Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-05-18
SUGGEST EXTENSION IN
CITY WATER SYSTEM
Health Officials Recommend Sery-
ing PASSPORT.
CONDITIONS THERE ARE BAD.
That Best Of Wells Contain Polluted
Water, is Disclosed by Scientific
Investigation.

Besides the report on measures te
improve general sanitary conditions OF
the City, the City Council, at its spec
ial meeting last night, listened to dis
cussions as to the conditions of the
water supply, and sewerage system OF
the city and suburban places. 1t
will be noted that one recommendation
with regard to purifying the water is
the use of chlorine, but this treatment
is already being applied.
The repot of Engineer Morse of the
State Health Board on the dual sub
ject follows:
May IA. 1916.
An inspection of the Annapolis
watershed has been made, but the re-
port is not as yet completed. My rec
concentrations for water supply and
sewerage improvements in and about
Annapolis are as follows:
1. la) The Increase of the amount of
water impounded on the watershed.
CD The immediate installation of a
liquid chloride plant; (c) The installa-
ton, after the impounding reservoir
Improvement ia decided upon, of a
coagulating basin or filter plant; i'd
The extension of the Annapolis water
supply so as TO serve Eastport.
2. (a) The construction of sewers in
Germantown, the sewage to be pumped
at present TO the Annapolis sewerage
system. (b) The construction of a
main drainage system and a disposal
plant for Annapolis. This probably
can serve Eastport also. 3. The en-
gagement of competent engineer to
make surveys and detail plans and
specifications for both water supply
and sewerage improvements.
Water Supply-The sanitary condi-
tions on the Annapolis watershed were
in general found to be fairly good.
It must be remembered, however, that
this is surface supply and its use
cannot be considered safe without
treatment.
An examination of the reservoirs re-
veals situation which explains to a
considerable extent the bad physical
quality of the water. The reservoirs
are shallow and there is much uncover.
ed marsh land near their upper ends.
Rarely is worse condition found
Notwithstanding this fact, the site is
an excellent one for a large and deep
reservoir. The fat lands would be
flooded and the sides of the reservoirs
are precipitous. Probably the best
arrangement would be to build dam
of considerable height across the valley
near the lower end of the clear water
storage reservoir. This will impound
water from the main stream and its
branches in one large basin. With the
long storage period the water would
be of much better quality than it is at
present, but it is likely that coagula-
tion at least would be necessary, and
probably a filter plant would also be
required, to make the water entirely
acceptable. Pending any improve
ments which are to be made, the
water should be disinfected with liquid
chlorine. The chlorine apparatus world
be of permanent use even though a
filter plant were later installed.
The sanitary conditions in Eastport
were found very bad and, as will be
noted from the enclosed report, repre-
SciltdtANc WStlS were StStotAk ni2hss
poIIuted water. The best method Of
relief would undoubtedly be the ex-
tension Of the Annapolis water supply
to serve this community.
Sewerage-A cursory examination
only of the Annapolis waterfront
makes it apparent that main drain
age system should be constructed which
would carry the house sewage to q
point at some distance from the city
were it could be treated properly be-
fore discharge. 1t is unfortunate that
tie sewers of Annapolis have been
built upon the combined system. With
out detail study it would be hard to
say whether complete new sanitary
system should be constructed, or wheth.
er the dry weather flow from the pres.
ent system, together with a slight
amount of storm water, should be in,
tercepted from the lower ends of the
existing sewers and conveyed to the
disposal plant for treatment. The lat.
ter method would be the cheaper one
to follow, but during times of heavy
rain diluted sewage would pass into
the harbor. Under neither method
could the taking of oysters from the
harbor be made safe, and the practice
should entirely stopped irrespective Of
/ the sewerage question.
From what study has been giveT
the mstter, it would appear that the
best location for sewage disposal
plant would be near Horn Point, East
port. The sewage should at least BIZ
passed through settling tanks, and th.
effluent ought to be disinfected, un
less the taking of oysters within &
| considerable distance of the outfal
were absolutely prohibited 1t is un
likely that the construction of a filtel
plant would be required. since with
properly designed outfalI sufhcien
dilution can be obtained in the Sew
ern River. With the above-mentione
location for disposal plant, Eastpor
could readily be given sewerage ser
vice.
The collection of Germantown sew
4 az q n a sfrrr1fa matter hs4f e,,los.