Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-05
POTOMAC WATER.
Its Purity Maintained by Experiments ut the
Naval Museum of Hygiene

1ts T uTlty Ma1ntalneO by experiments 0t the
Naval Museum of Hygiene.
THE POTOMAC RIVER WATER FUR
L nished Washingtonans after having for
years been basely misrepresented has at last
been indicated and declared to be not only
one Of the best river waters known, but also
absolutely harmless. These statements, how
ever surprising and startling they may appear
to the average residen. Of this city, come sup
ported by all the force of official and scientific
authority. the statements having been made
by the officers of the naval museum of Hygiene
in this city, who, for more than a year, have
been busily engaged in analysing the Potomac
river water. As the United States naval mu-
scum of hygiene is the second Oldest one in the
world, and as the officers who preside over it
are selected because of their special fitness,
their opinions cannot well be doubted. especi-
ally when, as in the present instance, their
conclusions have been reached only after more
than ye arr minute investigation Of the sub
ject
HOW THE WATER WAS ASALYzED.
The primary object of their investigation Of
the water of the Potomac was to determine
which OF several water filters submitted to the
museum for trial was the most valuable To
make a thorough test such a trial as would
possess scientific value, II. Of course. became
necessary 10 subject the filtered water TO such
an analysis as would establish. beyond any pos
slble doubt. the results of the Investigations
1t was, therefore, determined by the officers in
charge that In the first place the water to be
filtered should be in every instance the water
coming into the museum through the ordinary
channels, and that in the second place the
water filtered by each machine should be ex-
ahmed and an average made on an
analysis of the results obtained from all.
-Four different filters were submitted and the
tests were made of water filtered by them.
Every day. previous to turning the water on
into the filters, its condition was carefully
noted and recorded as to clearness Then
from the filtered water ten drops were each
day placed i'll a given quantity of nutrient
jelly previously steriliZeG and later transferred
to sterliized glass culture plates. At the end
OF such time as would allow of the microbe
organism developing sufficiently, usually q
period OF forty-elght hours, the plates were
placed under the microscope, the microbes
carefully counted and their peculiarities OF
shape, torn, size and all similar details noted
and recorded.
Four different forms Of bacteria have been
invariably discovered in every days investiga-
ton, and occasionally an odd one or two,
but the four forms mentioned have always
been discovered. striking peculiarly of
two OF them is that when placed In the steril-
lied jelly they hquefy it and float around in it.
One iiquehes a white color and the other
brown. Up to the present time twelve different
microbes have been discovered, but none have
health. But even had these microbes been
found to he dangerous it was demonstrated that
hrst-class filter removed 80 per cent Of all
organic life.
MINERAL PROPERTIES FOUND.
The search for organic life, however, has
formed but part Of the experiments made by
the officers Of the museum. Another equally
important feature of the experiments has been
the effort to discover what mineral or other
IA vvn Tar,
fore small given quantity Of the filtered
water was every day first carefully weighed,
then placed where complete evaporation would
follow. After this evaporation the residuum
was weighed that its fractional part Of the
whole might be ascertained. This residuum 10
composed of silica for the most part and also
contains traces Of magnesia, iron and lime.
But neither in that portion Of the water which
yields to evaporation nor in the residuum
after evaporation has anything been discov-
cred which is injurious to human life or
health. However, both the filtered and the
unfltered Potomac water has formed the sub
ject Of scientific analysis by the officers in
charge Of the museum, but in neither have
they been able to discover anything in the
least injurious. The water is soft, pure and
second to no other river water in this or in any
other country.
WHAT CAUSES LIAKY sPIo0oTS
One of the results of the examination Of the
Potomac water, in the opinion Of Dr.. Amss,
one Of the officers of the museum. has been
the discovery Of the cause Of that prominent
complaint among Warrington ouseholders-
leaky spiggots. In DIR: Ames' opinion the cause
il nothing less than the wearing away of the
inner mechanism Of the spiggots by the minute
particles Of silica which are constantly being
vhirled against them during the how Of the
water. DE-. Ames has carefully examined this
seemingly trinng matter, aud is'of the opinion
that 80 per cent Of the water splggots in Nash-
ington leak. He has estimated that the aver.
age leak u drop every second, one dram every
minute. half pint every hour and one and :
half gallons every twenty -four hours. He es1i-
na>U that there aee % lsast - go lsahy -.