Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-29
NO SEWAGE POLLUTION HERE,

NO SEWAGE POLLUTION HERE.
DR.. Guilford H. Sumner. secretary
of the state board of health, has made
q statement relative to the Importance
Of providing for q pure water supply
for the cities and towns of Iowa. He
says the state should have civil and
sanitary engineer working on the
water supply Of the state at this pres
emit time, and the legislature should
not adjourn without making a most
ample provision for thorough In
spection Of the streams of Iowa rela-
tive to their pollution, as majority
of the streams and sources OF water
supply are becoming SO polluted that
We are now beginning to drink certain
quantities of sewage unless the water
has been properly treated before the
same is given to the public for drink
ing and culinary purposes. Speaking
of the dangers arising from polluted
water supply and the need of state
action to correct this evil, DR.. Sumner
says: -
The writer has been in position to
observe four very serious epidemics or
typhoid fever, which have occurred in
Iowa during the past biennial period.
These epidemics were most serious IN
character and could have been pre-
vented had the Iowa state board or
health had properly equipped en-.
cheering department which it could
have utilized in forestalling conditions
which brought on these epidemics.
We should not sleep any longer if we
have been sleeping in the past, and
the writer is glad to say that the civil
and sanitary engineer, Lafayette H1g-
gins, has been doing most efficient
work as the engineer member OF the
board, and has been doing SO without
compensation. believe that an at
tempt is being made by the legislature
[, make provision for this line of
work, and it is hoped that the plans
which are now being outlined by the
legislature will not fall by the way
size but will become a reality, and
that all provisions for making a sanl-
tary survey of all Of the streams and
sources of water supply in the state
NAV be made and that special re-
port may be formulated for the next
meeting of the general assembly OF
the state Of Iowa.
These are questions for the careful
consideration of the people of Iowa
and should not be overlooked. There
Is n thing more important before the
peop'o of Iowa at the present time
than the question of the sources from
whence our water supply is coming,
and for the provisions which are to be
made for lettering the same.
Ottumwa for years had water sup
ply that was ;. constant menace.
Muddy, unflltered water was sent
through the mains and furnished the
only water supply great many OF the
people Of the city found available. In
times of high water this was especi-
ally dangerous, as there is alwa. S
great danger in the use Of water from
rivers at food stage unless the supply
is chemically treated before it is sent
through the mains for use by water
consumers.
But Ottumwa's supply of water now
Is absolutely free of pollution by sew
age, The first thing that Mr.. Water
man and his associates on the water
works board of trustees did after the
city purchased the plant was to pro-
vide for an adequate filtration sys-
tenn. The water is not only filtered
zbut it is sterilized by chemical treat
ment and rendered absolutely free of
pollution Reports of the state chem
lists show that the water now Turn
ished Ottumwa consumers is 1898
pure. No better or purer water Is
furnished anywhere than here in or
tumwa. 81. ....
This is not because the Des Moines
river is free of. pollution, because tests
Of the unf1ltered water give strong evil
dence of sewage, according to chemists
who have made analyses. That Of
tum.ra is now being furnished with
water chemically pure is due to the
action of the board Of waterworks
trustees in availing themselves of the
best scientific equipment for the
publication Of the water.
Ottumwa has been saved the danger
of epflemics due to an impure water
supply by able management OF its
vaterworks property. If survey of
the rivers of the state is made for the
n1rpose of determining the extent of
their pollution it will be found that
Ottumwa has acted in advance of the
state in removing this danger, because
the men who comprise the board of
waterworks trustees are far-sighted
able administrators of the public trust
placed In them.
The cities devasted by tornado and
flood during the last few days will
need able city administrations to bring
order out of the chaotic condition now
prevailing. If these cities have not