The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-24
ELECTRICITY AND WATER.

Among the hygiene requirements OF
healthy, sanitary city, none is of more
Importance than an abundant supply OF
pure water. The acquisition of such a
supply and of such kind is one Of the
highly important problems that con-
front the city of Helena to-day. IT the
schemes for levying tribute on the
waters Of the Missouri or those Of the
Gallatin and Jefferson can be brought
to successful issue, of an abundant
water supply we may rest assured, and
the current number OF the Engineering
News, in an article descriptive of an
electrical process for the publication of
water, newly patented by Philadelphia
company, furnishes evidence that at a
comparatively slight cost we can make
ourselves certain of absolute purity.
The plan adopted utilizes the power
generated by the water itself, and the
electric current achieves it's end by
completely destroying and separating
from the water the organic matter with
which it is polluted. The resultant
action arises from a primary phenom-
enon of electricity called decomposition
of water by electrolysis and is of a
three-fold nature. In the first place, it
resolves the water and the impurities in
solution into their original constituents,
SO that the process in its sequence can
readily collect and separate these inn
purities; secondly, itsupplies superior
oxydizing and coagulating preoipitant
and, last of all, it acts itself as thor
ough oxydizing agent.
II suitable metallic plates electrodes
be sunk in body of water and con-
nected with the poles of battery, dy-
namo or other source of current and il
q current OF electricity be set up in the
circuit thus formed, the water will be
resolved into its component parts, oxy-
gen will be set free at the positive cleo.
trode and hydrogen at the negative.
When the experiment is made with
water that contains no impurities and
a corrodible metal is used for the posi-.
tive electrode, the decomposed oxygen
will form with that metal an oxide tina,
will be for the most part precipitated te
the bottom and the released hydrogen
will rise to the surface in the form Of
minute bubbles and thus escape int<
the air.
Should the water, however, be con
taminated by decomposing animal o
vegetable matter carrying with it al
manner of disease germs that multipl,
in almost incredible fashion, the action
of the current must be specifically di
rected in order to eradicate or rendel
harmless this disease breeding constit
uent. This can best be done by bring
ing every particle in contact with oxide
of iron. OF oil the so-called coagulants,
that have been employed to rid water OF
decaying matter, animal or vegetable
with it's population of germs, this oxide
of iron, in one of its forms, is the best
For animal matter it has great affini
ty and readily unites with it when held
in suspension in its vicinity: besides, il
possesses the exceptional faculty of part
ing with some portion of it's oxygen t,
such animal matter as it unites with.
These facts the company's process in
geniously utllizes. The water supply
with its accompanying impurities, i
first thoroughly oxidlzed by aratior
and is thus prepared for the secon,
stage, electrolyzation or decomposition
by electrolysis. The electrolyzing cham
Der is generally in the form of chut
or trough, filed with iron, in whic
electrodes are 50 arranged as to caus
the water in passing to take Zigza
course between them. and thus ever
particle becomes electrolyzed, or charge
with the oxide OF iron released at til
positive electrodes. The iron salt thu
set free instantly unites with the gerl
matter in the water and forms flocculer
particles Of gelatinous nature, whic
are carried to the surface by the bubble
Of hydrogen released al the positiy
electrode. The larger portion Of tn
reddish brown yiscid scum thus forme
on the water 10 led to waste by pro-
ar1v orrapUo1 cvorf3au In The may n