The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-10
IN REPORT EXPERT
SAYS WATER IS
POLLUTED.
Sanitary Engineer in Recon-
mendations t, Sanitary Conn.,
mission Approves Kendrick
Plan for Trunk Sewerage
System.
Board Passes ReSoIutiong Ur-
gently Requesting Water
Company to Provide Means
of FiItering Birmingham's
Water Supply.

vi hlol lIlS birmingham D
Water Supply
q AMUEL L. GRAY, special en-
- gineer employed by the JEFF
ferson County Sanitary Com
mission to investigate and report on
Birmingham's water supply and the
proposed trunk sewers, recommends
that THE WATER NOW FURNISHED
THE CITY BE FILTERED BEFORE
BEING USED FOR DOMESTIC PUR-
POSES. He especially recommends
this as to the water from Five Mile
creek. This means that the entire
water supply must be filtered, as the
water used for domestic and non-do-
mestic purposes comes through the
same pipes. He also recommends that
Bessemer's water supply be filtered
The board, after the reading of his
report last night, unanimously adopted
"a resolution urgently requesting the
Birmingham Water Works Company to
- filtes-the water furnished the city, and
copy of MIR. Gray's report as to the
character of the water was made after
most thorough analysis, which showed
sufficient bacteria to warrant him in
making this recommendation.
ADOPTS HENDRICKS
PLAN IN FULL.
The rest of his report in regard to the
trunk sewers adopts in full the report
and plans and specifications prepared by
City Engineer Julian Kendrick. This calls
for two trunk sewers running down the
valley. One starts from East Lake and
runs through Avondale, Woodlawn and
thence to Ensley and Pratt City, empty
ing into Village creek. The other sewer
begins at Birmingham and runs to Besse-
mer, emptying few miles below Besse-
mer into Valley creek. At the end of
each sewer are to be established purifica-
ton plants and the total cost of the work
will be over $5OO,OO0. The commission is
authorized by law to issue this amount
of bonds, and $4,000 have already been
issued to pay cost of preliminary work.
IA resolution was adopted at the meeting
last night to have a committee empow-
cred to arrange for the sale of the rest
of the bonds and advertise for bids on
the construction of the work Mr.. Arthur
w, Smith is chairman of this committee.
Present at the meeting were President
Frank Y. Anderson, Mr.. M. V. Joseph. Mr..
r. J. Smyer Mr.. Thomas H. Motion, Mr..
James Weatherly, Mr.. Robert Jemison,
Mr.. James ]. Smith, Mr. Chambers Nc
n u NA1a II RI ntIF M
Smith and Secretary ]. H. Wallace
Mr.. Gray in his report discussed in de-
tail the various water sheds forming the
water supply for Birmingham and Bes-
semer and Jones Valley and also fully dis
cussed the different ways of purifying
sewage This Is going to be the main
problem to solve in connection with the
system. The sewers will be built as orig
inally planned.
Mr.. Gray began his report by discussing
the water supply of Birmingham. This
be said came from the Cahaba river on
the South and Five Mile creek on the
north. He estimates that the Cahaba
river with the proper resovoirs will be
ample to supply population of 100000.
There are two branches of the Cahaba-
+he north and south. The north branch is
supplied by small streams which flow
through a mountainous and comparatively
,nnopulated region and the water sup
ply is pure. The south or east branch
,s the smaller of the two but while 1t
has smaller water shed it flows through
q more level and fertile and consequently
more populous country, and the water
on this account is more liable to pollu-
t,on. The same thing is true as regard
the water shed which supplied Five Mile
Crack This is well populated and this
water Is liable to contamination. Mr.
crav concludes by recommending that
+he water furnished by the Birmingham
Water Works Company be filtered. /.
In regard to the Bessemer water supply
&bis comes chiefly from springs, but some
of It comes from a water shed which is
thickIy populated and this contaminates
+he snrine water. He recommends that
the Bessemer supply be taken solely from
springs or else that 1t be filtered.
FUTURE GROWTH
OF BIRMINGHAM.
An interesting feature of Mr.. Gray's re-
hort is his estimate of the future growth
NJ birmingham. This, of course, has to
h. taken into consideration in providing
Tor q sewerage and water supply system,
but Mr. Gray frankly states that the sta
tistics as to the growth of other cities
throw little light ON that Of Birmingham,
which has grown so rapidly and especial