The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-21
ITO BUILD .A'IR|GE
CT earring BASIN
Its Probable That This Will be Done
BY the City.
"a. CLEAR THE. DRINKING WATER.
Chemical and psychological Reports
OF Drs. j. w. NIallet and r. G..
Lcvy-ExIlaustive Efforts Being
Made for Pure Water.

r
1t now seems very likely that the in
fpabitants OF the city will not have to
drink muddy water" very much longer.
Exhaustive efforts are being made by
the members of the Committee onEsEater
and Superintendent Boiling to begin eX-
perimeating at once and make the neces-
sary preparations for having the wafer
cleared.
Long discussions were made at the
meeting of the subcommittee yesterday
afternoon, at which the reports Of Dr..
J. W. Mallet, OF the School of Chemistry
in the University Of Virginia, and Ut.
Levy, of this city, We're also heard.
The report OF DR.. NIallct was OF the
most interesting character and contained
many different processes by which the
water can he cleared. lie mentioned
basic chloride OF iron, alum and other
chemicals and their effects in clearing the
water.
"a CLEARING BASIN.
From Dr. Mallet's statements, it seems
that a large clearing basin, together with
a storage reservoir, are needed in ORDER
to clarity the water. He did not think
that the water could be cleared In the
reservoir as it stood, as the sedNnentatloi,
there had been accommodating for several
years. lie recommended a large setting
yasin. that would hold 100000 gallons
Of water, which quantity. he thought,
would be sufficient to supply the CITY
from twelve to twenty-four hours
DR.. Mallet stated that the cost to the
city of Louisville, Ky, for clearing its
water was .S32 per day for upwards OF
15O0u.oC0 gallons of water. He has cor
responded with the New York Filter Com
pany and filter companies of other cities
ard has obtained some -;ery Taiuahis IN
formation. He discussed the: coagula-
Ion and contamination OF the water from
various standpoints. He did not think
tllat the waite: could be cleared by sim
uly allowing it to stand, but that after
allowing 1t OF stand for !, while, the sedi-
mertation would decrease aald render
Qualification easier by the plans outlined
IN his report.
METEOROLOGICAL CONDITION.
After giving the costs Of maintaining
q clear water system according to the
ideas of NIalet. the report OF DIR. Levy.
from meteorological standpoint was
read aud it contained Information that
has hitherto been withheld from the COM
mittee on Water. DR.. Levy stated that
the numerous bacteria are formed in
the water after rainfall: that standing
water is not likely to contain the bactefl
that are contained in running water.
He also told the committee that the
sewerage from Charlottesville, Lynch
burg. Scottsville Clifton Forge and CO.
lumbia emptied into the James. and eN-
planned an interesting way to prevent
the entrance OF this sewerage into the
water which the people Of the city of
Richmond have to drink
Tie reports Of both gentlemen were
heartily endorsed by the Subcommittee.
and they will be recommended to the
general Committee on Water at its next
meeting.
1t is now thought that the city proposes
spending about $4,000 at an early date
in making an experiment to give the peo-
ple of Richmond clear James river water.