Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-03

Most positive assertions have been oc-
casionally made that our water Is an un-
wholesome one; but, SO far as l have been
able % learn. such statements have efnd-
mated from individuals who have given
the matter only the most superficial con-
sideration, and who have based their as
s,rtiors upon pri0r preiudices. or mere
Z inspection, IN place Of that careful inves-
..-.II.u. 81 careful. consideration OF the
Investigations II others, which alone can
eutitie ones opinion 10 weight in such
matters Repeated chemical analyses OF
Jamcs-river water have demonstrated
that even I'm irs muddiest condition IL
contains no substances Injurious in them
Selves or indicative of harmful processes
OF decomposition.
mo systematic bacterioiogic examina-
lions of our city water have ever yet
been made. ! have on several occasions
tested IT, as obtained from faucets I'm va
rious part Of the city and the number Of
bacteria has always been small.
OBJECT OF THESE EXAMINATIONS.
"As far as the oacferiOlogic eXamina-
tious NOW being conducted are concerned.
their chief interest centres around the
tests 10 Dee made ia connection with the
method Of sedmenlation. When this me-
thod was suggested, several years ago,
% probably best suited for our purposes
from the standpoint Of both efficacy ana
economy violent opposition was at once
encountered. and the position was taken
by some that storage of our water would
develop I'm ~ most undesirable properties.
Professor Malet and / are now working
upon just this point, not feeling that II
can be affirmed or denied by anything
short Of actual testing. The upper COM
partment Of the New reservoir Is being
used as an experimental settling basin.
1t was filed with muddy James-river
water on the 18th of August, and our
tests, which will occupy several weeks
were begun on the following day. These
tests being not yet nearly completed
am unwilling TO make any statement as
10 what my part Of this investigation has
thus far shown
1.-THE object Of the series of tests with
the settling basin is to determine the
number. and. as far as possible, the va
rieties Of the bacteria In the water when
was admitted 20 the basin. and then,
by repeated observations made upon the
water collected from different depths TO
ascertain 10 what extent these bacteria
increase or diminish; also, what becomes
OF certain special varieties. and II bac-
terra OF putrefaction multiply in II during
the period OF storage.
AFTER these tests with the sedimenta-
ton method are completed, the two sys-
TENS of filtration viii be investigated. In
the method OF mechanical filtration Ga
term used 10 signify filtration after the
addition of some coagulaut TO the water.
such as alum or a salt OF from, ques-
lions OF an entirely different nature arise.
In testing the natural sand filter. the
chief point TO be- determined will be-
whether water containing the amount OF
fine clay which IL suspended I'm James
river water can be economically clarified
by this method. Repeated tests, both
in this country and in Europe, have
shown that a properly constructed sand
hitter removes about 50 per cent. OF bac-
terla present la water. BacteTiologic