Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-22


BE cLARIFIED-sIMPLE METHODS OF FILTER
ING AND OF KEEPING WATER COOL.
The water of the Potomac river is perhaps as
good at this point, under favorable conditions,
for drinking as that of any other river the same
distance from its mountain tributaries.
Occasionally there have been scares growing
out of reports Of condition Of affairs along the
river above the dam at Great Falls and the
city water has been under suspicion for time,
but II has always been acquitted by the investi-
cations of experts and restored at once to favor.
The muddy condition of the water after copious
rainfalls IN the mountains has helped OCCASION
ally 10 raise doubts as to its purity. Many per-
sons use filters in their homes, by means of
which they transform the muddy-colored mix
ture iato water OF apparently crystalline purity.
Filters are not always convenient
There are other ways by which with trifing
expense and little trouble the water may be
made clear In appearance and beyond re-
porter in conversation with scientists and physi-
clans obtained some practical suggestions re-
specting the subject.
How TO TEST WATER.
In the first place it is by far best to use soft
water only for drinking purposes. To ascer-
tain whether or not water is fit for domestic
uses add few drops of a solution Of soap in
a IL
water will remain limpid, if it is hard or i'm
pure white fakes will be formed, and it should
be purified before using-n no other can be
had 1t is only necessary to dissolve common
soap in water and mix with a little alcohol
to secure testing qualities. III too much
lime is supposed to be present one
half ounce OF quick-lime put into
nine quarts Of water and the
clear solution put into barrel Of hard water,
which should be carefully covered, the whole
rrill aft into oOft tar T<
doxical to add lime to water having already an
excess Of lime, but the effect is nevertheless a
fact. A test OF the presence of lime in undue
quantities is to mix with some Of the water a
small quantity of oxaic acid in small vessel The
lime, If there, will resolve into q white precipi-
tate. A simple method of detecting vegetable
or animal matter is by dropping into the water
. small quantity of sulphuric acid. The water
becomes black, If impure.
HOW TO PURIFY WATER.
OF course the best method to purify water is
by filtration. but that is not always convenient,
possible, or If either, within the reach of
everybodys means. simple process is to
prepare a neutral solution of bi-sulphate of
alumina and add il to the water to be purified
In the proportion OF one ounce to 435 gallons
As soon as this is done cloud is formed in the
liquid and hocks rapidly descend taking to the
bottom all organic matters and disembarrass-
ing the water of all coloring matter, disagree
able tastes and odcrs. In six or eight hours
the deposit is complete and the water is clear
and pure.
The principle of this operation is that all
water contains bi-carbonate of lime in a more
or less proportion. The sulphuric acid of the
bi-sulphate of alumina combines with the lime
to form a sulphate of lime nearly insoluble,
which Is precIpitated. The hydrate of alumina
becomes free and forms with the organic mat
tiers an insoluble product. The carbonic acid
Of the bi-carbonate is set free and imparts to
khe water an agreeable taste.
ANOTHER METHOD,
identically in the same line, though upon a
smaller scale and more suitable to cases of
emergencies, the requirements of a small FAM
lily, DC, Is the following: Mix proportionately
eight drops Of sulphuric acid to one pound of
water, and filter through charcoal, which may
be put in a vessel with hole in the bottom, or
on the side near the bottom, which is prefera-
bic. Still another way is to take eight gallons
OF water to one ounce Of pulyerized alum, and
dissolve by agitation; then allow it to rest
twenty-four hours; decant into another vessel
and add a solution of carbonate of soda until it
ceases to precipitste. And yet there is another
very srmple method which can be resorted to
when the chemicals above mentioned cannot
be readily obtained. Arrange a suitable pipe
TO the end of pair of bellows double bellows
are best) and continue driving the atmospheric
air through the water Cor some time, and then
allow 1t to settle for use. 1t is also a good plan
70 boil water, strain and let it COOL or cool it.
before using.
TO KEEP WATER PURE.
The following suggestions are made upon the
principle that iron becomes rusty only in water
that contains air. 1t is the oxygen of the air
contained in the water that unites with the iron
to produce rust. The rusting of the iron in
the water removes the oxygen OF the air from
the water. Water in which there is no oxygen
cannot become putrid. To keep pure, there
fore, 1t Is only necessary TO put in it bits of
ME If shnn I.
or iron trimmings which are small and bright.
Cast-iron is not so good. Water on vessels is
usually kept in iron-lined tanks or by putting
pieces OF iron into the water casks. The often
slye odor from the water in vases Of flowers
can be prevented by placing few small nails
or bits of sheet-iron In the bottom of the vases
The putrefaction Of water so common in the
bottom OF cisterns can be prevented by the
same process on a larger scale. Oxidation of
the IRON goes on, it Is true, but it gives the
water tonic properties which are healthful. 1t
gives the rich, red color to our blood, and is,
In fact, needful to the system.
To CLEAR MUDDY WATER
The chief difficulty, if the scarcity of water at
elevated places be excepted Washipptonians
have to contend with and complain most bit
terly of is the muddy water, which sometimes is
Ike taking ones life into ones own hands to
drink. During the past few weeks this has
been notably the case. 1t has been as il drink
ing 50 much sand and clay. and vet by little
trouble and no great deal of expense every
family, no matter how limited their means NAV
be, cEn have clean clear, pure water TO drink
1t Is the peculiar property Of alum that when
IN solution 1t will combine with the most for
elgn particles In suspension, or even in solu-
ton. In fact upon this very property is
founded the manufacture Of the lakes used in
painting-the dissolved coloring matter being
precipitated by alum. In the same manner ali
dirty coloring matter in pailful of water NAV
be precip;sated by dissolving a small piece OF
alum, not so large as a hickory NUT in it.
tablespoonful or two of powdered alum dropped
and stirred into hogsbead of water. will in the
course OF few hours precIpitate to the bottom
all the impure particles of coloring matter and
leave il clean and clear
Muddy water will become at once clarified nv
very minute quantities OF salts of lime: or the
one-thousandth part Of chloride of calcium to
one part OF water effects the same result
promptly. The practical importance Of re-
memoering these suggestions IL very great az
the water OF the Potomac often remains weeks
after a freshet In distasteful and unhealthful
condition.
AN INEXPENSIVE fIrERER.
1t is not to be supposed that these sugges-
lions are based upon the legerdemain by which
lugglery enables water to be turned into wine
They arc practical, authoritative principles of
,ommon-sense science, just as the soda water
We drink Is reduced from a combination OF sui
phurio acid and soda or marble dust with
water. Yet hlterer Is best, and when il is not
within the province OF a family to purchase n
regularly manufactured one, one that will do
good service can be easily constructed by any