Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-12-13
PURE WATER SUPPLY
OF THE UTMOST VALUE IN DEVELOP
MENT OF A TOWN.

ell Filtration Plant of MiddIetown,
n. Y.-HOv Operated.
A bright, clean, wholesome water
supply is of the utmost Importance to
every progressive municipality. From
the standpoint of comfort and health
1t is worth all it may cost the taxpay-
ers, and as an investment for the town
it rarely fails to be profitable.
The city of AIiddletown, n. Y, has
realized this necessity and is now eff
fecting the thorough publication of it's
water supply by filter plant of the
latest approved type. Its supply is
drawn from impounding reservoirs
and, while practically free from sew
age contamination, becomes every
spring with the advent of warm wealth
er impregnated with vegetable matter,
algR, etc, which give the water u col
or like tea and produce an offensive
odor and taste, and on beating is par
ticularly disagreeable. 1t has been SO
bad that at times no one would use it
for anything but lawn and street
sprinkling who could get a supply
from other sources.
Today every drop Of water delivered
to the citizens of Middletown is clear,
sparkling and entirely free from odor
and taste, and the consumption has
greatly increased, for the people are
now glad to use the city water for all
-1C
The past summer, when complaints Of
the quality of municipal supplies have
been so universal, has proved the thor
ough efficiency and, practicability of
the system adopted at Middletown,
which has had continuously good wa
ter entirely free from all the former
Objectionable features, from which so
many towns have been suffering.
The credit for this improvement at
Middletown is due to its progressive
board of water commissioners, who
appreciated the material advantages
which would accrue to their city from
the expenditure. Careful investigation
showed them that the most economical
and effective method of curing their
difficulties was by filtration, and they
then determined that Middletown
should have it and by the best and
most modern system.
The filter plant which they have in
stalled is thoroughly substantial and
lasting and has capacity of 100000
gallons per day. The building is Of
i,1- cla
long by SO feet wide. The impounding
reservoirs are of different heights, and
in order to ecOnomiZe pressure and
combine all the filters in one building
there is a system of closed or pres
sure" filters for the upper reservoir
and open, or gravity" filters for the
lower AS you enter the building at the
right there are two aerating or sedi-
mentation tanks, each holding about
10000 gallons of water. AS the water
enters these tanks it is thrown out in
a thin sheet so as to take up all the
air possible, n small amount of coagu-
liant having been previously applied.
1t then passes by gravity to the four
filters on the right of the building. each
Of which has Il capacity of 100000 gal
Ions per day. As the water comes from
the reservoirs it is dark in color and
disagreeable in taste and odor, but aft
er it has passed through the filters this
is all removed, and it is clear and
bright and is deposited in clear well
which is Immediately under the grayi-
ftrfi NJ 1 n0l
plying the lower part Of the town.
On the left of the building is a 1,000,-
600 gallon plant of closed filters, Oper-
ating on the water from the upper re-
serYoir. There are four tanks of ca
pacity Of 100000 gallons per day each,
and the highest portions of the town
are thus given clear, bright water I'M
der the same pressure as they have al
ways had. This water is aerated by an
automatic system at the outlet of the
reservoir, whereby the air is drawn into
the water as it passes down toward the
filters
The operation of the filters is very
simple and perfect. In filtering the
water passes downward through
sand bed four feet in depth. After the
filters have run 24 hours one filter at a
time is taken out of service, and cur
rent Of air Is first sent upward through
the entire bed for about two minutes,
thoroughly agitating it and securing
the particles of sand free from the veg
etable matter removed from the crude
;y, 81 L., OF,
shut off, and water is passed up
through the bed for about three min
utes, securing the material and flush.
ing all the retained impurities off into
the sewer. Then the process is repeat
ed with the air and also with water,
the entire cleaning of a filter taking
one man 10 to - minutes. After wash
ing, the first water from the filter is
run to waste for a few minutes, allow
Ing the bed to settle down into posi-
ton for efficient work, and then it is
turned on TO the clear well, and the ill
ter Is ready for another days run.
At the right of the building are pump
for washing the filters and a rotary
blowing engine to supply the air for clean
ing and aeratiou and also a 70 horse
power steam boiler used in winter for
heating the building and in operating
the pump ard blower. The entire plant
Is compact and very slightly, everything
being neatly finished and painted, and
the entire building is up to date in
and appearance.
Many towns throughout the country
are using mechanical filter plants for
purifying turbid and polluted waters,
but comparatively few people know
that vegetable discoloration, odor and
taste can be entirely removed in this
way and at very moderate cost The
great prevalence of these Objectionable
features In municipal water supplies,
during the past summer,
will make Middletown's success In this
matter Of wide general interest.