The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-23
EZEKIEL QUITS
SETTLING BASIN
Clear Water Expert Resigns to
Engage i'll Other
Business.
LEAVES HIGHLY ENDORSED
Water Department Officials
Looking for Suitably Man to
Take Charge of Plant.
caves HIGHLY ENDORSED

Director Edwin n. Ezekiel. of the
| settling basins handed his resignation
to Superintendent Eugene T.. Davis, of
the Water Department. yesterday
morning to take effect January l.
when lie expects to go into business
Mr.. Davis has as yet made no appoint
mcnt to fiji the position. but is con-
sidcrins several applications. The
position pays $1,000 year, and re-
duircs that the occupant shall he both
capable chemist who can make
daily analyses of the water and also
capable executive officer, who can
tako daily direction of the operation
o. the water cleaning plant and the
management of the fore of men en-
Aloyed there.
MIR. Ezekiel has been with the water
Department as Its chemist since 1907.
Previously he was associated with
Chief Health Officer Il. C. Levy, pre-
vious to the creation of the present
Health Department. in prolonged
series of experiments and tests of
methods of publication of city water
in an effort to reach the exact formula
by which the settling basins should
be operated After DIR. Levy was APP
pointed Health officer. Mr.. Ezekiel con-
tinucd with the Water Department as
its chemist, carrying on the daily
/
ditions in river water over period
of several years before the settling
basins were finally completed and put
into use two years ago next Monday.
Two Icnrs OF Clear Water.
For the past two years he has had
actual and daily charge of the basins
has directed the intake of water at
times when the river was suitable. has
taken daily analyses of samples both
lf ri 1-nr M CT, -
amounts of coagulunts to be used from
day to day, and the manner OF Its use.
and generally had direction of the wa
ter Qualification plant under suDcrvis-
ion OF the superintendent of the Wa
ter Works. At no tine In the past
two years has there been noticeable
discolorntion. or any trace of impurity
in the water furnished to citizens,
though an average of from 100000
to l5.c00.0o0 gallons has boon used
daily during that entire period.
Recently there has been some agita-
ton TO consolidate the Office of chemist
Of the Water Department with the of
flee of City Chemist TO which strong
opposition has been voiced by Supelhn-
tendcnt Davis Chairman Morgan II.
Mills. of the Council Committee on Wa
ter, and Chief Health Officer Levy. 1t
is pointed out that the daily analyses
-
to he effective; that the Water Depart
mcnt already has n sufficiently well
equipped laboratory at the basins to do
this work, and that thercs would be no
economy, since even though all annly-
scsc were made by the City Chemist.
there must be capable officer in daily
charge of the basins to insure clear
and pure water.
Needs Expert Handling.
Very slight variations from the form
ulas. such as might be anticipated at
the hands of incNpert men. might re-
suit either In using too little coagulant,
thus leaving the water discolorcd, or,
what would be more serious, the use of
too much. thus leaving in the water
alum and other coaGulunts, making IT
undesirable for use. as well as entail
ing a great expense for the material
wasted. A very slight variation in the
amount of alum used might result In
u year in far more waste than the cost
Of the salary of the present director
OF the basins.
superintendent Davis said last night
that he had accepted Mr.. EZekiels res
ignation. and could not stand in his
way, but that he greatly regretted to
lose so capable II man. Mr.. Davis
added that lie feared the position would
be hard one TO fill. since 1t required
a man capable of making the analyses,
Of handling men and OF sufficient re-
sponsibility to be left In daily direction
OF that part of the water works on
which the success OF all the rest de-
pends. The Health Department also
urges that the greatest care he taken
in making proper selection, as, III
the hands of an incompetent man. the
city might lose the great benefit 1t has
derived from an unfailinS supply OF
clear water.