Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-02
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2. 1891.
clariAcafion of James River Water.

Tho Superintendent of the City Water
Works writes US an interesting letter.
which We publish this morning, on the
double subject OF the waste ana desired
clariAca,ion Of the water furnished the In
habitants Of Richmond from James riser.
In several of his annual reports he has
dvelt upon all these matters and urged
the CITY Council TO take prompt action to
meet the wants Of the city. but 1t has
never given due attention TO his sugges-
tions.
OfY,oial reports do not reach the masses.
and the Council is seldom in advance
OF public opinion in reforms OF this
description. Such reports. whether pub
lisbed in pamphlet form or in newspaper
columns, are treated by the general reader
as routine matter. aud are passed over
after rapid glance, whereas timely
newspaper discussions bring the questions
close to every thoughtful mind. When
the riyer-water is muddy housekeepers
wish TO know if something cannot be done
20 give them clarified supply. When
those who live in elevated localities find it
impossible to draw water from the faucets
in their upper rooms they wish to know the
reason why. When told that our supply
is inadequate for use and waste both. then
they ask If there is no way TO stop the
waste.
When these inquiries are being made. as
they are now. then Is the opportunity to
educate public sentiment.
90 Toe xIo$ In
ent consumption Of water here is $50 gal
Ions 10 each inhabitant per day, and this
calculation he makes upon the estimate
that we haven population Of eO.0O0-a figure
very much greater than that which the
United States census awards US; but doubt
less he takes into consideration the fact
that in some cases city water is used by
county people living very near the cor
poration line, and in the penitentiary,
where there are thousand convicts who
we're not counted in Richmond's popula-
ton. He supposes that each person here,
instead OF using or wasting $50 gallons OF
water. ought to be able TO Quench his
thirst and keep clean with sixty gallons
that IL to say, two barrels daily for each
iphabitant. Undoubtedly he is right.
The waste here Is fearful, and IT is mostly
due 10 the old-fashioned closets in use.
Perhaps it would not be bad economy for
the city to take all of these out and at its
own expense replace them with closets of
better patterns.
In some way this waste OF water must be
stopped, else we will be compelled to en-
large our supply and at q great expense.
Theremedy which Superintendent BOILING
proposes-the remedy that he has long
advocated-is the adoption of the metre
system; that is to say, he would have
water consumers pay for water as they do
for gas-i. C.. for tho quantity used. We
understand that this would enable the
majority Of householders TO reduce their
water-bills-a contamination not to be
despised even by the wealthy.
Following the adoption Of the metre
system, the Superintendent would have us
resort to some approved method of clarifi-
cation. He inclines to "a storage basin,
and says that he knows Of O suitable site.
In passing the water from the basin to
the pumps he would run it through filters.
When James-river water is at its muddiest
II takes months to become perfectly clear
by subsistence; but IL would not be i'm
practicable 10 construct q subsistence re-
servoir, TO be worked in conjunction with
filters, from which we could draw clear
vater whilst the river was red and thicl
with the clay of Fluvanna and Albemarle
But the really great question presented IS
Can VIC undertake to clear ninety gallons o.
water for waste. while we are clearing sixty
for user
We know that many objections will be
urged TO the metre system. Gas-metreI
arc usually spoken of very irreyerently
and there is no reason TO suppose that
water-metres will command any more re
epect. II will be said, too, that misery
people will die in filth rather thnn pay out
the money for the water necessary fol
cleansing purposes. No doubt this last il
serious objection. but can those who op
pose the metre system offer better plan
The DISPATCH has been reluctant to favol
il, but we can at present see no other al
Tentative. X we were now allowed to an
mex the suburbs. which must some day be.
come part Of this city, il would be ut
terly impossible. under our existing sys
tenn. to supply them with water in salts
factory quantities.
Another fact which will contribute to tn
capitalization Of the metre and storag'
system combined is that the water is I'm
proved by storage. So chemical expert
say; so the people believe. Muddy water
left to settle. will leave coating on an.
vessel in which it is put.
ION the best authority make the as
eer.ion that James river water is pure an,
healthy, and IL only needs proper treat
ment 70 furnish 1t clear and attractive +
all consumers" says the Superintendent
in conclusion.
Now. looking 10 that future which seem
70 assure US greatly increased populs
ton. and which will surely require the al
ncxation Of many Of our suburbs. will
not be wiser TO stop the waste than I
burden ourselves with the building OF ne,
woSks2