The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-25
ABOUT poRTsmourA.s WATER.
What Or. f. S. Hope Has to Say Con.
corning the Matter.

what Ut. =. -. nope 1aS TO Say Con.
corning the Matter.
TWAS stated in yesterdays VIRGlNIAN
that tho water i'll this city has bean
very unpleasant to tho taste and to the
smell for ten days or moro. No one
could or have yet been abio to tell
the cause. AS has been previously
stated, there is no better wnter to be
found than Portsmouth hus. The sup
ply Is almost ineXhaustible, but for some
REASONS, ns stated above, in ths past
teu DAYS it has not been what il should
be.
T'HE NlRGINIAN representatives at
tention hos been called to 1t numbers
OF times, and he WAS requested to cnll
the attention of the Water Company
to 1t, but he took other steps and re.
ported the matter to the Health officer
on Monday last. DIR. Hope at once
began to investigate tho matter aud
learning to his own satisfaction that
thcre Was just cause tor complaint.
He snw Mr.. Colcmnn, the super in.
teudent, yesterday for the second
time. aud this is what the Conference
amounted to as learned from DIR. Hope
last night.
Reporter doctor, what action have
aud what do you thiuk about it? Is it
likely to csuse sickness or not?
DR.. Hope-l saw MIR. Coleman this
morning, and stated the cnse fully to
him, and ho fully agreed with me that
there was some unpleasant taste and
smell to the wntor, but none but that
you usually find In warm weather when
vegetable matter is decnyiug. Ho first
attributed 1t to the breaking of several
OF tho mains by the sewor company
while ct work In South Portsmouth,
but | could not agree with him in that,
He further said If euoh was not tho
cnse he was at loss TO know the cause,
but that not only was ho willing to co.
operate with the Health Department
in remedying this evil. but be would
spare no expensese to do 80. l then
suggosted that the reservoir be cleaned
out and asked If Portsmouth was con.
nectod with Suffolk so that n supply
could be had without coming through
the reservoir. He said that they were
not. but TINT he could mako q temporary
connection so that the city could be
supplied with drinking water, but not
for ire purposes, and that 1t would Take
two or three days to cloan the rcssr.
voir, but he did not think it was ab.
solutely necessary. lie had eight feet
of water III this aud had given instruc
tions to have eleven feet kept there all
the time 80 as to give AS much fresh
water as possible. He would open each
hydrant every day or even twice or
three times n day for several days, and
if this did not remedy the evil, then
somo other steps could be taken,
He thought this would remedy the
evil
then said, "well, we will try this.
and II We do not get the relief will call
the Water Committee. the Fire Com.
mittee and the Chief of the Fire De
phrtment together and consult as to the
best method OF arranging to have the
reservoir thoroughly cleaned. | do
not soc any cause for panic on &C.
count of tue little unpleasant taste and
l know of no case OF eickness which can
be attributed to it,.
should l ma one na guardian OF
the health OF the city some immediate
steps would be taken. L really think
the remedy suggested will correct the
evil. You know we have but few fires
and our hydrsDts have not been opened
very often. This has a great deal to
do with the matter. ] was also in
formed by Mr.. Coleman that contract
has been entered into to have stand
pipe several hundred feet high built in
this city, which will connect us with
Suffolk direct, and then We will not
use the reservoir. This pipe Gun be
cleaned in half hours time, or Mt any
time. 1t will be completed by Octo-
Der lst
The hydrants have been all opened
To div and find tbere in considerable
improvement in the water. | tested it
from several points. found no smell at
oil and portion of that water has dis
appeared. | think, with the opening
OF the fire plugs daily hereafter during
the warm weather. there will be no
more trouble. LII so would be glad to
learn of it,"
With this We babe him good bye aud
left.
invitation Accepted.