Evening star., 1901-03-26
1t viii Be Relieved by the Filtration,
Plant.
DETERMINING UPON 4 SITE
Work Going on Under Col. MiIIer's
Direction
MUCH LAND REQUIRED

While the people of the District OF Co.
lumbia are bathing in muddy water, they
| have the satisfaction of knowing that prep
| arations for providing a filtration plant
l are going on as rapidly as the circum-
stances will permit. OF course no definite
plan can be approved until site has been
| acquired by the government and this has
| not yet been done. In his first report to Con-
gress Col. A. NJ. Miller, through the chief
of engineers, Gen. John NJ. Wilson, SUBJ
mitted plans for both the mechanical and
slow sand filtration systems which were
/ proposed to be located at the head of 1st
| street just east Of Howard University res
ervoir. The report recommended the
adoption of the mechanical system, and
| enough land to install that system was
purchased and work was begun for pre-
pairing the reservoir for holding the fl
| tered water before distribution
| The plan for the slow sand filtration sys-
tenn contemplated the purchase of about
$4,000 additional square feet Of land, To-
Gated In several squares between the Sol
diers' Home and Albany, North Capitol
and 1st streets west, for the construction
of the more extensive plant required by
the slow sand system.
Mechanical System Opposed.
The mechanical system was vigorously
opposed by the Medical Society of the Dis
trict of Columbia, the Board of Trade and
the Business Mems Association, and the
question was finally placed in the hands
of three filtration experts by the Senate
committee on the District Of Columbia and
after a thorough investigation this COM
mission decided in favor Of the slow sand
system, with auxiliary works for the use
of alum as a coagulant when the water
should be unusually muddy. Congress then
appropriated additional sum of $780,
600 for the construction of the slow sand
system of filtration, giving the chief of en-
gineers the power to acquire q site for the
plant either by private purchase or by
condemnation proceedings.
The commission which had recommended
this system suggested several sites as
adapted for the purposes desired. One of
these sites was the one formerly recon-
mended by Col. Miller, east of the Howard
University reservoir, and others Were on
still higher ground above Georgetown Ne
gotiations regarding these several sites are
now under way, several offers of land hav-
ing been made. The selection of a site will
largely be governed by the prices of land
available for that purpose.
If a site is promptly selected 1t will prob
ably be two and a half years before the
filter beds are built and In working order.
The entire work will cost over Sc, GOO GOO. and
when it is completed the filter will have a
capacity Of 60O0O,000 gallons Of water daily.
Less Turbfdity Than Last Year.
While there has been much complaint
over the turbid condition Of the water this
year, the fact is there has been less tur-
bidity than usual. In November there was
brief period when the people Of the city
had muddy water to bath in, but after that
the water was comparatively pure until
rains in the upper Potomac region began
to run mud in the water. and It has kept
up ever since. Last year the turbidity Of
water began December 10 and lasted until
April IL. But the habit Of seeing present
conditions with magnifying glasses still
causes many people to say they never saw
Potomac water so muddy as during the
present winter. The cause for clearer
water this year than usual was the result
of a lack Of snow in the mountainous re-
gions in the upper Potomac. When there Is
a heavy snow there is always an enormous
amount of mud in the river when it begins
to melt.
During the last several days the water
being taken into the aqueduct has been
clearer than usual, and If this continues to
be the case clearer water will be received
In the city within week, but It is prob
able that the spring rains will keep the
water more or less turbid until about April