Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-01
COVERED RESERVOIRS.

Saving Water From Pollution Carried on
the Wings of the Wind-How 1t Is Done
in Europe-Creating More Parks for the
People.
pittsburg has pumping capacity sufficient
to supply London with water, but its reser-
voirs are not covered, as are those Of
London and Paris, and how much
bacilaria injurious to health our beau
tiful lakes on Hiland and Heron hills
may contain is unknown, although the officials
do contend that the fluid is as pure as pure can
be. The 20 acres of water doubtless receives
great deal of matter into it during year that
is not healthy.
The English system is somewhat different
from ours, as the storage reservoirs are
built at distance from the city and they
are open and the water is carried TO nlter1ng
reservoirs. Adjoining these are the covered
reservoirs. and after the water enters them it
is not exposed to either light or air until it Is
drawn off by the consumer London is supplied
companies. except that they must sub
init to Parliamentary inspection. They
get water from the Thames, from
pauys outside storage reservoir holds $40 0oO o00
gallons, and some of the covered reservoirs
hold 100000 gallons. They are arched and
covered with three feet OF earth to keep the
from freezing. The water does. not re-
main long i'll these covered reservoirs, being
drawn out almost as fast as they can DO nlled,
which would seem to render any advantage to
be gained by covering almost nugatory. The
tops are used for relaxative purposes. On one
of these covered reservoirs are ten tennis
courts. The covering Is considered necessary
for public safety and is enforced by law:
In Paris there is no law, except public opin-
ion, that compels the covering OF reservoirs
but they are ali covered except that which re.
ceiyes its supply from the river ourco and
account of the water being polluted
before it reaches the reservoir. The reasons
assigned for covering at Paris are that the
SCOT and dust carried by wind and from the
action of light and the heat Of the sun, from
the variations of temperature and the develop
ment of vegetable and animal life.
Frankfort-on-the-Main also has its reservoirs
covered All are covered with arches overlaid
thickly with earth.
1t seemed an uphill job to get either critical
or speculative opinion on the subject in this
city. At the Water Bureau, Mr.. Crouch
seemed to be the only man who had any views
on tap. He thought Pittsburg water was
about as pure as it could be made.
Watchmen wa Saia patrolled S s shs reservoirs ] so so
thar 1t would be extremely difficult for evilly
disposed peoDle to foul it. Mr.. Crouch also
opined that the water was -purer uncovered
than it would be If covered, from the. fact that
it was agitated by the breezes and would
not be were it covered Theoretically. and he did
not appear to have any idea that any contami-
nation worth noting could come on the wings
of the wind, such as dnst and soot
Mr.. Denniston was apparently in state Of
extreme exhaustion, and could not exert him.
self sufficiently to give an expression.
Mr. Miller III the Water Assessors Depart
ment. declined to talk, but referred the in
quirer TO Mr. Wilcox, who had stepped out and
could not be found.
Whether the quality of the water would be
improved or no the covering of the reservoirs
would make two delightful parks, and the rouf-
ing is quite feasible. At that far height, the
trees planted would not be soot-crated, but the
roofing would destroy the reservoirs as ice
ponds. AS some people promise that artificial
ice shall in time be cheaper than the natural
crop the latter consideration is not material.
1t might not be q bad idea to roof heavily with
an earth Grating the Bedford avenue basin. 1t
would give the downtown population nice lit
tie park that could be reached from the Point
by q ten-minute walk. and could probably be
built cheaper than the same area of ground
could be purchased downtown.