The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-08
COPPER SU.LPHAfE
As PURIFIER
MINNEAPOLIS OFFICIALS INTER-
EsTED IN. GOVERNMENT TEST.
of Agriculture Experiments
). Show that Copper sulphate Is a Valu-
able Supplement, but Not Sub
stitute for Filtration-Kills Bacteria
Left After Filtration, but Not Harm
full to Human System.


ton of the water problem in Mime
George H. Moore Of the laboratory Of
plant physiology of the department, of
agriculture at Washington, show that
the use Of copper sulphate not only
clarifies water, kills plant life, but is
germicide. In report issued this
some length, and in conclusion, it is
said that the use of copper sulphate
is entirely harmless. st. Louis is great
ly interested in the report and experts
to act upon it at once. g..
The experiments were made at An
derson, Ind, where the water is drawn
from the White river, into which the
city Of Muncie empties its sewage.
There are no falls or rapids in the TWEEN
ty-fve miles separating these two cities,
and during the entire four weeks Of
per in connection with filtration, the
river was ice: bound, making closed
conduit for the diluted sewage from
Muncie and the smaller towns still far
Their up the river.
Tested the Water.
g.. The water was high in albumenoid
and free ammonia, and exceptionally
from the gas fields above Muncie. The
turbidity was low and the color. light:
Fortunately for the thoro testing of
the value of copper, the filters, owing
to some structural defects, were unable
to effect a high percentage reduction
Of bacteria at this time. The number
Of bacteria in the river ranged, from
$4,000 to $4,000 per cubic centimeter
weeks test, usually remaining above
$4,000. The number Of bacteria in the
filtered water varied between $4,000 and
400 per cubic. centimeter, usually re-
naming above 5000.
Alum was first used as coagulant,
the trials extending over period of ten
days. Bacillus coli was always found
in the river water and usually in the
| filtered water. .Afterward began treat
ments with iron sulphate containing a
small percentage of copper sulphate, to
which lime was added. Various pro-
portions of these chemicals were used.
Some were found too high to precipi-
tate the copper and some too low to
destroy the bacillus COLI, It was de.
veloped that thoro comprehension of
the constitution of the water was nee.
essary for successfully: treating it tC
remove bacteria. The report in detail
would hardly be interesting, as the use
Of various proportions Of chemicals has
no significance to the mind of the lay
men.
/ q. Copper Kills Bacilli.
/ In conclusion the report says:
/ From the experiments there seems tt
! be no doubt that the filtering Of polluted
/ water of this character thru the layer O.
coagulum of iron and copper which form:
on the filter bed brings the bacteria
borne into the water into contact with the
precipitated copper for sufficient length
| ri n q
bacillus typhi is still more sensitive to tn
action OF copper, it, too, must necessaril!
be removed from the filtered water.
One Of the objections to the use %
copper sulphate in water supplies ha
been that there was chance Of appre
! ciable amounts Of copper reaching tn
consumer. Considering the harmlessnes
Of copper, this is a theoretical rather thai
! practical objection, and Is answered II
the present instance. The copper IS al
precipitated and the insoluble coagulun
Of iron and copper Is caught upon tn
filters.
eminent authorities in support of tn
proposition that water is not made I'm
wholesome by the copper treatment
and that copper is not a poison to tn
human system. -,
Health Commissioner Opinion.
> Health Commissioner P. M. Hall sal
today, when shown the report, that tn
experiments were interesting an
would undoubtedly contribute much t
the scientific knowledge Of water purif
cation. How the laboratory tests W oul
work out in practice, where it was nee
essary to purify upwards Of 100000
gallons daily, was not easy to say, an
in this point as we'll as the cost Of en-
ploying the method on a large scale
, there was no evidence. He had, by ea
periments at Loring park, last summer
shown that sulphate of copper in VIVA
!. was known as Bordeaux mixture effec1
ually killed algae and vegetable growt
! in stagnant water. It was also
, splendid deodorant, and he expected t
use it to great extent this year IN n
= moving Objectionable doors from pono
! and other places. DIR. Hall also sal
that he readily accepted the statemer
= of DIR. Moore that there was no DANCE
' to people in using water purified by tn
a use of copper sulphate. .@
"Personally I am not committed. t
) any method or system of filtration" /
f said, card + am looking for informs
k ton. A number of experiments are b
n ing made in the publication Of city w
e ter supplies, and DR.. Moore's repo
e will doubtless be supplemented vel
t. soon by others. We cannot overloC
il tho fact, however, that the small sar
Il filter in operation in the waterwor]
office and this office does remove bact
n ria. German authorities ignore pc
l. centages entirely. Instead of requiri1
1, that 30 Der cent Of bacteria mist he r