Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-03
TO CLEAR MUDDY WATER

The patience Of water-takers here has
been sorely tried this season. For weeks
and weeks at time the James river has
been muddy. The shades of its water
have varied from the tint of "picnlc
lemonade" to the dark yellow which
marks the narrow line between muddy
water and watery mud.
Many and mighty have been the groans
OF the public on account Of muddy water.
Drinking water has been obtained by
many families buying spring water or FL
tering city water. Alum. too, has been
used 10 some extent and with good re-
suits; but the majority Of our people be-
ing poor and being also hopeful of better.
behavior. SO 10 speak, on the part of the
river. have logged along using James
river straight
The first meeting Of our new Common
Council was held on Monday evening, and
among other business transacted was the
adoption Of resolution asking the water
works authorities TO report a plan for
giving the people clear water. 1t is to be
presumed the plan recommended VIII be
that which has been set forth in the re-
ports of the Superintendent of the Water
Works-to-wit., the establishment OF
storage basins or reservoirs.
The Investigations that have been made
here forbid the hope that we shall ever
secure a satisfactory method of mechanic
cal filtration. That being So we must
look 20 subsistence or storage reservoirs
or basins.
Nor can we expect TO get from them
results as satisfactory as are obtained in
localities where the water clears more
easily than ours does. Taken at its worst
and kept till 1t is perfectly clear James
river water requires at least ninety days.
Where only few days is given the water
10 settle much Of the heaviest material
will be deposited. In two or three weeks,
however. the water can be reduced to q
lemonade color. which is regarded by our
people as a passable condition.
We find among many persons here an
opinion prevailing that settling basins or
reservoirs would be failure. This idea
is the outgrowth OF the belief that tho
two compartments Of the new reservoir
have failed of their purpose.
1t seems that at the time the new reser-
yoir was built there was some expectation
that by providing two basins we should
be able TO draw upon one. while, If need
be, the other would be settling. Whether
any such expectation was held out by our |
officials we do not know; but IL so, we
suppose It was done in very guarded |
A tHof h.
OF water here was vastly less than 1t is |
now, but even then II could not have been
believed by well-informed men that either |
basin would hold more than short sup
PLY.
A settling basin TO serve this cltys pur-
periods OF muddy water here are so long
continued, and because IL takes good
Zeal OF time to clear the mud from
James-river water. We should like 10
see a calculation made upon the basis Of
Ihis seasons experience. showing whether
Or not a settling basin would have been
effective. We know when the muddy
water made its appearance here. how
many days Il has continued, and how
many days we have had clear water.
Now. with such data before US. can't we
ascertain approximately If settling basins
would have given US tolerably clear water
hts summer? II settling basins could
aavs saved us from what we have gone
lAroup0. they would be worth having; II
-, z>sG ls>ie cost OF them would be
s~nrc. ssss& our city debt is very heavy
sss err people are little inclined
% submit to additional taxation, yet If
hey were convinced that settling basins
vouid surely do what Is needed 70 be
sones public sentiment would gradually
grow up 70 the point Of authorizing the
neecseaFy expenditure
This question OF having better water
here is q great and growing one. No
plan but the storage system Is proposed |
y wsels 70 giye US relief, We ought to sat-