The record-union., 1899-10-06
ABOUT WELL WATER.
QUALITY OF THE WATER EAST
OF THE CITY.
Facts That Ought to be Considered
by the Water Conn
mittee.

Now that the Citizens Water Com
mlttee is earnestly endeavoring to de-
term1ne the best source of water supply
Tor the city it will be interesting 10
recall the report made by State
Analyst w. B. Rising on water taken
from the wells east of the city in 1894.
Following is the report in full. as well
as the letter accompanying it:
University of California, College of
Chemistry, Berkeley, April 20, 1894.
James G. Davis, Chairman Water
Committee, Board of Trustees, Sacra-
mento City-Dear Sir: l have COM
pleted my examination of the water
Which is proposed for a new supply for
the city of Sacramento, as you request
ed, and beg leave to submit my report.
1 have made an analysis of the water
and determined it's organic constitu-
ents. 1 have made a sanitary ex-
animation of the water, and in addi-
ton a microscopic and meteorological
examination, and present the detailed
statement of the same upon a separ-
ate sheet. On another sheet I give an
Interpretation and discussion of the re-
suits which l have obtained.
l have been occupied with this work
almost the whole time since visiting
your city. 1 have had the services of an
assistant, who has devoted his whole
time to this work.
In conclusion 1 will say that the re-
suits are so clear and decided that I
do not hesitate to give very decided
judgment
AS wrote, I will leave the matter of
compensation entirely to your board
1 have stated above that have been
occupied for month, together with
my assistant, in this work l believe
l have done your city a good service,
and that time will vindicate the value
OF my opinion. 1 am, very truly,
yours w. B. RISING.
THE STATEMENT IN FULL.
Berkeley, April 20, 1894.
James G. Davis, Chairman of Com
mittee on Water Supply, Sacramento
City-Dear Sir: The results of the
chemical analysis will be found on
certificate No. 1?3. A reference to
this certificate will show that the
water does not contain any injurious
or Objectionable inorganic constituents
For irrigation or ordinary domestic use
these inorganic constituents cannot be
considered Objectionable. It contains
1913 grains per United States gallon
OF mineral constituents, an amount
which is not in the least objectiona-
Die 1t is not a hard water. although
not SO soft as the present supply. When
used for steam boiler supply I vouId
strongly recommend that the wafer he
warmed in tank partially filed with
peoples, so that as much as possible of
the boiler-scale material may be de-
posted or precipitated before entering
the boiler
The results Of the sanitary ANALYSIS
are in every way favorable TO the
water. 1t contains no free ammonia.
and the albuminoid ammonia was far
within the limit which has been set foy.
a safe water. The bacteriological ex-
animation was most favorable. Prac-
tlcally no germs developed during tae
cultures. so that the record in this re-
spect is exceptionally good The water
dld not develop any algae after weeks
of exposure TO sunlight.
There was nothing in the occurrence
OF the water to raise a suspicion of
contamination. Rising as it does m
very near the river level. it suggests
the river as the probable source of
the water This water must mas
through immense beds of gravel 10
reach the bottom of the well-pipe. Sand
hltration is declared by modern ban-
teflology to be the most complete pro-
lection against the conveyance of dis
ease germs by water The artificial
sand hlters of London and Berlin are
believed to afford a complete. or near
~ complete, protection against the
transmission of disease germs which
are known to be present in the unfil-
tered water. How much SUPERIOR
now INFINITELY superior such a natural
inter to any artificial fflteri
another consideration is this: As
suming that the river is the source af
the water in the bored wells-this wat
er. before its long course of filtra-
tion-is no worse than the water which
your city has used for a series of vaar.
Assuming any other source of the
water then the possibility of contain
lnation is shut out altogether. The
perfect clearness of the water shows
how perfectly the water has been fill
tered.
A careful study of all the facts which
i nave been able to collect leads me 70
the opinion that the water is in all re-
spects Well adapted to the needs of
your city, and can safely be introduced
as water supply.
The question may be asked: Cannot
the river water be used as a safe and
satisfactory supply?"
To this question 1 can answer, yes.
undoubtedly 1t can The river water
at or near your city is unquestionably
better than the Thames at or near
London, or the present unfiltered water
or Berlin. In my opinion it would be
necessary to treat the water with a
small amount of alum and then sub
Ject 1t TO most careful sand filtra-
tion. Efficient sand filtration is slow.
and requires large filter beds The
cost in England is set down at 121h
cents per 1000 gallons. For the large