Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-12-26
City Water Question

l"CCi luC CHdlHplOuS VI The CITY
hall and the water works, many in
teresting phases appear, not the
least of which is the scientific aspect.
In November, 1900, the city coun-
Gil employed E. G. Smith, professor
of chemistry in Beloit college,
recognized authority both in Europe
and America in all matters pertain
ing to municipal water supply. His
public lecture in the high school
auditorium, in January, 1901, was q
masterpiece in instructions, thor
oughness and scientific accuracy.
To all who were competent to follow
his demonstrations it was final as to
the conditions which must be met.
Has the city profited by its wise ex-
penditure of money in ascertaining
what should be done before doing
anything? Apparently not. In
stead of following the expert advice
of Prof. Smith, it has obeyed the
counsel of the learned Mr.. Gross,
superintendent of the water works,
who placed piece of water pipe
in the river where the friction of
the current would wear away the
foul accumulations of microscopic
plant growth. This having been
accepted as a demonstration of the
superiority of practical experience
over scientific knowledge, the
city fathers have built a crib in the
river, whence, with a minimum of
filter to a maximum of filth, they
can supply the city with drinking
water. What may reasonably be
hoped from this experiment?
Prof. Smith told us that our
water was excellent, in fact nothing
filter was desirable or could be OBJ
tanned. The imperfection in our
water consists solely in the presence
of iron in solution, a useful ingredi-
ent but which supplies nourishment
for the support of a microscopical
plant. This plant is our pest, not
| the iron on which it lives. Many
| systems of water works use water
impregnated with iron but they
have not been seeded or infect
ed with the plant. If by chance,
any of these organisms get into the
water they will have the same
! prolem to solve. The professor told
us that all water in this section of
the state is impregnated with iron
and that new water works system
would not long relieve us as there
| would always be likelihood of the
same infection. Since the river.
water contains iron, though per,
haps in less amount, the present
plan offers only possible mitigation
and by no possible means a perma-
nent solution.
Added to all the natural sources
of infection, by the use of river
water, are the great paper mills
above us, pouring constant streams
of dangerous chemicals into the
river, It is not possible that the
water can be aereated in its short
course to US so as to purify it. The
river is full of decaying vegetation
and is customary depository of
dead cats and dogs and like remains
difficult of disposal. The hasty pas
sage Of such water through a few
feet of sand, or crushed rock, can.
not make it wholesome, The iusti-
fication of the present procedure
has the same basis of reason as that
of the hopsekeeper who ordered the
hired girl to hurry and strain the
milk, lately brought from the barn,
and strain twice, because the cat
had mistaken the use of the pail,
Prof. Smith also said that the
plant growth in the pipe would die
if the iron were taken from the
water and that this could be done
by plant at the pumping station
to precipitate the iron before the
water entered the pipes. He said
further that the greatest problem
would still remain, viz: How to re-
move the present growth from tie
pipes.
AS to the future use of the pres
ent supply, there is no serious
doubt. The water flowing from the !
higher lands toward the river.
passes under that part of the city
which is without sewers. All the
pollution of that area, except the |