The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-15
TALK ABOUT FILTERING.
SUPERIyTENDEST BOILING RECON-
MENDs THE STORAGE RESERVOIR.

One Of the greatest.of Americas institutions
Is the average citizen.
In no country does he exist as prolifcally
or prominently. and in this city in particular
he is always arising from his environments
and saything something. Smith, when he
was told to sit down was evidently an average
citizen.
just now that individual is discussing
fltering the water we drink; at least the water
some of US drink.
The hue and cry Of party Of citizens ar
guments was heard yesterday by TINES re-
porter, and the latter visited Alr. c. +. Boiling
10 get some information on the subject
In Mr.. Bolling's report for 1887 lie says: As
| have before advised, am sure the water
would be greatly improved by constructing
large storage lake along the canal above the
new pump-house. have described the plan
to several prominent engineers and others who
have given the water question careful study,
and this plan has received Their ap-
proval. Such a lake would store two
hundred million gallons, or twenty days
supply, which would meet the aver
age periods Of muddy water; and even
If il was as long as twenty-nine days. the lake
could be filled with muddy water, and then,
by drawing from the surface we would get
nearly clear water. The cost would be about
$3.50, 900. including the purchase of the site.
/ hope that at least proper steps may be taken
10 secure the land. which can never he pur-
chased any cheaper than now. and the work
could be constructed at some future time,
whenever the Council felt justified in making
the appropriation The comfort and advan-
tage Of having an abundance Of good and
clear water cannot be estimated
THE MKT YEAR.
Mr.. Boiling, in his report for 1885 goes
further into the subject speaking as follows:
The water of the James at no time was
perfectly clear from January lst to October
1st. There were short periods when the water
was Opalescent. but on the whole II was mud
jy The longest continuous muddy period
was from July 29th to October 4th. Then we
had clear water for thirty days. sample of
the water was at that time Analysed by
chemist in New York, who pronounced
and the color equal TO that of dis
titled water have given some examination
10 various devices for mechanical filtration,
and cannot yet advise the adoption of any
one. Nearly all of them employ coagulants
Of some kind, and their use do not believe
could be kept within a safe limit when called
upon 10 filter in such large quantities as our
daily demand. and the water in its muddiest
condition. Again, the cost of such filter
ing plant would be very great, and the annual
maintenance expensive. | see no!better plan
of furnishing our city with good water
than the one | have already advised
namely the construction Of large
settling basin along the canal above the new
pump-house. Snch site is now eligible
within mile of the pump-house. basin or
lake can be constructed and suction-ppe land
for $50 600 The basin would hold over 200,-
600 600 gallons. or about twenty days supply
The water would be of sufficient height to
IL fha md. f.f los
than ten feet. and would be stored sufficiently
long 10 be free of most of the suspended lmpur-
ties by sedimentatiOn There isan alumina IN the
James river water Of 80 little gravity that u
settles very slowly, and IS not entirely re-
moved after months of settling, but II IS harm
less and merely leaves the color Of the water
opalescent In confirmation that the settling
process is the best. will refer to Professor
Hardin's report made in 1875 TO the City Engl-
neer. which was full and complete analysis
of samples OF water taken from the river here
In his summary he saws
a. The organic matters found in the sam
pies of water analysed are principally. If not
entirely, of vegetable origin The nitroge-
nous substances occur III very minute quaint
ties and appear incapable of rendering the
water nnwholesOme.
Cd The opalescent or nearly clear sam
pies are in oil respects good.
49, THE turbid samples. though containing
nothing seriously Objectionable IN a sanitary
point of view, are unsightly, and so lar at
least, undesirable.
a. The muddy specimen, collected aftera
freshet had when received, "a very forbidding
appearance, and was soloaded with suspended
impurities as TO be unfit for domestic use
90 1T is important that the water with
which the city is supplied should be freed rs
far as possible, from suspended impurities.
Much can be done III this direction 10y sedi-
mentation. and also by the ordinary methods
81 L..
whether any rapid, economical and unob-
lectional process can be devised for rendering
.he water perfectly clear on a large scale As
Tar as experiments have gone, the settling
process appears to have the advantage over
all others.
o. "0f all the chemical processes hitherto
proposed for purifying drinking water, the
one employed on the small scale by many
persons in Richmond answers best for these
bamples of water. Not more than about five
grains of alum to the gallon should be used
From repeated trials, 1t has been shown
that James river water IS not affected iniu-
riously by being stored, but Is greatly n-
proved, the suspended impurities having had
time 20 settle. Moreover, | have not vet seen
The device by which the water can be render
ID perfectly clear and good for domestic use.
In large quantities, by any rapid. economical
and entirely unobJecuonable process.
AN OPINION OF THE WATER
Onewell informed person as 10 the James
river water Is Mr. Hugh Blair In "a lecture
delivered a short time ago before the Acade-
any OF Medicine and Surgery he gave much
valuable information.
In one part of the discussion ne SAYS there
Is but one grain of organic matter, and that
OF vegetable, not animal. origin. IF all the
ingredients IN gallon of water were collected
and administered three times daily for a. wear
or ten years, what harm would result? On the
contrary, let II be remembered. the very sub
stances that We swallow with this water are
more or less necessary for the healthy com
position ofthe blood. Nearly every one Of
them.
"A coating Of very fine clay has been slowly
and finely deposited upon the inside of the
city water pipes. This is o most valuable
protection against chemical action. ana also
against wear and tear Ii by sending filtered
water through these pipes this deposit he
removed the lead will be exposed 10 chcmi-
cal action and lead poison may bee the result.
AS - the iron pipes, they will suffer ne
chAnlcal and chemical wear0nd tear. IRON rust
will be diiused in the water and NET Gse
oxygen on the lead pipes The water also
Will be feriuquious, and inkv tea viii appeer
NJ the breakfast table TO the DISGUST If fine
ladies, and we VIII never hear the last If it,"
VARIOUS PROCESSES.
Superintendent Boiling in speaking Of the
subject Yesterday. said: There are yariou.
processes Of filtration, but as far as | have
heard of, all use lime, alum. or some othcr
coagulent
In Atlanta the Hyatt system is used. and
the cost of tlteriug is double what 10 costs /
Richmond 70 pump. The Atlanta people 7.