The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-04
WATER SUPPLY
IN FINE ORDER
Newspaper Men Inspect System
as Guests Of Superin-
tcndent Davis.
PROCESS OF CALCULATION
Striking Results Obtained in
Clearing and Purifying
Muddy Stream.

&4Sdl ing ana / uIlN lying
Muddy Stream
AlthouFh not in years has the va
ter OF James River been SO highly
colorcd with good Albemaric clay as
at present, tho water served to the
people or Richmond continues clear
and FREQ from Objectionable matter.
n newspaper Inspection cf tho sources
OF Richmond's water supply was made
FSscc rday afternoon Representatives,
of the four Richmond papers being
tho guests OF superintendent Eugene
E Davis on trip To- Nine Milo Lock
Boshcr's Dam tile settling basins md
pumQhousrs whore all OF the ma
ehanory and methods used were rul-
~ explained There was no more
striking slight Chan whcu staniing on
tho concrete dividing wail between
two Of the reservoirs at the settling
basins. where ;here WAS on ono Side
supply of water newly drawn from
the river. muddy. discolorcd ana nm
attractive. and ON the other "a two
day supply for Richmond of wholesome,
clear water
To those not familiar with chemis-
try 1t seemed almost impossible that
the clear water could have been drawn
only cay or two ago from the mud
dy river.
Inspect Watershed
In motor car the inspection party
went out to Bosher's Dam which
marks the outuost point Of the city's
supply. Behind that solid nasonry
e. remnant OF the construction or the
James River and Kanawha Canal.
there stretches navigable water for
sixteen miles over which the city
has supervision for traces OF any i'm
purity or pollution
The present canal is drawn ont Of
tho river at Boshcrs Dam nine miles
above the city. once used as tho
.curcc % Tho city's water supply. IL
So now intended for water power only.
and forms in itself barrier toi re
ceiving The drainage OF tho entire
Nvssfhampton section. returning the
water with any Impurities 1t may con
tain to the river far below the pump
housoa
At the Settling Rarin the while pro
cess was explained hy which river Wa
ter IS drawn through concrete feed.
er into duplicate storage basins nearly
mile long each ono capable Of con
tanning moro than 1000 moo gallons
or eboui I'VE -iaSs supaiy for the city
ConGulatlr.r rrocc-r
The rrocesa hy wtich The corruiant.
prerAraticn Of aluminium sulphatc.
Is mixed In isige tenks and Injected
int tho water as 90 passes from the
larSe storage reservoirs 20 tho lower
concleta coaEulatina basins, was ful
lv explained Although more than
ton ~ alum - used pei day while
d. "a &c ~ -
ent the autcuafio gauge showed thet
SIS grains oi roaFulent was heine
used 70 each gallon Of wataI II IS
tho theory of the oyeraticn Of the
p1ent that mud PARTICLES. bacteria and
colorine matter are attrectcd 20 thia
slum. form aroun1 ~ ana the mass
bv IT'S own weight is preeipi;ated 20
ire bottom leaving the entire. basin
save possibly the lowest foot OF va
ter entirely free from alum. Dai',-
analyses arr made hS tho chemist in
charge Of the haslns NJ river water
and OF that I'm each n1sln. and the re-
suits show ny actual test tha' tho
most delicate chemical analyses fuil q"
show ans trace of alum iu the water
delivered az the pumps VI goes to
the bottom with the mud AND Is washed
out into the river
~ the Pump House
The line Of ~ concrete NHm' con
Quoting the wit,r q" the pumps WAS
shown. and careful INSPECTION was made
OF the pumping station Water ROVER
plunger pumps. iu uss for twoniy-nine
years, arc dnins uDat oi the work
auxiliary clcctrir uumps. with current
from the ely electric plant hcing used
as auxiliary power TWO other cleo
Trio pumps ono OF which must he con
stanuv in motion keep the water pres
cure in tho Lee District stantpipe up to