The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-18
To PURIFY WATER
SUPPLY Of CITY.
Relative Merits of the Sand and
Mechanical Filtration System EX-
planned to CityCOunCilC Committee

ply. In the latter OF these epidemics inves-
,iigauon by the health department showed
that the disease was caused by pollution
OF the river. There Is a possibility at any
tlme or such a renewal our patrol along
,Ia,, me river alone prevents greater contami-
nation our system OF inspection is de-
slrable and should not be given up, even
III we do get system OF filtration. The
quality of the water as II comes 10 us is
OF woody color and especially in sum-
mer mas peculiar taste. which may be
agreeable 10 some but not 10 many. The
sum Of $4,000 is now paid here annually
for spring water, not because the people
are sure of It's purity, but because 10 Is
bflghter clearer and apparently purer.
As the result OF 10 years OF study OF
both systems | think / am able 10 speak
Win some degree OF confidence upon the
subject.
when the matter was agltated several
years ago and the mechanical system was
advocated | was somewhat sceptical as 10
It's real merit But as investigation pro-
ceeded, and ] saw the results OF the eX-
periments OF nine months. i changed my
mind and became convinced that such
system would remove the sediment, clar-
ify the water and remove 80 per cent OF
the bacteria. In regard TO the efficiency
of the mechanical filter. | think the expe-
riences of scientists and of other cities
show its fun worth.
In those cities where those In charge
or the systems were wholly unbiased
think the weight Of opinion favors the
mechanical system.
within the past few days | have se-
cured the signatures OF SS reputable ply
sicians Of the city 10 an expression OF
opinion favoring system OF filtration"
We'll as names Of the professional gentle
men who had AFFIXED their signatures
SUPERIORITY OVER SAND.
"The sand filtration does not remove
me color so well as the mechanical. But
the better the water appears TO the taste
the the bett1r for the city, for II more, is
drunk the health OF the community Is inn
proved. Within the two years usage OF
the model plant at East Providence can
say that the people who use the water are
furnished 10 any community. except one.
I'm the state. SO pure Is this water that
1t has found It's way into this city. not as
a uttered water. but under the guise OF
pure spring water ! do not believe IL IS
possible for you TO estimate i'm advance
the cost of establishing and maintaining
a system OF sand filtration.
The city has received an offer TO es-
tablish a mechanical filter with n capacity
OF 5o,OOo.OcO gallons at a cost OF $4,000
while "A conservative estimate for the con-
struction OF an adequate sand filter. with
out "A covering, is $250.000 / think IL the
committee would visit the various plants
bility OF the mechanical system. A sand
hitter would have To T.. covered to guard
against freezing or such storms as that
of today. That means a large additional
expense.
81 favor the mechanical filter not be-
cause ! have any personal feelings In the
the subject | am honestly convinced that
the mechanical system il the best. Ar
tesian well water is pure, yet the purifca-
tion is caused by natures methods. during
which II picks up number of mineral
substances. including frequently alum IL
has been found that the Pawtuxet water
contains sufficient alkaline to take up all
he alum which might be used i'm a me-
,hanical system
Then followed a general discussion OF |
he subject I'm the course OF which Drs |
,wartg and Peckham were questioned |
ipon certain points In the remarks they /
lad made. Chairman Reynolds then an
bounced there would be another hearing /
Monday evening next, same hour and |
DIace.