The sun., 1896-09-06

LexinRton's Experiment for rroducinr
wholesome Drinkirr Water.
Erom the taoston E,rntno Tran.crtm.

Wholcsone Drinking Water.
From The Roston E,rntno Transcript
Lexington. KY, since Jan. l, has been doing
oil sorts OF things to the water that is pumped
from tho Ohio River into :he city reservoirs.
Drastic measures, which included alum, per-
manEate of potassium, gravity systems" and
the like have been tried but have been found
wanting In n final attempt to purify the water
tho municipality is nov engaged In putting 10
through an electric process, A current of cleo
trlcity OF 30,o 900 volts pressure ia being hurled
The Lexington experiments have attracted
worldwide attention The municipality, since
II innuguratgd them, has been In receipt OF let
ters from all parts OF this country and from
EuroEean cities. The unique nature Of me sys-
tenn OF publication seems To have excited inter.
national curiosity. The pumping station ig
about three and one.half miles northeast OF
Lexington. on the ranks OF the Ohio River,
whence the water is obtained. The reservoirs
are two miles from the station aud about ths
consumption OF the water is about "I.000.Oo0
gallons, The experinientS dealt With purihea.
have @ - been D'V entirely sa,isfSetory, apart from
mechanical di'nculiy connected with the im-
rsA tSe % anS had % pss. tank
defect which in no way initiates against tho
The principle involved is this: B7 subjcctlnE
the water to sufficiently powerful current.
electroiyss results. this meaning the resolving
or%e oISeen assumed assn that noecusr % form To- /.
OF the most powerful disnfectants known to
scence 1t exercises its benefcent powers ~
dizlnE them and rendering them ncwerles. for
evil. Sine-tenths OF the popular di,iniectants
hs process Which fs0a IS on ,Ss
presence of free oxygen. Inc nitroGen-
sS MssR are found in The msn ysn
sibie for disease and sickness, nrv tackled by
this o1one and instantly rendered harmless.
age and the like all come uhder the head OF
nitrogenous substance The paseage OF the
free oxygen. which is absorbed by the water
and which renders the fund sparkling ard
oxygen has been expelled not only cannot
support such life rs Is found in water. but,
II is for this reason that water that has been
boiled and from which the oxygen has been ex-
Another aspect of the system is this: Physi.
clans are pretty well agreed that most forms of
GENTLY powerful electric current. The mi-
crobes that can survive an intermittent shock
OF 80, 900 volts must have remarkable organ
izntions. Analysis Of the treated water shows
that practically no microbes pass through the
ordeal subsequent to the FIRST series OF electric
shocks 10 which the water is subjected IL runs
the gauntlet OF powerful electro magnetic which
aIkaiines. dc precipitating them to the bot.
tom of the urtyinG tank. There is also sec.
tinai quietus to such harmful matter as may
have escaped the preliminary process:
The apparatus. in brief in this: The water
flows through n feed pipe into a porcelain lined
receiving tank three iect square. Poles from .
kuhmk orif coil enter this tank from opposite
ends. There are ninety seven miles of wire on
the coil. by which. with the aid OF sufficiently
powerful dynamo. 10000 volts OF electricity are
Internationally discharged through this water.
The water, through the medium OF discharge
pipe then enters second vat which is three
feet IN diameter by seven feet In depth. This
last chamber is made OF iron. lined with india
rubber. and Is pear shaped. The lower end con-
meets with waste pipe. by means OF which tho
refuse and other matter precipitated during
the process may be drawn off. AT the top OF
this chamber and also at its lower section u
dynamo, which supplies II continuous gall
vauc current, this giving the secondary cleo
troiysis. On the top OF the chamber is n large
electro-magnet surrounded BY series Of
smaller ones. The water BY pressure Is forced
past these magnets into a second vat or cham-
Der similar to the one first named ana again de-
ess is repeated in third case. SO that the water
has to run the gauntlet OF three preliminary
chambers and pear watts. In all. therefore, It
receives the discharge from three ltuhmkorR
ment to which ii is subjected IN the secondary
watts. An analysis of the water when IL finally
issues from its ordeal shows that II Is practically
chemically pure II Is crystalline in appear
nnce. sparkies with free oxygen. and Is anso-
lutely free from odor or taste.
The process is held TO he about oue-third
cheaper than any other purifying method now
known. The on.S thing necessary 10 success 10
to See that the dynanos are Kept in good rum
ming order and tnat the waste pipes are turned
Rt stated intervals. According to the advocates
OF this system. the gravity" or ordinary Ill.
tering process is nearly four times as expensive.
II is said that the Lexington residents have do
cided to adopt the system, and thai IA revolution
IN the art of water publication is at hand. Snme
chemists aliege that chemically pure water Is
not nj for human food, on the ground that many
OF the salts which are precipitated by the proc
described the reverse of harm fni aud
are indeed necessary for health. but these men,
however, assert the contrary.