The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-07-14
WATER PURiFICATlON.
Safe and Efficient Destroyer of
Algae and Typhoid Germs.
BY B. BENJAMIN. Jr.

BY B. BENJAMIN, Jr.
Washington.-Asile from water pol
luton due to germs which give rise to
typhoid and other serious diseases, sci
entiSts recognize water contamination
which, without being dangerous to
health, renders the water offensive in
Odor and taste and unfit for use. In
many cases troubles in water supplies
are produced by algae, or vegetable
growths, and not by injurious bacteria.
Such annoyance in connection with wa
ter supplies is widespread. Among the
complaints oftenest heard are that the
water has tiShy taste and OdOr; that
it tastes and smells like rotten wood;
that the water is musty; that there is
believed to be some decOmpOSing ami
NAL body in it or dead fish. Sometimes
water so affected becomes so repulsive
that neither horses nor dogs will drink
it. In some cases water will be very
foul for six to eight weeks during the
hottest part of summer. In others the
special period of rank Odor and taste
may occur during the autumn. In 9th
ers still it is mud all the year mat
ter. The necessity Of finding some
cheap method of preventing or remov-
ing algae contamination of cress beds
first led the bureau of plant industry to
investigate methods of securing puriti-
cation of water.
DR.. Moore and Mr.. Kellerman,
yhN in
search, have found that it is entirely
practicable to cheaply and quickly de-
StrOy Objectionable algae in small
lakes, ponds, storage reservoirs and
other similar bodies of water by the
use of extremely dilute solutions of
copper Sulphate OF of metallic copper.
The fact that an extremely dilute So
luton q to 100000 will also destroy
the most virulent typhoid and cholera
bacteria at ordinary temperatures in
three hours is of great Importance and
significance. Solutions of copper as
dilute as this are not considered in
furious to man or other animals. 1t
is stated by these Investigators, how
ever, in the report upon their work,
that the use of copper sulphate for
the prevention of disease is regarded
as incidental and is not designed in
any way to supplant efficient proven
tive measures now in use. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that up to this time no
such satisfactory means of thoroughly,
rapidly and cheaply steriliZing reser-
voir have been known, since the cop
per sulphate is fatal to pathogenic
forms peculiar to water, while benefi-
cial bacteria are not affected by it.
1t is unfortunate for the general pub
lie that these authorities find it neces-
sary to emphasize the statement that
mo rule for determining the amount
Of copper Sulphate to be added can be
given. Each body of water must be
treated in the light of its special con-
ditiOns."
Definite knowledge in regard to what
organisms are presens, the cOnstitu-
ton of the water, it's temperature and
other important facts are considered
necessary before it is possible to deter
mine the proper amount of copper sui
phate to be added. A microscopical
examination thus becomes as impor
tant as ARCHAEOLOGICAL or chemical
analysis.
1t is stated that the cost of material
for eXterminating algae will not ex-
coed so to 60 cents per million gallons
and will usually be less. The destruc-
ton of pathogenic bacteria requires an
expenditure of from So to So per mil
lion gallons, not including the cost of
labor.