Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-09
MORE ABOUT FILTERS
PROF. HUNTER MAKES A STATE
Mrx1, TO WATER COMMITTEE.
EXPLAINS THE ELElRA SYSTEM
vr. 8. w. Trnvers Tells OF the Morton
Process - superintendent Boiling
Makes n Report and Answers Some
Criticisms.
Criticisms.

Makes n Report and Answers Some
Criticisms.
The Council Committee on Water held
| an extra session at the City Hall last
riyht IN hear q. statement that Professor
]. Rufus Hunter, OF Richmond College
had promised to make concerning the Eli
| mira system Of filtration, in which the
committee is particularly interested. They
were by no means disappointed at what
DR.. Hunter had to say. for his statement
was very complete. and he was able 10
answer all questions that were put to him
by members Of the committee and others
who were present at the meeting, includ-
ing Mr.. S. W. Travers, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, and President
Turpin. of the Board OF Aldermen. MIR.
Travers submitted to the committee
prints and a prospectus concerning the
Morton process, of which he had heard
during his recent visit TO Boston, and Su-
perintendent Boiling submitted a report
which was in part an answer to the at
tacks recently made upon the qualities OF
the Richmond water.
DETAILS OF THE SESSION.
The members Of the committee present
were Messrs. Tanner chairman, Whalen,
NILS, Cutchins. Ferguson, ana WINSTON.
An application for the use OF the New
pump-hous one day next week for the
purposes of a picnic. TO be held by color
ed people, was rejected. II was the sense
of the committee that the pump-houses
should not be rented at any time to col
ored people.
A resolution that water should be sup
piled at Camp Lee for the use OF the
Third and Second regiments was adopted,
and the Superintendent was Instructed 10
leave the water turned on, pending the
action of the City Council on the reso-
luton.
DIR. HUNTER ON FILTRATION.
Mr. Tanner then introduced Dr. Hunter
of Richmond College. who. he said had
kindly consented 10 give the committee
the benefit Of his Investigations and re-
searches at Boston and Elmira. In the
former city, said Or. Hunter he had CON
suited Professor w. Mason, Of the Troy
Polytechnic Institute. an eminent au-
thority on matters Of filtration. In the
course OF a conversation the Professor
had stated that there were two systems
the Old World system, by means Of inter-
beds. ana the mechanical system. The
capacity Of the first Is 100000 gallons
per acre a day, which was impracticable
here by reason Of the expense OF construc-
ton.
In connection with the proposition OF
the New York Filter Company, recently
submitted TO the committee, Professor
Mason recommended that the city should
deal with that concern, because il holds
all the patents and is thoroughly respon-
sible.
on recommendation Of Professor Ma
son, he had visited Elmira. where the
system in vogue is Offering by cOagulant.
The water of Elmira is not as muddy as
that of Richmond. The plant filters about
100000 gallons day. There are eighteen
filters connected by batteries so that any
one can be shut off without interfering
with the others. The alum differs from
the ordinary sort Experiment has shown
it to be the best, because il leaves no
potassium sulphate In the water.
THE PROCESS DESCRIBED.
The alum is admitted into the water
outside the tank, and passes into the
settling basin. 1t requires about 30 min
utes before the water enters the filter
bed. The water circulates, and stirs the
coagulant so that IL collects about 20 per
cent. of the mud in the water. After II
has so circulated the water passes into
the filter-bed proper, entering through a
pipe which passes through the sand. The
water then filters through feet of fine
sand and is drained of to the reservoir
Professor Hunter spoke at some length
of the action of the cOagulant and said
the plant at Elmira does not leave any
alum in the solution. When the water
was very muddy more alum was used. II
was an easy matter to test so that not
too much alum should be used.
NO ALUM Is LEFT.
One grain Of alum per gallon is all that
is used, and the plant removes all the
alum from the water. A chemist is en-
plOyed by the WateT-WOrks Company at
Elmra and the results of his analyses
IS shown in an interesting report. The
report for the month of August shows
that an average Of SO clio of the bacteria
originally I'm the water were removed by
this system. The lowest percentage was
SO per cent. and the highest % 2-l0 per
cent. The highest quality of alum used
was 40 grains per gallon; the average
is 6j-100ths.
In reply TO a question as TO the action
of alum on iron pipes by which il would
be conducted to the houses, Professor
Hunter said that the humic acids would
be largely removed by contact with the
aluminium, and would be greatly inn
proved.
In reply to Mr.. Boiling. Professor
Hunter said the Elmira plant had two
tanks over and above those required for
the average daily consumption, with
capacity of 100000 gallons.
The Elmira process of filtration removes
albumenOid ammonia TO a very large ex-
tent. There are chemical changes as well
as mechanical. tending TO purify the wa
ter and make II more palatable. II re-
moves the oxygen TO some slight extent.
but when the water Is emptied into the
reservoir il can be aerated. and the OXy-
gen in the water is about the same when
il gets into the reservoir as when IL first
enters the filter IL is easy TO Teaeratc
the water. At Elmira the water does not
taste fiat, and il presents beautiful APP
pearance. The object Of the filters at
IS little mud there. The filters are wash
ed about twice a day when the water is
very muddy, but as rule once day.
CONTAMINATION OF WATER.
The water. Professor Hunter said, would
be contaminated in about five days with
the large storage capacity here, and the
fact that the daily use is eight and halt
million gallons day. or about one-siXtE
of the storage capacity that was not a
very material consideration. The sand has
to be replaced one inch a year. The same
general system as is in operation at Ill
mira is being put in at Wilkesbarre, Pa,
where the daily consumption Is from eight
to ten million gallons day.
Professor Hunter described the washing
OF the sand in the Elmira filters, and said
that the sand was only discolored for
or inches the rest was perfectly white
Mr.. $. w. Travers asked If Professor
Hunter thought the Elmira plant, which
is designed to clear the water of bacteria
would be efiicacious in removing the mud
from our water. Professor Hunter said he
thought il certainly would Experiments
on water were necessary, and he thought
the Council should make arrangements
for such experiments. chemical and Dac-
THEOLOGICAL.
Replying to Mr.. Turpin, Professor Hun