The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-10

to determine what preventive pr
Iemeulai measures are required Win
reference 70 Canadian waters.
Of Detroits sewage poliute Amerr-
can waters 80 as to render them un-
~ as, as source Of raw water for MI
"s.'on PURPOSES a., ...,,a
the City Of Detroit undertake to
purify the sewage. and what expense
would be justihabie for that pur-
'0ur aE SeTS sTuHiy' FENxELh
Commissioners Of Public Works..
The specific reply to the nrst prob
andlns ss'% s ud e. sss r:eor. so ans
data collected In the course Of this
investigation, II seems evident that
do %sy ro :nd the 81 soa s1%: ns
from either side IA such degree as
TO render the waters on the other
unsafe for drinking or domestic uses
Without some form Of treatment or
=. The Pollution crossing the
not yet reached such q degree as to
render the waters on the other unfit
. water publication plant. This con-
clusion IN based on the reasonable
ness OF the 500 II. Coli Limit and on
the tests made on all samples of wa
line OF the main channel OF the De-
8. The unpreventabls ana inevi-
table pollution from surface drainage,
sources Is Of such degree and char
Acter that even the treatment Of all
sanitary sewage entering the river
on both sides OF the boundary and
lata afA stnA ~ nj l.
luton from vessels would not OBJ
viate the necessity for publication
of Detroit river water used for drink
ing and domestic purposes.
ventive or remedial measures re-
quired with reference TO pollution
crossing the boundary line from
either side should logically be linn
may be necessary to prevent an un-
due burden being placed on any wa
ter purihcation plant having an in
take suitably located in the best
sonable distance from the plant. In
our Judgment such result can best
be insured for all future conditions
a,s to occur, by sterilization OF
and by eventually collecting ali
urban sewage ar convenient points
where IL may be treated either by
means OF fine. screens or settling
Detroit should anticipate such a
system for other reasons than that
of preventing pollution from crossing
the boundary line.
In SPECIFIC reply to the second prob
lem 10 what extent does the City OF
petroits sewage pollute American
waters SO as 10 render them unfiit as
a source OF raw water for filtration
purposes?
/. 1t is difficult to separate the
pollution in American waters caused
ty Detroit sewage from that which
comes from surface wash and from
the sewage of other cities and viii
lagos both above and below the City
OF Detroit. The pollution in the De-
troit River hugs the shore lines with
remarkable persistence. Adjacent to
the American shore zone of grossly
polluted water extends the entire
Clair to Lake Erie. The pollution il
greatest near the shore and rapidly
decreases toward the outer edge OF
the zone whore IL is never less than
500 II. coli per 100 C. C. The width
of this polluted shore zone varies
Somewhat with the seasons and with
local weather conditions. Opposite
Deroit. from Belle Isle TO Fighting
Itland, II occupies approximately one
third of the width OF the river and
varies from SEQ to 140o feet in width.
Below point opposite the head OF
Fighting Island IL gradually widens.
entirely surrounding Crosse Isle, Ell
la. Sugar, Hickory and Ceieron
Islands. Below Crosse Isle IL extends
practically To tho edge OF Livingston
Channel At any point in this zone
tie pollution is such ar to render the
water unfit as a source of raw water
Tor liberation purposes. The extent
Of this grossly polluted zone is shown
on plate No. s. The pollution extends
INTO Lake Erie for 20 or so miles IN
decreasing intensity until
negligible. due to sedimentation and
the efficient publication process of
nature.
.. The public water supplies most
affected are those OF Ford, Wyandotte.
Trenton and Monroe. The pollution
reaching Monroe from Detroit's sew
age may at times reach 1000 u. c..
Coll per 100 c. c., but the sewage poll
tuition from this source is not such as
To render the raw water unsuita BILE
for alteration purposes. Ford and
Wyandotte can obtain u water suit
able for alteration by extending an
intake about 5000 feet into the river.
Trenton cannot obtain a suitable sup
ply within reasonable distance or
cost, but could do so were Detroit's
sewage treated as recommended In
his report
A discussion of costs to supply
y alter from Detroit as compared with
he cost of filtered supply taken
directly from the river is given on
page - OF this report. The differ
-nce in, favor OF the alteration
3. Treatment of sewage would af-
lord measure of protection to num-
srous private users OF water and
would greatly improve the conditions
pleasure resorts and bathing beaches
patronized by thousands of Detroit's
-itizens during the summer months.
The removal OF solids and objectional
toating matter from the sewage
.ntire river along Detroit's water
front, and would I'm measure restore
sieanly conditions.
4. Under ordinary conditions, De-
lake crib OF the Detroit water works.
However. II IL not at all certain that
Z may not do so under extraordinary
On Feb. 5. 1909, strong
oesterly winds raised the level OF the
y esterly end OF Lake Erie above the
evel OF Lake St Clair. and for
period Of over seven hours the slope
1f the river was backward. during
his period the flow OF the river was
reversed, although the
been great Similar conditions oc-
cured on Jan. 81, 1914, when back
low probably took place for four or
i've hours. Back flow In the river
ais of about four or five years. Back
low Is most likely to occur when
here are Ice gorges In the st. Clair
river. and these conditions must be
by strong easterly
wind on Lake Erie.
S. The unpreventabie pollution
rom surface wash and storm water
sewage which, even with sewage
will Inevitably increase
9Th the development OF territory
'bovc Windmill point, together with