The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-27

Al sewage CONTAMINATION OF mas oeeu "dsueu
down from the Cascades by the water flowing
through chloride of lime rocks. The latter is
improbable, as il should not be larger this year
than any year past conditions being the same.
1t 1t 10 Q product Of sewage contamination,
why has the albumenod ammonia not in
creased? If chlorine appears from sewage
albumenoid ammonia must appear also. The
albumenoid ammonia of 1855 was very high,
but, when taken in conjunction with the then
exceedingly small amount OF chlorides, sug-
gests it's derivation from vegetable rather than
animal contamination. Now, in 1892 albumenoid
ammonia has decreased and chlorine increased,
and if Mr. Bogardus' analysis is correct, there 10
less sewerage contamination now than in 1855.
While, if the albumenoid ammonia is OF
vegetable source, why has it decreased while its
creator Organic matter) has increased? Had the
analysis of this year shown an increase in al
bumenoid ammonis corresponding to that OF
the increase of chlorine, it would certainly
prove that the lake is rapidly growing worse
from diluted sewage. Vegetable organic mat
ter in water is entirely harmless in ITSELF as the
little plants Hberate oxygen which destroys Gil
the other dead organisms and renders them
harmless, celebrated English scientisrhas
asserted that the presence OF the American weed
(Anacharis dlsinGstruH) has saved thousands OF
lives by the beneficial effect it has had IN the
English water courses. OF course when these
microscopic plants multiply to an unusual ex-
tent they seriously annoy.
cannot agree with Mr.. Bogardus in that the
water of the lake is not purifying itself by oxi-
dalton, but only by dilution. Dilution GER
taInly Is lessening the contamination, bus the
more the dilution the easier the oxygen breaks
up the forms OF the organisms and destroys
their constituents, ''rearranging the original
elements into permanent inorganic matter free
from deleteriors effect on the water" and when
We consider that there are over $4,000, 00o,ooo
gallons in the lake, dilutiOn assists oxidation to
certainly take place.
But one thing the health department or some
official authority should do, is to closely exam
inc the entire shore lines of Lake Washington
and the river which supplies it. There are
many impurities, visible on the surface, which
are entirely avoidabie, If proper care Is taken.
If this is done, and the sewer system in that
portion of the city which faces the lake, is
maintained in good condition, there ID nothing
to fear Tor several years to come, as the water
now is exceptionally pure.
Another item must be taken into considera-
ton. The water from which the analysis OF
1855 was made was taken from much nearer the
shoresthan that of this years analysis. The old
suction pipe is altogether too near the bottom
OF tho lake, az l have several times taken small
shells and vegetable organisms that only locate
on water bottom out of my filter on the kitchen
faucet Anyway, the shells, by mere gravity,
occupy the bottom of the lake, and she very fact
into the pipe, indicates clearly that this is the
case. Since the Holly pump has been running
there is a preceptible difference in the color and
taste OF the water. There is no doubt that much
mud, sand. etc, 10 sucked up through the old
suction pipe. Ii this is still in use it would be
well to remedy it. Another mechanical detri-
ment to good water supply is defective circula-
ton. This is being remedied very rapidly now,
care being exercised to connect both ends of any
new extension live mains Water, especially
lake water, where vegetable matter is absolutely
universal, needs circulation as much as our
blood does. Staguation proves very deleterious,
allowing bacteria to develop. Dead ends OF
pipes, which are abundant owing to the hurried
extensions made in the Spring Hill days, in re-
Spouse to the inhabitants of the "mushrOOm"
districts, where houses sprung up in the most
unexpected spots and their owners expected
water the very next day, are very numerous, but
are being connected "at the other end' with
new laid mains, thus giving the water the cir
culation necessary. On complaint of consumers
that the water is iil-smelling and worse tasting
it is usual in the water department to send aud
flush out the dead end. 1 have been present at
several of the operations and might compare
some of them to an explosion OF a Chinese
stinkpot. This is no fault of the water,
however, and after a while tho city
will have few or no dead ends In the Posi-
INTELLIGENCER, issue of Monday last, a water
planned bitterly of the extremely pretty, varie-
gated hues the water had lately assumed. / say
most emphatlcally that such water did not come
from the lake in that condition. If Fourteenth
Street" would examine his pipe he would prob
ably find that the color lie due to iron oxide
faxed off the interior OF his own pipes. Allow
ing the water to run for a time will give relief.
Sometimes the workmen in laying new mains
carelessiy leave oak1m packing in the pes
This divides and gets caught in the shut-offs of
service pipes and gives the water yellowish
color and a tar-like taste. think if consumers
will use little more common sense, and exam
inc their pipes before complaining, they would
in many cases find that the cause and remedy
lie with them. II the water continues bad
looking, or smells even slightly, word to the
water department will find out the cause, as
that cause is most assuredly local.
think. in a few years to come, it would &c
advisable to put in a filterng apparatus to catch
the suspended matter. But, of course, If sewage
is allowed to discharge into the lake it must DO
abandoned as water supply. When the canal
is built the water will much improve. Perhaps
this assertion appears peculiar. But the lake
will then have been lowered several feet, and
Cedar river will discharge into il and large
quantity flow out, keeping the water
continually fresh, and. unless some cir
cumstance arises which we cannot fore
see, the water five years hence will
age is kept out, as it undoubtedly will be. Still,
finally, Cedar river must De our source of sup
ply, but to put that system in now would not be
judicious, and years to come viii lie ample time
enough to figure on that proposition. have
seen samples OF water taken from hundred
feet below the surface and some distance south
OF our present pumping station that were abso-
lutely surprising for color and taste. OF Course,
taste and eclor is no criterion, but fully be-
lieve that that water was extremely pure.
Naturally, the deeper we go the fewer organ
isms and impurities we find, owing to the COM
pressibility of water From experiments have
made / calculate that at depth of sd feet and
moro than 100 feet from the bottom a gallon of
water would contain $50 Of grain of organic
matter per gallon Albumenod ammonia, MI
trates and nitrites would decrease TO mere
trace. Chlorine chorides would probably
show as much as near the surface, owing to its
propensity to combine freely with other eie-
uents.
So, let US rejoice in the glaisome fact that our
water is, and will be Tor some years to come, ad-
mirably pure ALFRED WILLIAMS
Six California Chinese Register.
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 26-FoUr Chinese in
Az