Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-08

Continuing Mr.. Wilcox says: 'The
water is of remarkable good quality, the
very low percentage of free and albumenoid
ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and the low
percentage of chlorine show the water to be
remarkably pure and free from sewage
contamination. The reaction of the water
Is very slightly alkaline. There was a
little greenish suspended matter in the
samples which probably accounts for the
percentage of albumenoid ammonia, the
greenish matter being vegetable 'algae.'
A Fresh Water Plant.
"When examined under the microscope
this greenish matter is shown to be vegs-
table growth, kind of fresh water sea
weed. and is found in all river and surface
water in the summer and fall seasons, in
rivers the quantity being much less than in
surface or stored rain water reservoirs.
"Our water supply is certainly of good
quality, equslling if not excelling that used
in New York. Philadelphia, Boston and
other large cities. and will remain SO for
many years if precautions are taken to pre-
vent the river from being contaminated by
sewage within q 25-mile limit above the
city. The muddy water nuisance during
freshets can be abated by having reservoir
storage capacity large enough to permit Of
stoppage Of the pumps while the river Is
muddy, the use Of settling basins or filters
at the river intake, to separate the sus-
pended matter in the water. None Of these
expedients would, however. have any effect
on the chemical purity Of the water.
Mustn't Use the River for Dump.
'It's just about what expected" said
Chief Bigelow after reading the report,
''and it more than ever convinces me that
Pittsburg, with a little care, will not need
to change her source of water supply for 30
years to come. The conditions under which
this test has been made are calculated to
demonstrate conclusively the condition of
the water when purity is of the most i'm
portance. The river has been lower for the
past month than for many years, and of
course the less water in the channel the less
chance there Is for impure matter becoming
diluted. As this test shows there is little
organic matter in the water, and if such is
the case now there will be proportionately
less when there is more water. Mayor
Kennedy claims there is legislation in force
BY which the towns and villages up the
river above US can be prevented from
other matter likely to injure the water. If
he is right the law should be enforced strict
ly, and if he is not right such law should
be passed by the next Legislature. intend
to find out about it, and will have q proper
bill presented if it Is required.
Six-Mile Island for Filter.
'T don't say another water system will
never be required. The natural sewer
drainage of the towns above us will in time
render our water supply unfit for use. I am
taking careful interest in all the mountain
water plans under discussion, and believe
their public investigation an excellent
thing. am collecting all the data possible
on the question, and whenever find it to
the city's interest will place my knowledge
and my opinion before Councils For the
present am in favor of the city buying
Six-Mile Island and constructing q filter
out of it according to the suggestion made
in THE DISPATCH by Colonel Roberts.
This, with the settling basins have been
authorized to build, will give Pittsburg
clear water all the time and purer water
than 90 per cent of the large cities in the
country for almost halt a century,"