Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-17
THE POTOMAC RIVER
Dangers to Health That Lurk in Its
Waters.
SUBJECT 10 Be INVESTIGATED
Bill introduced in the Senate for
That Purpose.
REPORTS THAT WE'RE MADE

The dangers to health that Turk in Po-
tcmac river water have been brought to the
attention OF the Senate through the intro
duction of Senate bill 2905 by Mr.. Ccckrell
This bill provides for an appropriation OF
$1,000 for the investigations by the marine
hospital service Of the sources of contami-
nation Of rivers and other natural sources
OF water supply. where the sanitary condi-
ton OF the people of more than one state
or territory or the District OF Columbia is
affected, or threatened to be affected, by
such pollution, and authorizes the marine
hospital service to report upon what legis-
lation is necessary to remove or prevent
such pollution. The bill provides that the
fist investigation shall relate to the Po-
tornac river.
Surgeon General Wyman's Letter.
Surgeon General wyman of the marine
hospital service sent a communication on
this subject to the Senate committee on
pubic health and national quarantine, and
accompanied 1t by reports from Chief Hy-
drographer F. H. Newell and Assistant Hy-
drographer Edwin G. Paul on this subject.
After quoting statistics showing the re-
lation of contaminated drinking water with
typhoid fever and kindred diseases MIR.
Wyman SAYS:
From the above statistics it is, estimated
that every year there are no fewer than
5000 deaths caused by typhoid fever alone
throughout the United States not 20 speak
OF diarrhoeal diseases, which latter will aug
ment the above number by half, and, based
upon an estimated mortality of 10 per cent,
1t is within reason to assume yearly
prevalence of 10000 cases of this disease.
To what extent the prevalence of typhoid
fever is due to the infection of the rivers
and lakes from which cities take their wa
ter supply will be one of the subjects for
the Investigations The arriving this dis
ease from one city or town to another by
means of water courses has been definitely
proved both abroad and in the United
States, and the presumption is strong that
in the Ohio river. taken as an example,
which is the sewer and al the same time
the source of water supply for nearly all
the cities located upon its banks, this and
other diseases are annually disseminated
thereby. it is one of the prime objects of
this bill to determine this point accurately.
Location a Factor.
From the above statistics 1t is clearly
shown that the morbidity and m rtality
rates from typhoid fever and diarrhoeal
diseases in populations living along the
rivers and lakes situate on OR between the
borders Of one or more states are cons:d-
erably larger than are found i'm others not
so located. Wher the source of water
supply is wholly within a state or territory
its pollution can be prevented by proper
legislation. Such has not been the case
with regard TO sources OF water supplies
which are held in common by one or more
states.
'In the Urited States it is impossible for
one state bordering upon river. even by
most stringent laws, to protect the health
of its citizens, because 1t has no ,,Irisdic-
ton over others. AS cur uroan populations
are rapidly increasing, and the question of
supplying this great number of people with
a sufficient supply of potable water is be-
| coming more Important. it behooves our
government to give aid to this by at least
pointing out some efficient remedy for this
great disturber of the life and happiness of
our people. 1 am informed that fourteen
state boards of health, the national con-
American Public Health Association have
passed resolutions urging an investigation
OF this char acter.
A Systematic Inquiry.
'In view of the fact that many cases of
| typhoid fever annually occur in the city of
Washington. systematic inquiry into the
character and condition of the Potomac
water was instituted several months ago.
This investigation has also been prompted
| by reason of the fact that the marine hos
pital service should be in possession of ac-
curate data upon which to act In case
| cholera should ever gain entrance into this
country.
Facts concerning the Potomac river"
says Mr.. Newell in his report, which bear
upon the possible utilization of the water
power and upon questions of municipal
supply have peculiarly important inter-
est to the residents CT Washington. In
particular, the pollution to which the river
| is subject is of ccEcern because the citys
supply for domestic Sc is derived mainly
from this stream, only a small portion be-
| ing obtained from wells springs This
water we know to be polluted. but opin-
lens differ widely as to whether these pol
| lutions are negligible or whether they may
be sources Of ever-present danger to the
Mr.. Newell details the sources whence
| the drinking water of this city comes and
shows the drainage areas of various trib-
utaries of the Potomac and the quantities
of water discharged at various localities
along the stream. Mr.. Newell then con-
tinues:
Impurities i'm the Potomac.
from the facts above stated, it is evil
dent that the quantity of water in the
Potomac, especially at times of flood, is
very considerable, and that sewage and
waste material dumped into il from towns
and manufacturing establishments must be
greatly diluted, but in time of low water
this diiutfon must necessarily become less.
The qpality of the water is becoming more
the fact that with increase Of population
in the Potomac rasin the impurities will
increase, and the amount Of water to be
taken for the city of Washington will also
increase. while the natural flow of the
stream will remain practically unaffected.
THE impurities are Of two kinds-natural
and artificial The natural impurities con-
sist mainly of the finely divided soil wash
ed from the agricultural lands of the val
leys, being for the most part the residual
matter left by solution of limestones. 1t
exists in such fine particles that while the
water Is in motion 1t Is not deposited. and
it may remain in suspension for days, even
after the water sample has been put In
closed bottle. The proportion OF this mud
varies from time to time, being greatest
during foods and least during periods of
low water, when the supply is received by
percolation from underground sources. At
such times the water is clear and entirely
unobjectionable, SO far as casual observa-
ton goes.
At Times Of Low Water.
''At times of. low water. the fiow in the
river being greatly diminished, the proper
ton Of sewage must be notably increased.
While the natural impurities are usually so
apparent and SO annoying the eye. by
reason Of the dirty color and the muddy
| sediment, the artificial impurities are not
SO readily noted. The heavier particles OF
tho waste from the towns and manufactur-