The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-06-21
THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.
THE SOURCES FROM WHICH WE
CAN GET PURE WATER.
Relation of Sickness and Death to
the Water We Use-Dr.
Huntington's Paper.

14uhL1AS ION NP~~'
The following paper by DR.. L. W.
Huntington was read before the sac
ramento Critic Club Sunday evening
last. In addition to the members OF
the club, there were present by IN
vitation of the host of the evening
Trustees Mckay and Tebbets, ID. A.
Lindley, President Chamber of Com
merce; c. c. Bonte, DR.. Metcalf ana
Ralph Lavenson from the State Uni
versity at Berkeley.
DR.. Huntington's paper, which VIII
be found to possess profound interest
was entitled Some Facts Bearing Up
on Municipal Water Supplies in GEN
eral, and the Sacramento Supply III
Particular"
If one wished to express in single
phrase the teachings Of the pacterio-
Psychologist, he would say: Breathe not
at all, eat not at all, drink not at all
yet air. food and water remain the
three essentials to human hfe Wmle
such a statement can only be accepted
as a bit of pleasantly, it IS certainly
suggestive of much that is valuable IN
our knowledge Of domestic economics
and public sanitation.
OF these three necessities the demand
for high standard of excellence IN
water is imperative. A considerable dis
crepancy in the condition and quallty
of the two former may be tolerated
without perceptible communal de-
terioration, but public welfare depends
in such measure upon accurate dis
elimination between polluted and un-
polluted water that no community can
afford to bid defiance to the truths
which science has recently unfolded.
The water supply Of cities more than
most other factors within their control
exerts a marked influence upon their
progress and prosperity Capital, whose
interests are ever jealousy guarded,
will henceforth seek investment where
health conditions afford reasonable
guaranty of personal safety. Economy
is the Watchword of the industries OF
to-day, and there can be no economy
where enterprises are encroached upon
and imperiled by adverse conditions
that must either be endured or cor
rected by individual effort and outlay
That community is indeed fortunate
which recognizes the dangers that pro-
coed from this source, and with wise
foresight averts a calamity the re-
aIization of which will in future years
demand reformation with terrible en-
phasis.
In determining from what source IS
obtainable an abundant, enduring ana
wholesome water supply, a great num-
Der of vexed questions are TO be de-
cided, and when to these conditions
are appended the ever-present require
ment OF economy Of expenditure, the
problem is still more difficult Of solu-
ton.
Until very recently, and in large
number of instances at the present
time, the responsibility of governing
bodies seems to have ended with the
provision of an ample supply Of water
without special reference to its quail
ity, so long as its general appearance
indicated reasonable adaptability to
commercial, sanitary and domestic pur-
poses, the chief end seems to have been
attained Tt is an astounding fact that
for ages the water supply for most cit
les throughout the world was taken
from sources that were little better
than sewer channels for other cities.
Water pollution prevailed to such a de-
gree that it was readily manifest to
the sense of smell and taste. Condi-
tons were such that single individ-
ual sick with zymotic disease through
the medium of drinking water trans
mitted the possibilities Of an epidemic,
and from such sources entire districts
have been scourged as by the plague.
This state of affairs, partly through
ignorance, partly through apathy was
tolerated by a long-suffering public
without protest or effort at reform.
It is only during the past decade
that much positive knowledge has been
developed bearing upon this subject.
During this period several questions af
fecting sanitation have been settled be-
yond dispute. Preventive medicine has
risen to the dignity of an exact sci
ence, and the doctrine of cleanliness
has been promulgated and established
In every department Of human life. For
our purpose it is sufficient TO allude
only TO a few general PROPOSE
tons whose demonstration has been
accepted, and which now govern large
~ the actions of those intrusted with
the important duty Of providing water
supplies for a community.
First-That three specific, pathogenic
germs are water borne, viz: The ba-
GILL Of typhoid fever, dysentery and
cholera. This by no means implies the
positive statement InaL elLner OIL these
diseases may not be transmitted
through some other medium than
water, but the consensus Of opinion
among those best qualified to judge
is that in a great majority of cases we
must look to the water supply for the
origin Of an outbreak. and in epidemic
this rule seems to be without excep-
ton.
Second-That natural flow Of water
cannot be depended upon to rid it Of
pathogenic germs. For ages the i'm
preston was widespread and very pos
tive to the end that water purifica-
ton could be accomplished efficiently
through this agency. and from high
source Of authority in the not very
distant past we read that the move
ment Of running water could safely
be depended upon TO rid ii Of deleteri-
Gus matter. In the light Of present
knowledge we know positively that
gravity sedimentation does accomplish
something in this direction. Water
loaded with particles Of sand and clay
becomes clarified as it moves along its
course to greater or less extent, and
as the suspended material is precipi-
tated a certain proportion Of organic
matter and infusorial germs are car