The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-11-21

lS6QlIneubaDlOn DdSlHS IL bnen Can low
by gravity to the filter basins, and
from there to a clear water storage
basin or well. From this clear water
well the water is then pumped to
the city.
Where tho water to be treated is OF
such low turbidity Gas for instance
Lake Michigan water) that nothing
would be gained by any preliminary
sedimentation, it is preferable to in
stall closed or pressure filter tanks
through which filters the water can be
pumped direct with one pumping from
the source of supply into the city
mains.
| A plant of this type naturally takes
up considerably less ground space and
the operation of same is the most
economical, both in regard to labor OF
operating and cost of pumping, and is
in our judgment, the type of filter
which we would recommend for our
city.
From the various reports Ia regard
to the efficiency of both gravity and
pressure filters we are convinced that
there is no radical difference between
them, providing either of the systems
is designed and operated in accord.
ance with the best practice Ct today.
Lake Michigan Water.
The raw lake water, which We have
to deal with, is reasonably free from
color, odor, taste, and Objectionable
mineral contents. Removal Of sus-
pended impurities, including bacterial
organisms is the chief end sought by
purifcation of the lake water.
Sewage contamination, turbidity Cue
to storm rolls, befoulment from ship
ping and dredging, and other acciden-
tai pollution occasions the demand for
|
somewhat in their physical, chemical,
and psychological character, but may
be classed as quite constant in COM
parison with river or ground waters.
The river waters dealt with at the
several plants named differ widely one
with another as regards physical,
chemical, and psychological charac-
ter. Sudden and wide fluctuations fire.
quently occur in the same supply. The
fluctuations are due to many variable
factors. They are Influenced by agri-
cultural and commercial activities
throughout the area drained by the
river above the intake. Floods are an
important factor, and their influence
varies with regard to season, intensity,
and frequently Of their occurrence. Ice
formations and other natural pheno-
mena exert varied influences. \.
The successful publication ef vari
able river waters is obviously a more
complex, difficult and expensive under
taking than would be the publication
of lake waters which are fairly con-
slant in character. The physical i'm
provements wrought by filtration of the
river waters at the plants visited are,
therefore, all the more striking. Wat
ers, excessively turbid, repGls:ve to
sight and taste at times laden with In
! purities from sewers and various
sources, are, by the methods employed,
rendered clear, attractive and whole
some. Chemical and meteorological
tests and studies of the vital statistics
confirm an improvement in the hyg1e.
mic qualities of properly filtered water
no less striking. Clearness, alone, is
not safe index to the purity of a
drinking water. A strikingiy clear
water can be laden with disease
germs. Such water by virtue Of its
clearness, will often prove a greater
menace to the health of community
than turbid water free from path
ogenic germs. Clearness is not infre-
quently a disguise to dangerous pollu-
tion in . drinking water.
This is especially true if the temp
erature and taste of the water are
agreeable. These attributes frequently
occasion disregard of warnings sound
ed by the health authorities against
it's use.
Modern sanitary signs demand at
least two requisites Of water before
it can be approved as entirely sui5
able for drinking, viz:
1. The water must be attrac-
tive to the eye, odorless, and
tasteless.
2. The water must be free from
disease producing organisms.
Filtration of Water and it's Relation to
the Health of a City.
The relation of sewage polluted
water supply to the typhoid death rate
is so well known that it seems I'M
necessary to dwell upon it. The coin
cident drop of typhoid fever in the
Improvement of water supply has been
observed in hundreds of instances.
The following statistics relative to
typhoid fever death rates in nire
: u A