Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-15
The Filtration Problem.

The article published elsewhere in today 3
issue regarding the question of fiisering the
local water supply reveals how important
Is the inquiry now being conducted by the
officers of the War Department under the
order of Congress to determine as to the
necessity. cost and feasibility of filtering
the Potomac water. There Is no doubt as
to the desirability of securing a water sup
ply which is at all times far above sus-
piciOn. Typhoid fever is well known to be
communicated by means of streams into
which sewage is deposited and from which
at lower point drinking water is drawn
for communitys use. The dangers of
contamination are great and require the
most careful study and the most pains
taking precautions to prevent the develop
ment of epidemics from time to time. Thus
far Washington has had no reason to be
more than generally apprehensive of the
Potomac water. The presence of two cities
above on the river edge and of numerous
scattered colonies of people creates a GER
tain degree of danger. There is no guar
antee that the river purif1es itself In its
flow, as to which point official and scientific
opinions are at a variance In any event,
1t Is better to be absolutely safe and to
this end a systematic inquiry is in progress
which will doubtless result in clear. full
statement of the situation to Congress.
According to the article mentioned, sand
filtration is considered by many scientific
authorities as the best device to prevent
bacterial poisoning through the water sup
ply. At the same time there are certain
mechanical devices in the market which
are earnestly advocated by their producers
Ii would be most unfortunate If the pres
ent inquiry were to be complicated and its
results nullified by the injection of the
commercial element into the case to cause
a question to arise in the public or official
mind as to the thorouShness of the inves-
tfsatiOn or the reliability of the recon-
mendations Such a result is far from
being apprehended, however in any event
il is certain that the cost of installing the
filtration plant. of whatever character,
will be very large The District will not
demur at It's proper portion of the cost of
such work If only it may be as
sured that the installation is demanded
by the laws of health and that the best
results are certain to be secured from the
expenditure Washington enjoys today
every opportunity to become the most
hcalthful city on the continent. if not in
the world 1t already stands high in the
ranks in this respect 1t is willing and
eager to do anything it can to make sure
OF a sun hlSnHr place congress has II IN
its power to add materially to the health
fuIness of the capital by providing for the
reclamation of the flats east and south of
the city and by adding literally to the
sewer construction funds When the issue
comes to the construction OF such a fl
tration plant may be deemed necessary
1t is to be hoped that the houses will not
hold back from year to year. but will grant
the necessary money to construct whatever
in the best judgment Of all the authorities
involved may be necessary to give the capt.
tai an absolutely pure water supply.