Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-18

hesd lost in our case there would be a belt Of
Capitol HI and belt u the northern portion
OF the city that would be deprived Of the water
that is nov supplied 10 them
Iurbidity does not necessarily make water
.unwholesome. The clcsrest waters are some
umss the most dangerous. because they are
deceptive, and filtration can at most only make
waters clear.
foToMAo wArKR NEVER uxHHArrurt-t.
During the time OF its tu-bidisy the Potomac
water has caused resort to the clear bu, de-
ceptive veil waters Of the city for drinking rur-
poses. and they doubtless have caused disease
which has been attributed 20 Potomac water.
out the Potomac water has never. even in is
worst condition. been proved 20 be unheal,hful
on the contrary II has been generally believed
10 be one OF the best IN the country
Even N IL should be decided NJ some time In
the future, following the examples presented by
the great cities Of Fu-ope 20 filter potomac
water IL viii be required, in order 10 reiuc. IN.
cost OF maintenance o. the iilters, 20 settle the
filter.
Filtration being then probably out az tho
question at this time, the next thing is 60 deter
mine the most important step 60 be taken for
improving the condition Of the Potomac water
~ rs TO provide an additional settling BASIN,
so mat when the river Is turbid the water can
have longer time FOR dspositing its sediusen-
tary matter before passing into the mains
reservoir. Every storm and heavy shower
brings down 20 the reservoir through the
streams that lead intn il ard directly from the
hsllsides not only muddy water, but fertilizers
and other deleNricus substances from the cult
waited and grazing lands Of the watershed
Tho receiving reservoir il admiralty adapted
for settling and storage purposes IL all water be
excluded from {, except the water from the
Potomac and the margins be deepcned and pro-
tecsed.
Col Elliot renews his approval Of Capt.
symons' plan for this purpose.
THE RECEIVING RESERVOIR.
Col. Elliot recommends an Appropriation for
the improvement Of the receiving re-. -voir by
the works required for cutting Of the drainage
into il OF polluted water and sewerage from the
surrounding country. He says this improve
ment Is not only necessary for excluding pol
luted water, but 20 remedy the following
defects; deficiency in capacity for the storage
OF unpollutcd water; deficiency in the capacity
OF by-conduit; bad condition Of the by-conduit
ana to prevent the filing up by silt aud de-
struction OF the receiving reservoir now going
on.
Under the latter head Col Enio. saws: Before
the erection Of the dam forming the reservoir
the silt brought down BY the Little Falls
branch Was carried on into the Potomac.
Since that time all Of this silt has been
arrested by and deposited in the ressr-
voir, with the result that the
upper part of the reservoir has been completely
hlled up and its capacity for storage materially
reduced. Unless this process be arrested il is
only question OF time when this reservoir,
which probably cost more than 100000. viii be
With the contemplated improvement not
only the polluted water from the surrounding
country. but all Of the silt brought down by
Little talis brsaoh and -he two other streams
that empty iu'O tie r'-eryo Dir. VII he carried OF