stand-ppe supply has
rendered them largely useless in this re-
gard. Ii we had sufficient reservoir
capacity for settling purposes, we
would have clear water but we have not
and cannot have 1t at a reasonable cost.
Furthermore, there is no sense in pump
ing mud into reservoirs. The settling
ss>OuAu DO uohO pCloIC WIG pumping
s cheaper to have reservoirs at the pump
ing station than in the city, and that is
where they should he made if they are
needed to supply clear water to the pumps.
There are patent flltering arrangements
which are supposed to do away with the
need OF reservoirs as settling basins, and
1t may be that some system cheaper than
reservoirs and as effective, can be adopted.
But 1t is clear that some arrangement
must he made to clear the Conestoga
water. 1t is scandalous and absurd
that 1t should be served TO us
as 1t is on the occasion Of every
heasy rainfall anywhere along the
course Of the stream. 1t is n fraud
upon the water buyers, to give them
mud when they buy water. The city au-
thorities may be indicted for such con-
duct II 1t appears that proper measures
would enable them to redeem their con-
tract to supply potable water to the citi.
zens. 1t will then be gross negligence of
duty at the least, and may very well be
interpreted as even fraudulent conduct.
Self-respecting officials ought to have
more regard for their good names than to
supply bad water to the water takers
when good may be had