The record-union., 1894-04-24
THE WATER Is ABSOLUTELY PURE.
So Says Professor Rising, the State
Analyst.
His Analysis of the Water East of the
City, for Which the People
Recently Voted.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFoRNIA,
COLLEGE OF CHEMISTRY.
REREETET April ~ ISQ


James G. DaUis, Chairman Water Com
nsittee, Board of Trustees, Sacramento
City-DEAR SIR: have completed my
examination of the water which is pro-
posed for new supply for the city of
Sacramento, as you requested, and beg
leave to submit my report.
have made an analysis of the water
and determined its organic constituents.
l have made a sanitary examination of
the water, and in addition a microscopic
and psychological examination, and
present the detailed statement of the
same upon separate sheet. On another
sheet give an Interpretation and discus
sion Of the results which l have obtained.
have been occupied with this work
almost the whole time since visiting
your city. I have had the services of an
assistant, who has devoted his whole
time to this work.
In conclusion [ will say that the re-
suits are 50 clear and decided that / do
not hesitate TO give very decided judg-
ment.
AS wrote, will leave the matter of
compensation entirely to your board. L
have stated above that / have been oc-
cupied for month. together with my as
sistant, in this work. | believe | have
done your city a good service, and that
time will vindicate the value OF my opln-
ion. l am, very truly, yours.
w. B. RISING.
THE STATEMENT IN FULL.
BERKELEY, April 20, 1894.
James G. DdUiS, Chairman OF Committee
on Vdter Supply. Sacramento Ctty-DEAR
SIR: The results of the chemical analysis
will be found on certificate No. l23. a
reference to this certificate will show that
the water does not contain any injurious
or Objectionable inorganic constituents.
For irrigation or ordinary domestic use
these inorganic constituents cannot be
considered Objectionable. 1t contains
1923 grains per United States gallon of
mineral constituents, an amount which
is not in the least Objectionable. 1t is
not hard water, although not so soft as
the present supply. When used tor
recommend that the water be warmed
in a tank partially filled with pebbles, so
that as much as possible of the boiler
scale material may be deposited or pre-
cipitated before entering the boiler.
The results of the sanitary analysis are
in every way favorable to the water. 1t
contains no free ammonia, and the albu-
minoid ammonia was far within the limit
which has been set for a safe water. The
archaeological examination was most IA
vorable. Practically no germs developed
during the cultures, so that the record in
this respect is exceptionally good. The
water did not develop any algae after
weeks of exposure to sunlight.
There was nothing in the occurrence of
the water to raise suspicion of contami-
nation. Rising as it does to very near
the river level, it suggests the river as the
probable source OF the water. This water
must pass through immense beds of
gravel to reach the bottom of the we'll
pipe. Sand filtration is declared by mod
ern bacterIology to be the most complete
protection against the conveyance OF dis
ease germs by water. The artificial sand
filters Of London and Berlin are believed
to afford a complete, or nearly complete,
protection against the transmission of
disease germs which are known to be
present in the unfiltered water. How
much Superior-hoW infinitely superior
such natural filter TO any artificial i'll
ter!
Another consideration is this: Assum-
ing that the river is the source of the
water in the bored wellS-this water, be-
fore it's long course of tiltration-is no
worse than the water which your city has
used for series of years. Assuming
any other source of the water, then the
possibility of contamination is shut out
altogether. The perfect clearness of the
water shows how perfectly the water has
been filtered.
n careful study of all the facts which
I have been able to collect leads me to the
opinion that the water is in all respects
well adapted to the needs Of your city, and
can safely be introduced as water sup
ply.
The question may be asked: Cannot
the river water be used as a safe and sat-
isfactory supply?"
To this question I can answer, Yes. un-
dou btedly it can. Tie river water at or
near your city is unquestionably better
than the Thames at or near London, or the
present unfltered water OF Berlin. In my
opinion it would be necessary to treat
the water with small amount of alum
and then subject it to most careful sand
filtration. Efficient sand filtration is
slow, and requires large filter beds. The
cost in England is set down at l21 cents
per 1000 gallons. For the large quanti-
ties consumed in our American cities this
cost seems to be excessive.
At any rate, the Introduction of such a
filter system is a most serious consider
alton, and not lightly to be undertaken.
The question will most naturally arise:
"Why undertake such work when Ma
ture has already constructed such filter
system, so arranged as not to need any
attention nor involve any eXpense?"
Ii this water should be adopted as a city
supply, would advise that some strict
regulations be adopted for the preserva-
tiOn Of the water from any possible local
contamination. Strict sanitary eXamin-
alton OF nelghbOring premises should be
inforced. and all refuse, of whatever kind,
removed and not allowed to enter the
earth. Respectfully submitted,
W. b. RISING.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.