The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1904-06-15
WATER PuR,F,cATloh.
4 sale onA D0oAsnt Destroyer 81
Al0o0 0AA 1YDAoSd Germs.
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A safe anA D0elsnt Destroyer 81
Al0o0 0AA T1DAoSd Germs.
BY .. BENJAMIN. Jr.
Washinstoa.-Aside from water poi
luton due to germs which give rise q
typhoid and other serious diseases, &C.,
entists recognize water contamination
which. without being dangerous TO
health, renders the water Offensive in
odor and taste and unit for use. In
many cases troubles in water supplies
are produced by algae, or vegetable
growths, aud not by injurious bacteria.
Such annoyance in connection with wa
ter supplies IL widespread. Among the
complaints oftenest heard are that the
water has = hshy taste and odor; that
1t tastes and smells like rotten wood;
that the water ID musty; that there 10
believed to be some accompanying anil
NAL body In It or dead flsh. Sometimes
water 20 affected becomes 80 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 stu it is a mud all the year mat
ter. The necessity Of finding some
cheap method Of preventing or remov.
ing algae contamination Of cress beds
nrst led the bureau Of plant industry to
A. 90 al "a - q n,
cation of water.
DR.. Moore and Mr.. Kellerman,
who have been engaged in this re-
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 or Of metallic copper.
The fact that an extremely dilute 60
luton Il 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 az
dilute 90 this are not considered In
jufious to man or other animals. It
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
az incidental and II not designed In
any way to supplant efficient proven
tive measures now In use. It Is BE-
lieved, however, that up to this time no
such satisfactory means OF thoroughly,
rapidly and cheaply steeiiizing a reser-
voir have been known, since the cop
per sulphate 10 fatal 70 pathogenic
forms peculiar to water, while bene6-
ctal bacteria are not affected BY 1t.
It 10 unfortunate for the general pub
lie that these authorities ind It neces-
sary to emphasize the statement that
no rule for determining the amount
Of copper sulphAte to be added can be
Gwen. Each body Of water must Be
treated in the light Of ID special csa-
ditions."
De0nits knowledge II regard to what
oFSanisns are present. the constttu-
ton of the water, its temperature and
other important factD are considered
necessary before It 10 possible to deter.
mine the proper amount Of copper sui
phats to be added. 4 uicroscopical
examination thus becomes a. impor-
tant 40 a PSYCHOLOGICAL or chemical
analysis.
It is stated that the cost Of material
for exterminat1ng aleae will not ex-
ceed 30 to 90 cents per million gallons
and will usually be less. The destruc-
ton Of pathoge0ic bacteria requires an
expenditure Of from Is to g per mil
lion gallons, not including the cost of
labor.