The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-30
Voice of the People

vOESC VI TIC cOple
| 1.-THE Gate City does not assume re
sponsibility for views expressed BY
correspondents. Writers of communi,
cations must furnish their. names
not necessarily for publication. but
for the information of the cdito;..1
The Local Water Situation,
70 the Editor Of The Gate City:
1T is common knowledge that a sup
ply of wholesome water in sufficient
quantity is fundamental sanitary me-
cessity. Without it injury to health
inevitably arises. either simply from
deficiency Of quantity, or more fire.
quently from the presence Of impur-
tiles. The diseases due to impure
water are certain specific fevers, as ty-
phoid. diarrhoeal diseases, and some
affections due to parasites which find
entrance to the body through this me-
dunn. Scarlet fever is not one of
these. 1t is an airborne, not a water
borne disease.
Under modern methods Of treat
ment OF water by water works com
panies the source of supply is rela-
lively less important than the process
es to which the water is subjected be-
fore delivery to consumers. There has
been considerable agitation in recent
years in favor of the extension of the
| intake pipe of the local water works
company into or through the forebay,
but eminent authority has refused to
advise or sanction the change and
there is little probability that it will
| be made. The local water works COM
pan some time ago announced it's will
| lingness to make the extension. if it
| was necessary to do SO, but no less
eminent authority than Mr. Lytton, the
sanitary expert representing the Unit
f, ed States public health service, re-
fused to give the proposal his approx
al. Mr.. Lytton came to Keokuk sew
eral months ago with his U. S. labora-
tory car, accompanied by competent
chemists and other assistants, and re-
NAMED here several days making
varied and exhaustive tests of the local
water supply. He found there was lit
tie IL any difference in the quality of
the water taken at the opening of the
intake pipe and that at the entrance
of the forebay Not only did he re-
fuse to recommend the proposed ex-
tension, but when pressed for a fur
their expression of opinion by local
sanitary authority he declined even
to encourage it.
The local water supply at the pres
ent time is entirely satisfactory. The
supply is abundant and the quality is
tirst-c1ass, much better than that of
most cities and towns. This condi-
ton of affairs has been brought about
by the installation of the most APPROX
ed, up-to-date methods Of sedimenta-
ton and publication On Monday the
writer made thorough inspection of
the plant in company with a local
sanitary expert and followed the water
from the time lie left the forebay until
ready to be pumped into the mains 1t
is treated first with coagulant which
precipitates the grosser impurities
left in it after passing through the set
ting basin, and then subjected to
chlorine gas which destroys any con-
tanned bacteria whether Of the harm.
less or disease producing kind It
then passes through the filters before
being pumped into the MAINS AS a
result of this treatment 95 to 90 per
cent of all forms of animal lfe-what-
ever it's nature-is removed. The fit
ers have capacity of 100000 gallons
day, whereas the daily consumption
is only 100000 gallons daily. This
disparity permits the filters to be OPP
Grated slowly and with the best re-
suits. Moreover the filters are washed
daily and all impurities removed from
them
That the water is healthful and safe
to drink is further attested by the
tests made in the laboratory of the
State university at Iowa City, to which
samples of the water are sent twice a
week. The c. B. & Q. railroad COM
pany also makes frequent tests in it's
laboratory at Aurora, ILL.,, and reports
results to the U. S. public health serv-
ice at Washington, D. c. This is be-
cause the railroad company makes use
of the Keokuk water for its employees
and on it's trains. The reports from
the State university and the railroad
company tally exactly. They agree
that our KeoKuk water is safe to use,
and this verdict has the approval Of
the United States government.
SANITARIAN
Keokuk, Iowa. jan 80, 1918.