Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-27
ALBANY'S FILTER PLANT
REDUCTION OF FIFTY PER CENT OF
TYPHOID CASES.
Interesting observations Made by a
Washington Physician at
New YOrk's Capital.

mittee of the slow sand process of fltra-
ton for Potomac water for this city, WIS.,
tied the filtering plant of that city, which
has adopted the same system, in company
with Mr.. George 1. Bailey, the superintend-
ent of the water bureau, for the purpose
of obtaining some results of the working of
the system there. Albany has the largest
filtering plant of the kind in the United
States, and 1t is a success in all particu-
lars.
Decrease of Typhoid.
prior to it's installation there was a
great deal of typhoid in the city. Most or
the people drank imported, spring or boiled
water. The intake Is situated In the Hud-
son about two miles above the outflow OF
the city sewers and local causes of pollu-
ton. The sewage of many cities and towns
above Albany and on the Mohawk river
however empty into the water.
1.-The water is pumped from the river by
powerful low-lift pumps into a setting
basin, whence it flows to the sand hlters'
to be purified 1t is then pumped to reser-
voirs on the high hills west of the city 1or
distribution. The=supply of filtered water
was turned on July q, 1899.
The total cost of the plant was s4S5, ooo
The pipe lines to the reservoirs cost $S0,O0o
and the filtering beds cost $4,000 per acre
and they cover six acres. The entire plant
covers about twenty acres, including the
sediment basin. From these figures 1t VIII
be seen that the appropriation of $5O0,Oo0 is
none too much for this city, and some idea
of the extent and area of the plant needed
for Washington may be ascertained.
There were twenty-four deaths In the
city during the last four months of 1898,
prior to the use of filtered water. During
the corresponding months of 1899, during
which time the plant was in operation the
total number of deaths was seven, reduc-
ton of seventeen, one of which occurred IN
far W
Additional Instances.
This is a very satisfactory showing, and
I can see no reason why the same ratio Of
decrease of the disease should not prevail
here in due time. 1 obtained still later and
even more gratifying results from Mr. Bal
ley, covering the entire year from October.
1899, to October, 1900, which are of course,
directly traceable to the effect of flltratlon.
In the year previous to the installation OF
the filtering plant the total number OF
deaths from typhoid was 16 and the aver
age for nine previous years was elghty-nVe
deaths. For the year named the total num-
Der of deaths had fallen to thlrty-hve.
There were also four deaths unaccounteu
for and thirteen alien, or outside deaths
This shows decrease of about 30 per cent
The bacterial removal averaged ~ per
cent The plant has fulfilled all that was
expected of it. and most effectually con-
trolled typhoid in Albany. me average
daily. The total cost of operating Is an
average of about 81 million gallons treated.
How the System is Operated.
.sThe process of filtration is an interesting
one After leaving the pumping station the
water passes through a meter and is meas
ured After leaving the meter the water
masses to the sedimentation basin through
eleven outlets. These outlets consist of
twelve-inch pipes on end, pierced by 3,2o6
small holes The water passes through
these small holes and becomes aerated. The
sediment basin has an area OF 1--WE acres,
Is nine feet deep, with flow line capacity
IF 100000 gallons: The water Is with
irawn therefrom through eleven outlets
directly opposite the inlets.
1.-The filters are of masonry and are COW
cred to protect them from the severe WIN
ters experienced in Albany. The main I'M
ierdrains for removing the filtered water
are of vitrfied pipe surrounded by con-
crete and are entirely below the floors of
he filters. The gravel surrounding the
drains is of three grades, carefully selected
and screened before being put into the beds.
The normal rate of filtration IS 5,ooo'ooo
gallons an acre daily.
There has been considerable discussion
n Washington concerning the cleaning of
-hese filtering beds. In Albany it Is done
during continued periods of clear weather
such as prevail in the summer and fall 1t
S performed without detriment to the i'll
ers, while the regular supply Is main
aimed without Inconvenience. 1t is not con-
sidered necessary to clean the beds more
han once a year. They open the gates at
me inlet and outlet pipes and water is in
reduced at twenty-five points along two
sides of the basin, which together with
he slope at the bottom, is sufficient to en-
able the mud to be swept out readily.
Completeness of the system.
1.-THE average depth of the excavation for
az foe wit hot l.
Y of blue or yellow clay. The manholes
# the filters are provided with double COW
rs of steel plates to exclude the clod. and
which also exclude the light. When clean |
ng the filters, however, light may be ad
nitted by removing the covers, and pro-
yision for electric lights is made so that
he filters may be lighted by electricity
md the work of cleaning may be done at
light, and in winter. under heavy snow,
Without removing the covers.
1.-The diameter of the gravel ranges from
inches to three-sixteenths of an inch, and
5 washed until free from sand and dirt by
water played upon 1t during the process of
screening, and again washed over screens |
n the shutes. The sand was obtained from
he bottom of the Hudson and is free from
ime, a very important point to be remem-
,ered, as lime, even In small quantities,
will harden the water, a result to be avoid |
ID here Most of the suspended matters in
Uttered water are held by the top layer of |
and, and this layer may be removed from
ime to time, washed and replaced.
THE water in the Hudson Is clearer than |
he Potomac and the filtered water is clear |
md satisfactory in it's physical properties. |
The Potomac water shed has an advantage |
,ver the Hudson in that there are fewer |
owns and cities which empty their sewage |
n it. This is one reason why believe that |
he typhoid rate in Washington will de- |
rease very greatly when the plant is in |
peration sufficient time to show results. |
The supply for Albany receives the sewage |
rom Troy. Cohoes, Watervliet, Schenec- |
ady and fifty other cities of 1000 popula- |
ion and over, to say nothing of the many
mall towns. No such Instantaneous
condition from a sanitary standpoint con-
ronts Washington, and if it appears that
Uphold may be reduced 50 per cent by fill
ering the water supply Of city received
rom such thoroughly contaminated water,
would seem that even greater results may
re hoped for in this city,"
Mr. McFalIs Musicale.
An entertaining musicale was given by