Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-26
Condition of Fluid Now Being Used
in Washington.
RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS MADE
Presence Noted of Mud and
Myfiads Of Bacteria.
A REPORT FOR CONGRESS

+ Filled with insoluble particles of mud that
float in perfect clouds in the turbid liquid
the Potomac water supplied the residents
of the national capital for drinking and all
other purposes is today in worse condition
than it has ever been known to be before
and probably is about the most unpalatab:e
and offensive water. furnished any city
within the United States. Not only is the
Washington water almost as muddy as it
could possibly be to remain in liquid FORM
but it contains thousands of bacteria to
each cubic centimeter, and is now more
than ever menace to the health of the
District.
Since February 3, when The water was
muddier that the worst degree of turbidity
accepted in many cities. the Potomac's flow
has been growing steadily worse until to-
day it is more than half as muddy as the
worst standard sample contained in the Of
nee OF the superintendent of the auueiuct
Col Alexander M Miller of the Engineer
corps OF the United States army.
In regard to the bacteria contained in the
nuld used in Washington, it might be stated
that from civilizations made from A sample
OF water taken from the city pipes FebrII-
airy IL, 1t has been found that to each cubic
cenumeter of water the amount of bacteria
Was 26230. A fair water for city use is
supposed by all standards now in vogue not
TO nave an excess of 100 bacteria to each
cubic centfmeter. So it will be seen that
the water supplied Washington that day
contained %. 100 more bacteria than the
standard, or was 2G2 times worse than the
standard in the matter of bacteria
Result of Experiments.
These figures We're obtaired by Col Miller
himself, who, officer in charge of the
Washington aqueduct. Is conducting
series of experiments with two systems of
filtration, and is preparing report that
will be submitted to Congress through the
secretary of War. The experiments were
authorized under appropriation by Com
gress, and it is believed the report to be
submitted will be so strong. will show the
condition of Potomac water to average such
ar undesirable condition. and will so strong
ly point out the benefits to be gained
through a system of filtration, that speedy
and effective action by Congress will surely
be taken.
Col. Miller has been conducting expert
ments since July last The period of in
vestigation and active working of the fill
tiers Is ordinarily one year. but, upon the
belief that it will be impossible for the
water to be in worse condition than it is
at present it is believed the report will
soon be completed, that it may be trans
mitted for action at the earliest possible
date.
The experiments are in progress at the
aqueduct office, at the west end of the
Pennsylvania Avenue bridge across Rock
creek. In operation there are two large
filters. one of the English type and the
other of the American type, the two rep
resenting the systems of their respective
national designation. From the English
filter there poured today a stream of COM
paratively clear water, as clear, in fact,
as could be secured with the present supply
through a system of sand filtration Col
Miller stated that the particles of mud in
the water at present will percolate through
the three feetSof sand and the bed of gravel
IN the filter and escape where bacteria will
be caught and separated from the etf1uent
water. From the American filter in which
some machinery is employed and in which
alum Is used, the stream flowed as clear
as crystal, the water being of the variety
classed as sparkling.
Cost OF the Systems.
Col Miller is at work figuring the cost OF
running the two systems and has not yet
determined which shall be recommended
The cost in the employment of the Amer
lean system is in the purchase price of
alum and in the use of steam for working
the simple and comparatively unimportant
machinery The English system Is a nat
ural one, the water flowing through sand
and gravel and out again. After thirty days
of operation. however, the English filters
must be opened and thoroughly cleaned.
This requires time. The American filter
runs about five times faster than the Eng
iish and hiters an average of 10000 800 gal
Ions of water to the acre of filter surface
The average consumption of water in
Washington is 50000,000 gallons per day.
To perform the same amount of work as
the American system the English system
would have to be many times larger, and
would also have to include a reserve sur
face to be used while the monthly cleaning
was in progress. The American filtration
system calls for a daily cleaning. which is
done by machinery, and requires but a few
minutes.
The two systems are being tested thor
oughly and impartfally. Either would be a
vast improvement over the present water
supply. The results so far obtained, how
ever. would seem to favor the American
system, which is more up to date and
which gives the best results. This is shown
by the experiments conducted so far, al
though Col. Miller has not intimated yet
just what will be recommended. He is firm
in the belief, however, that Congress will
adopt one or the other of the systems, and
it Is probable his report will not contain
more than the results obtained by the ex-
periments he has been conducting, which
will show, together with the bottled sam
pies submitted, just what has been done
and what can be done with Potomac water
Turbidfty and Bacteria.
Water caught from the city supply pipes
February 10 had a turbidity of .422 and
contained 26 200 bacteria to the cubic cent?
meter. Filtered by the English system the
turbidity was reduced to .057 and the bac-
terra to .225. February q the turbdity be-
fore filtration by the English or sand filter
was .495, and afterward. .123 This same
day the bacteria before filtration was 81 200;
after filtration, $50 to the cubic centimeter
February % the record shows the turbidity
to have been 500 and the bacteria Il 900
before filtration, and after going through
the English system the turbidity was III
and the bacteria 200 The American sys-
tenn reduced the turbidity on the same days
down to .O05. whereas a turbidity of O2 is
considered good water. The highest num-
Der of bacteria discovered in a cubic cent?
meter of water filtered by the American
alum system was so, or well within the
standard of 100 now set by the experts in
hygiene.
at Col. Miles office, and it is there the ex-
perirhents in bacteriology are conducted.
The period of incubation is three days.
To Remove Snow and Ice.
THE uonca nv,