The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-16
OUR PURE WATER.
Report On the Recent Investigate
by the Board Of Health.
SUMTER, S. c.. June 2. 1898.

SUMTER, S. c., June 2, 1898.
TO the President and Members CT The Board
Of Health of the City OF Sumter
Geatlemen-Y orr committee appointed 10
Investigate the condition of the city Water
supply, and if necessary, have ,he s'apdpipe
emptied, beg leave to make the following
report
There we're numerous complaints received
from persons ns:.g the water furnished hy
the Sumter Water Company 10 the effect thai
the water used had a bad taste, some descrih-
Jog Ii as hayipg rotten wood taste, and
Others nakiog use of some other description
The stapdpipe of the Water Company bad
4 been erected about four years, and bad pever
been emptied or cleaused and whereas the
water Was at firsf delightful, giving unusual
satisfaction, and was now sutjsct 10 COM
plant, your committee thought = advisable
10 have it emPiied, and if necessary, have It
scleansed, fsaring that from the taste COM
p.ained Of It might contain something 'njasi-
ous to health.
Arrangements we're made with the Water
Works Company, and oo April 10th The
water of the mains leading TO the etaodpipe
were shnt of and the stand26pe emptied OF
opening ap number of abe hydranfs leading
from the pipe. When the man hole at the
3 Sboftom,of the s,andpipe was opened, there
4 was found 10 be abont l8 iuches of water yet
reuaiDisg at the bottom. due TO the fact that
.he mouth Of the exit pine wac not Hush With
the 8oer Of the tank, but extended lS inches
above so as to avoid carrying sediment into
the mains. The water Was of dark rust or
chocolate color, the interior of the tank from
bottom 10 top was covered with mud-sike
deposit, reddish brown in color. about The
consistency Of very soft batter, and apparent
Is containing q large amount OF IRON rust
& This deposit varied Ia thickness from about
Z 1-3 10 l.I6 iGch. The floor of the tank was
covered 70 the depth Of about 8 inches With a
mixture Of sand and Shiny mud similar, to
that on the sides Of the tank; there were q
4 few dead leaves
TIE superintendent had his men TO bail Out
clean all this ruafy water at the bottom, to-
ee.hes with the sedipent, snd had the deposit
on the sides washed down as high as they
could reach with long handled bronms
By our instrac,ions the bea.fh officer gath
cred specimens q Of the muddy water at
the bottom Of the tank, (2) of the deposit at
The bottom, and (3) of the deposit upon the
sides
These specimens we bad sent to the chemist
at Cemson College for sanitary analysis, and
We herewith submit the report as furnished
by him
Froms this report il appears that The water
ccoteipsd nothing 10 jarious 10 health, but on
the other hand, is probably as 6oe aerade OF
drinking water a. can be found anywhere
The tasie was probably dne,o 'he iron con-
tanned 10 the pipe, and wss rather salu,ary
than injurious
On account Of the deposit gathered at the
bottom II woald probably be we'll to have the
tank emptied and cleansed about once in five
years Respectfully submitted,
s. @. BAKER,
W.M GRAEAN,
D.. VI CUTTIao,
Attest Committee.
e. & REARDcsa
Sec 6 Health Office, Sumter 3. OF g