Evening star., 1905-08-25
-FOUR FILTERS NOW
Supplying Eight Million Gal
Ions of Water a Day.
ANOTHER TOMORROW
REPORTS SHOW THAT ENTIRE
PLANT WILL BE AMPLE.
Replies to Criticism Of Health Office
Reports on Prevalence Of
Typhoid Fever.

from the filtration plant Commissioner
Macfarland was officially informed this
morning, thereby eliminating from that
amount (about one-sixtn OF the total con-
sumption) the danger from typhoid fever
and other germs. Four filters are now N
operation, one bed being run at two
million gallon per day rate for experimental
purposes, while the others are run at a
three million gallon per day rate. Tomor-
row another filter bed at three million
gallon rate is to be in operation on next
Monday the sixth filter will be in opera
tion. and Wednesday the seventh filter bed
will be connected After that the connec-
tions will subsequently be made at the
minimum rate of one every other day.
1t is once more reiterated at the District
building that, while the gradual and COM
paratfvely rapid increase Of the amount Of
filtered water is very gratifying. the citizens
should continue to take all necessary pre-
cautions including the boiling Of Potomac
water, until the entire filtration plant is in
service. AS the matter stands now it is
claimed that the beginning Of usefulness
OF the filtration plant has been FASTENED, SO
that already considerable portion Of the
water furnished to consumers has been
purified. AS more filter beds are added to
the system the quantity Of safe water
will be steadily increased. Every time a
filter bed is put in service the danger from
disease is reduced In the ratio Of the germs
removed from each three million gallons
of water per day.
1t was pointed out at the District build
ing that this rate Of three million gallons
per day is what is called normal rate
which is the minimum and not the maxi
mum rate.
In this connection it was stated that the
facts seem to be overlooked in discussions
of the capacity of the filtration plant that
it had been stated by engineer officers con-
nected with the plant that the filter beds
could each be run at four millian gallons
per day, and even at a higher rate, al
though they would then have to be cleaned
more frequently and would wear out SOON
er, so that the sand would have to be
replaced.
The Commissioners have not as vet re-
ceived copy of the last annual report OF
the Washington aqueduct so that the lat
est official information at the District build
ing is in the published report of the state
ments made by Col. Smith H. Leach, in
charge of the Washington aqueduct, before
the House District of Columbia subcommit-
tee on appropriations on the 18th of Decem-
ber last From this it appears that page
19O) Col. Leach stated that fifteen filter
beds, working at high rate" were then
estimated Ito supply the present need" on
page 191 he is quoted as saying: THE pres
ent consumption is little over 600OO 600
gallons, and fifteen beds doing 100000
apiece will supply the present needs"
Twenty-Five Beds.
w nen asked Dy CHAIRMAN MctIearV ''H0w
many beds are there to be?' Col Leach
answered, "Twenty-nine altogether. They
are to be worked normally at a lower rate,
because it is considered that the city will
get a better supply and the beds will Last
longer and do better work at a lower r.+e
They can be worked at a higher rate and
or course the water, even though 1t is not
as pure as we expect II to be ultimately,
VIII De better than now, because anything
WIN pe an Improvement ON present condi-
ions.
1t Is pointed out that even If four of the
twenty-nine beds should be kept in reserve
and only twenty-five beds used. they would,
at the minimum rate OF 100000 gallons a
day, filter 100000 gallons a day, and at
the 4.OOO,OOO-gallon rate, would filter 1OO.-
100000 gallons day. So that on the fig
ures given by the experts there is no fear
that the filtration plant will not filter
enough for present consumption.
The Commissioners have long been on
record as desiring legislation by Congress
and the states to protect the Potomac wa
ter shed. The matter was brought to the
attention of the last Congress and II will
probably again be a subject of discussion
at the next session.
c4:,,
S'iii Aho'ner Fhase.
Anot phase of the present tvnhojd
fever situation other than tho. oo,,.a,.s
IN on .na,,s,s oe 49, -.
IA an "nai sia Vi 'he water supply, mas been
asltated py several physicians Of the east
ern part of the city and made to apnear a g
a criticism of tbe health ofsoa ~ Co.. :.
NO, .,oo,so.,,.. Al i"e'' i.
""' 'p'oAii0"iiy s'a'eo that the typhold
map maintained in the health Office is
open to question as to its accuracy.
DIR woodward the h.oI.h e.
49,, ,s,- -, ~ A'.H oii'oei' was NOT
a. III" uesh 'his morning put otner author
tiles OF the department were not slow to
take up the gauntlet thrown down by the
corps of physicians, each of whom had
been quoted as stating that less typhoid
fever or not more than the average. has
come under their observation this year than
ever before.
These physicians seem to forget" said
one health offica nbvcio;an &c he .asonsa \