The Washington times., 1904-08-04
POISON PURIFIES
DRINKING WATER
Flow Turned Into Mains OF
Baltimore.
SULPHATE Is NOT INJURIOUS
Vegetable Organisms, and Bad Taste
and Odor Have Been
Removed.
SULPHATE is NOT INJURIOUS

BALTIMORE, Aug. 4.-Water from
the reservoir treated with copper sui
phate has been turned into the city
mains.
City Bacteriologist Stokes has made
his final report on the copper sulphate
experiment to rid the city drinking
water Of the vegetable organism that
produces odor and bad taste. and it
shows that the use Of the deadly poison
had no evil effect on the water.
The most potent chemical iuvestiga>
lions known TO science were applied TO
discover If any trace of the sulphate
remained in the water in which the bill
lions Of algae were destroyed.
Tests were applied to water taken from
the reservoir twenty-four, forty-eight,
seventy-two, and ninety-siX hours after
800 pounds of poison had been scattered
into It, Each Of them showed a perfect
dilution.
Destroys Typhoid Fever Germs.
The efficiency of copper sulphate. or
crushed bluestone, in the destruction of
algae. typhoid fever and Asiatic cholera
germs and other animal organisms in
water was established only a few
months ago. The first authoritative an
nouncement was made early in May Of
this year. following extensive and elab-
crate experiments conducted BY DIT.
George II. Moore and Karl Kellerman, of
the Bureau Of Plant Industries o. the
Agricultural Department
These experiments lasted four years,
and were conducted in a large laboratory
in Washington. In tanks built IN TINS
laboratory every known form Of algae,
the green scum that appears on STAG
nant water. and many forms OF disease
germs were experimental Win various
Chemicals being tried In an effort to dis
cover the toxic substance that Would
destroy the algae grOWths and remove
the bacteria.
Algae Destroyed Without Harm.
OF all the chemicals experimental
with. COPPER sulphate was the only one
that demonstrated its ability to produce
all the results desired. The department
thereupon issued a bulletin announcing
authoritatively that at a cost of from 80
10 90 cents per 100000 gallons Of water
al the known algae and bacteria that
infest reservoirs for human water sup
ply may be destroyed without harm TO
man. animal or fish.
The method of applying the solution
Is TO place the requisite amount OF sui
phate Of copper in loose-rneShed IaD-
ric and trail II back and forth, at the
end of a rowboat. over the entire sur
face of the reserV or.
Should the reserN DIR be a deep one. the
bag should be let down several feet into
the water, and possibly several bags
should be used at various depths.
Typhoid bacillus is particularly senSi-
tive TO this copper solution. one part Of
copper sulphate TO 10000 parts OF water
being strong enough to destroy typhoid
and cholera germs in from three TO four
hours.
Should any i'll effects to taste or smell
follow the immersion of the copper sui
phate in reservoirs, the copper can al
Introduction into the water Of some sol
uble hydroXide Of carbonate.
Effect Upon Human Beings.
As TO the effect upon human beings OF
using water in which copper sulphate
has been immersed, the bulletin issued
by the Agricultural Department said:
Take a dilutiOn of / TO GJJ,05o which
in all cases would be SUFFICIENT TO pre-
vent the growth Of a pouutIng alga
form. IL would be necessary to drinE
something over twenty quarts Of watel
day before an amount (Of copper sui
phate) which is universally recognized
as harmless would be introduced int,
the system, while more than nifty quarts
would have TO be consumed before Their,
would be danger of producing an IN
pleasant OF undesirable effect.
The use OF copper sulphate at thi
maximum strength OF TO l,UtJVID WOul,
need 20 be resorted to only I'm extrem,
cases. and for "A very short time, for tn
reservoir once entirely free from tn
organisms, "A very much weaker solu
ton would be sufficient should any fur
Their application be nr cessary.'
Impurities Settle.
In application, the copper sulphat
causes all Impurities and organisms L
drop 10 the bottom Of the reservoir
leaving the water clear as crystal ant
wholly pure.
On the general subject OF applyin
copper sulphate for the publication O
water supply resN-voirs, the depart
neuts bulletin said.
The use Of copper sulphate for the pre-
vention OF diseases is regarded as Incl
dental and is not designed In any wa
10 suppIaDJ efficient preventive meas
ures now in use. II Is believed, however
that up 10 this time no such satisfaC
tory means Of thoroughly, rapidly am
chcaply sJcriliZiug a reservoir has bee
known.
DEFINITE knowledge M regard 10 wha
organisms are present. the COnstitu
ton Of the water, its temperature an
other important facts are ueCessar
before Il is possible TO determine tn
proper amount Of copper sulphate 20 b
added.
NO rule for determining tie amour
OF copper sulphate 70 be added can D
given. Each body Of water must b
treated in the light Of its special coz
diUOEs.