The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-07
WOULD SPEND
100000 TO
PURIFY WATER
Committee Recommends Con-
structiOn of Mechanical
Filtration Plant
LAKE HURON SUPPLY Is
FOUND TOO EXPENSIVE
Would Cost S2O,000,OOO to Build
Proper AQueducts, Says
President Wilkie

In the regular meeting OF the board
of water commissioners, Tuesday al
ternoon, James Wilkie. president oil
the board, submitted an exhaustive
report on the findings OF the HELL
bers during their recent Junket 10 III
spect filtration pants IN other cities
and recommended that the board ap
propriate $4,000 Tor preliminary
plans for the installation OF
mechanical filtration plant in Gladwn
park IL is estimated that nltratioh
plant capable OF taking care OF city
OF | 200 00o inhabitants will cost be-
tween s. 1000 900 and $500 900.
We are satisfied that mechani-
cal filtration plant will meet our
needs for many years TO come, SAID
Commissioner Wilkie. Il have work
ed on this proposition ever since l
went on the board. believing thar me
health OF the city should be protected
as much as possible by supplying
Clean, pure water. The board has no
funds for the construction OF this
plant and IL will be up 10 the people
OF Detroit to say II they want II.
The plan TO pipe water from Port
Huron has been looked into by the
board members and We are satisfied
that che scheme is not practical.
There Is less than a six-foot drop De-
tween Port Huron and Detroit. u
would cost al tnast $20.OOO,OOO 10
build the line and the upkeep would
be very costly. Detroits water sys-
tenn is worth about Sl2,000,00o and "
Is bonded for 81. $780, 900. Other cities
hav We invested much more In their
water systems
--- Comm toner's Wilkie. Brady and
G.iespie and Engineers I. n. Hinch-
man, Jr.. and George II. Fenkell, last
week, visited Toronto. Erie. Pitts
burgh Cincinnati and Cleveland TO
the various types or
~ -ation~ plants used In these cities.
Following is portion or Commits
sioner Wilkes report:
The quality OF filtered water fur
nished consumers at Toronto. PITTS
burgh and Cincinnati Is superior 10
the raw water furnished consumers
in Detroit. although AT all OF these
places the water as it comes from the
supply. During the period Of greatest
turbidity-durtng April in Toronto,
and during the flood stages in Cincin-
natl and Pittsburgh-the water works
plants in these cities were having no
difficulty In furnishing water that was
practically clear. FROM the statistics
furnished In Pittsburgh and Cinctn-
natl IL appears that deaths from
typhoid due to water supply have
been practically eliminated. Two OF
these cities are using slow SAND
filters and one mechanical filter. all
supplemented by chlorin.tion plants.
There is no doubt but that either
type Of filter would operate satisfac-
torily In Detroit. but IL appears that
the mechanical filter can be Installed
at much less first cost, with con-
sequent less fixed charges, can be
more economically operated, will re-
quire less ground area. can be extend
ed in size more easily and can be
more quickly installed than the slow
sand filter. or the two types, the
mechanical filter seems the better
adapted TO the needs OF Detroit
We believe that the various mat
ters in connection with the installa.
ton of filtration plant should be
taken up at this time by the board.
While some OF them are more urgent
,nan others, IL Is hardly possible to
settle any one item without a consld-
Grafton OF all of the items. We are
of the opinion and recommend that
the board issue the necessary IN
structions to make complete layout
OF Gladwin park, and that the plans
be 30 far developed as to Justify the
board In ordering complete working
plans and specifications for the boiler
house for the new station. coal stor
age and coal handling equipment for
both stations and mechanical Ultra
ton plant, and the tunnel.
with reference 10 the final plans
for filtration plant, We find that
there is not sufficient data with which
TO proceed at this time. I neretore.
we also recommend that the board
appropriate $4,000 for the purpose
of employing bacteriologist and the
building OF a small experimental Ultra
ton plant, from which the necessary
now lacking. may be OBJ
tanned. We are OF the opinion that
from the information to be gained by
this preliminary expenditure. II will
be possible to design a plant which
will exactly satisfy the needs OF the
water supply OF Detroit s>d which
will be capable OF economical ex'
tension.