The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-07-13
No Grounds
For Alarm.

The following communication will
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
public that there Is no cause for alarm
on account of the disagreeable odor of
the water in this city for some time
past:
The Honorable Water Commission
Gentlemen:
Having been consulted by many Of
our citizens in regard to the cause $Jf
the present unsatisfactory condition of
the city water, have taken the liber-
ty of thus communicating with your
honorable body in regard to the mat
ter.
n L have investigated as far as possible
the condition of the reservoirs, the
spring emptying into the small reser-
yoir, aswell as the water from the main
pipe before 1t empties into the larger
reservoir. From my investigation
am satisfied that at present at least
the spring water is pure and contains
the least disagreeable to the taste. and
certainly has nothing to do with the
present bad condition of the city wa
ter. The water from the main before
it reaches the reservoir is apparently
pure although there is in 1t more or
less vegetable matter, which, however,
does not injure the water for drinking
purposes or affect the taste of it to
more than the slightest extent. The
smaller reservoir is not in first class
condition and certainly needs clean
ing and repairing but 1t has nothing
to do with the present bad condition
of the water The whole trouble is un-
doubtedly in the main reservoir which
am informed has been thoroughly
cleaned less than month ago, and
therefore nothing can be wrong with
the reservoir itself. The cause of the
bad condition of the water in this res
ervoir is, then, undoubtedly due to the
process of decomposition of vegetable
and organic matter always present in
the water) which is constantly taking
place. In running water such as rivers,
springs. and lakes, with an outle) de-
composition takes place very slowly.
but in standing water in-warm wealth
er, whether the suns rays reach 1t or
not, the process goes on more rapidly.
Practically, the water in the reser-
OtV fcs eft nix %
portion of the entire quantity is drawn
off In the day and a like quantity is
added, thus furnishing small amount
Of new vegetable matter every day. and
thereby, as long as the water is warm,
making the process of decomposition
practically continuous one.
OF course the process of decomposl-
ton is in reality one of putrifaction,
but until the process is complete after
1t has once begun, the water is not fit
to drink. Sailors can tell you how
the water in tanks on a vessel often
goes through a process which they call
rotting. This is of course the process
Of decomposition taking place in the
vegetable or other organic matter pres
ent in the water After the process Of
decomposition has ceased, owing to-
there being no more material to de-
compose. the gases formed in the pro-
cess float away, the organic matter
settles to the bottom and the water Is
then pure and sweet. This process Is
constantly taking place in the reser-
voir, and IL no fresh water was ad
mitted for two weeks, the water there
now would become tasteless and pure.
But under your present management L
can not but think you are every day
adding a new supply Of fuel. Covering
the reservoir would retard this process
of decomposition, but not prevent 1t.
The only way to prevent It is to keep
changing the water every day, and as
near as practicable make 1t running
water.
am satisfied that beyond the fact
of the water being dlsagreeable in its
present condition. there is no danger
Of causing any serious sickness such
as typhoid fever, as has been suggested,
for this disease is not caused by drink
ing water which has simply bad
odor or taste. but it must contain the
special germs which cause this disease,
and such germs do not originate spon-
taneously, but must have found their
way into the water from somewhere
outside the stream, or from cess
pools. etc, and what Is most import
ant is that water which is clear and
pure looking with a pleasant. agreeable
taste is Just as apt to contain the germs
Of disease as that which is dlsagreeable
enough to turn the stomach. Respect
fully yours. ia. FULTON.