Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-02
WATER
HOW IT CAN be RENDERED CLEAR
AND ATTRACTIVE.
A Letter From Superintende ent of -watcr-
Works BoIling-what He Has
Recommended.

The following letter from the fSuperin-
tendent of the Water Works upon the
question of clearing "the water we drink"
will be read with interest by the people of
Richmond generally:
OFFICE OF CITY wArER-woRKs,l
RICHMOND. va, september1, 1s9l.)
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Jhave seen recently In the DISPATCH one or
Two editorials upon the condition Of our water.
lhe one In Sundays paper reflects somewhat
upon those In charge OF tire Water Department,
and would seem 70 indicate that they we're DOR
,nant and not abreast with the times In the mat
tor OF the treatment Of water-suppying cities
and towns, especially AS one Of our ncighboring
eStiSsi,FTcdericksourss being furnishea with
with her dreadfully muddy water Is SO much
10 be pitied.
We are always ready and willing 10 learn, and
would be most pleased 10 know by what means
Fredericksburg Is 40 fortunate; also, what
would be the cost OF maintenance OF such a
nitcring plant, comparing our daily consump-
ton OF water with that Of Fredericksburg. We
would Ike 70 learn whether the same process OF
clarincation would apply 10 James-rlver water
that Is 10 successful with Rappahannock water.
by all means, however, let us examine this
new ~ process Of filtration.
NOT A NEW QUESTION.
The question OF hltcring and clearing James
river watcr Ia no new one. AS far back as 1880,
when Richmond built her first reservoir Of one
million gallons capacity, a hlter-bed was con-
structed In connection with the reservoir by Mr..
Albert stein, tho constructing engineer. This
was abandoned In short time on account Of its
failure 10 clear the water. When our new
Reservoir was built considerable study was
given 70 this question OF Gltering the water, and
after careful examination and analysis of
James-river water Colonel Cutshaw recon-
mended tho erection OF q large settling basin Of
eighty million gallons capacity, with settling
space below the flow line Of the outlet pipes.
ihe present reservoir is Of only forty million
gallons capacity.
ANALYSIS OF TIE WATER.
Skiful and reliable chemists have timo after
time examined and analyzed James-riyer
water. Professor NJ. Il. Hardin, OF tho Virginia
Military Institute. made most rigid analysis Of
the water in 1874 and recommended large
settling basins as the best method Of treatment.
Our eminent State Assayer and Chemist, DR.. W.
IL. Taylor, analyZed in 1854 the various streams
of our supply and finally the water drawn from
the hydsant, and he makes the following state
meni in his report:
"Ihe character OF the sample from the hy-
drant IL undoubtedly the most important OF all,
since this represents the water as actually used.
This Ia the best In the group and II Is interest
ing to note the marked improvement 1t under
goes during storage by comparing tho analysis
Of il nj its entrance at the pump-house with the
analysis Of 1t at its exit from the hydrant. This
improvement Is due 10 the subsidence Of the sus-
pended matters and enforces the desiraDeness
OF promoting this process a. much as possible
MUCH STUDY TO THE SUBJECT.
From the time OF my election ia July, 1885, TO
the present time have devoted much study TO
the best method OF clearing and improving our
water, and IN that connection have examined
many plans Of mechanical filtration, some Of
which are proving quite successful In filtering
James-river water for manufacturing purposes.
For example,. that Of the Jewell Filter Company
at the Albemarle Paper COmpany's mill.
Following the line OF recommendation of Pro-
fessor Hardin and DR.. Taylor, have each year
for the past four years recommended the con-
struction Of large storage basin above the new
puml-house from which we could draw our sup
ply. Such q site Is available, and its natural adj
vantages are obvious. This basin would store
over 20O,000,0 900 gallons, and the bottom Of the
lake would be ten feet above our pumps.
GRAVITY TANKS.
In connection with tho main leading from this
basin 70 the pumps a battery OF gravity tanks,
holding altering material. could be put up. that
in addition TO being settled tho water could De
filtered before IL reached the pumps These
tanks could be cleaned when necessary by
means Of the water III the fore bay, thereby
saving great expense. OF all the means Of
clearing our water have yet examined into
AIN satisfied that this Is the simplest and
best. In the construction Of fltcring plant
Of any kind an important consideration
arises. We should provide not only Tor our
present necessities, but make safe provision for
annual increase of water consumption for some
years 10 come. altering plant is costly and its
| annual maintenance expensive; therefore 1t
would seem best first 10 lind out what Is full
and abundant supply OF wafer lOl your poluld-
tion: ana II there Is excessive waste stop tho
waste, and then construct according 10 your
needs.
THE WATER WASTE
The city OF Richmond, with n population OF
10000, has used an average daily amount for
the past eighteen months Of 13.0O0,OOO gallons
OF water, or $50 gallons per capita per day.
Some days as much as l5,OOO,OOO gallons have
been used. One would naturally ask, How much
water uoes each person require For fIlustra-
ton would not two barrels OF water SAY sixty
gallons) for each man, woman, and child be sui
icient? j should think so. And II this was the
case We would only be required 10 pump (or nj
teri $40, 900 gallons day, and not waste, as is
now the case. 100000 gallons, which are OF no
service to any one.
Therefore, first stop this waste, which can only
be done by placing metres. Encourage the
abundant use OF water ny establishing low metre
rates. 70 that none need stint themselves. Then
| let board Of reliable and expert engineers ex-
anime into and select the best plan Tor clearing
and improving the water, and construct your
plant. The Water Department is now earning
su.iicient revenue to warrant any reasonable
outlay for such a purpose. On the best au-
thority | make the assertion that James-river
| water is pure and healthy. and IL only needs
proper treatment 10 furnish 1t clear and at
| tracfiye TO all consumers.
Very respectfully, CHARLES Il. bOLLiN1,
SUPERINTENDENT.