The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-07
|S0FTEM|NG PROCESS
FOR CITY WATER
IS URGED
DR.. Ruediger Says Initial
Cost Would be but So, 900
For Installation.

According to the figures submitted
to the city council by DR.. Ruediger
Of the public health laboratory. q
softeninE plant could be installed in
connection with the city filtration
plant for $4,000.
His report on the matter. which
was referred to him at the last meet
ing Of the council Is as follows:
A s%oftening plant could be installed
by the city of Grand Forks in connec-
ton with it's present filtration plant.
which would cost approximately
$500. according to figures submitted
last night to the city council by DR.. G.
F. Ruediger of the public health la
boratory. to whom the question was
recently referred.
DR.. Ruediger also reported on the
results of water s%oftening, showing
wherein the benefits would be derived.
He also indicated the fact that there
would be an added expense in opera
ton, as the constant attention Of a
man would be necessary.
This additional operating expense,
however. would he an addition of only
about five cents for the average fam
lily consumer of water.
His report to the council. which
was referred to the u-aterworks COM
mittee, follows:
May 6. 1912.
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council. Grand Forks. n. D.:
Gentlemen-In accordance with. a
request from the chairman Of the
W~aterWorks committee. l beg to sub
nit the following estimates and rec
concentrations in regard to the in
stallation of appliances for softening
the city's water supply:
/. Store room for the lime and
alum. This a be most economically
built by placing a low story on top of
the present Office and tank rooms. Es-
timated cost. $1,000.
2. IN elevator for raising the lime
and alum to this third story. Estimat-
ed cost. $500.
8. a steel lime Stacking tank with
rake operated by a motor and two
concrete lime solution tanks. SIS feet
and 9 feet deep. Two agitators with
motors. Estimated cost, $500.
4. Two lime solution pumps. Es-
timated cost. $500.
3. 200 feet Of galvanized iron pipe.
> inches In diameter. with valves and
connections, and installing the anne
Estimated cost. 1928.
6. Two concrete battles in the small
settling basin at the north and two ag-
itators for h same. Estimated cos
$50.
- = ASESs ' iSSl Wig. vi SIlldIl SCI.
thing tank at north end. Estimated
cost, 5000.
s. One unba filed conduit oiax2h
feet. $50 feet long. Estimated cost.
5000.
Estimate for the total cost of in
stallation. s3.s0o.
If the softening process is adopted.
there will be an extra cost of about
$4,000 in the operation Of the plant.
This estimate is for an extra man on
duty II for lime. If YOU are going
to soften the citS's water. a man must
be on duty at the filter all of the time.
The softening plant is not to be all
lowed to run without an attendant for
more than a few minutes at a time.
This additional operating expense
would to only about i've cents
per month for the average family.
The results that can be obtained by
this process ] ave outlined in a paper
read before the Commercial club sew
eral months ago, but may be briefly
repeated at this time. An analysis of
the river water at that time gave the
following results:
Grains
per gallon.
Total mineral matter ......... 90
Total hardness ............. -
Total alkalinity ............. y
Magnesia 80
Lime
l treated a gallon of this water ut
the laboratory by adding u grains of
pure lime. filtered out the sediment
that resulted and made an analysis Of
the filtered water which gave the fol-
lowing results:
Grains
per gallon.
Total mineral matter ........ 1850
Total hardness ............. 4.15
Total alkalinity .............. 80
SD.
BY adding Fl grains Of lime to a gal
Ion of this water and filterinE out the
sediment. We obtained a water con-
tanning ia grains of mineral matter
per gallon less thar was in the water
We started with: a reduction of so per
cent. The alkalinity was reduced S4.2
per cent and the hardness IS per cent.
The finished product contained none
OF the lime hat has been added. nor
any other mineral matter that was not
originally present. On the contrary.
We find that all mineral matter had
been very greatly reduced in quantity.
The softened water is perfectly clear
and free from odor and taste and con-
tains none of the lime that is used in
the treatment. Lime is the only chem
ical that is used in the %softening.
Respectfully submitted,
&c. E. Ruediger.
Director.
Water Very Good.
The monthly report of DR.. Ruedi-
ger on the condition Of the water waa
also made last evening. and 1t showed
that the city's supply was in excellent
condition. and that the filter had done
good work during the past month.
pix GRAnF nFCI A|mFRc
Roosevelt School Held Final Contest
for Entries in the Eighth
Grade Debate.