The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-05-14
REPORTOFWA7ER INVESTIGATING, COMMITTEE

the usage of the same In some tpla-
ces the idea seems to prevail that
the state authorities all favor well
water. They do so only in the event
that it can be procured as cheap as
by other methods. The only objec-
tion against the filtering method is
on account of the average small
town. not willing to pay the amount
of money necessary to keep up 9
plant in an A-No. condition. 1t
|falso happens often that with a
change in the city administration a
change of policy is inaugurated
which might mean change Of man
agement in the ,watr department.
which would work in most instances
to the detriment instead of the ad-
vancement of the same. Let us,
therefore, suggest that, whateve,
changes are made in the water de-
partment or plant that the entire or
ganization.lbe kept entirely relegated
from politics, both in the matter of
personnel and policy.
REPORT ~
We left Bemidji at 3:17 p. M, Fri
day, May 3, and went to Grand Forks,
N. d. This city has an up-to-date
mechanical filter plant. The water
is pumped from Red Lake river, taken
to the plant and filtered and soften
ed, and then finally chlorinated. The
| result is water Of exceptional quail
ity, clear and sparkling, 1t is used
for all commercial. purposes as well
as domestic use. The capacity of. the
plant is two million gallons every
twenty-four hours. The population
of the city is about twenty thousand
In our Investigations here we had the
hearty cooperation of the filter plant
and Mr.. Sharpe, representative of
the Pittsburgh Filter company, who
accompanied us from a point where
the water enters the. plant to where
it; goes into the distribution mains
as pure water. Their guidance and
and we assure you they were certain
ly appreciated. This plant has a
chemical laboratory which makes
daily or tri-weekly tests of the wa
ter to determine the amount of treat
| ment necessary. :. This is essential to
| the operation of successful plant
The rates charged for water are SO
cents for first 1000 gallons; 40
cents per M for the next 1000 gal
| Ions; 35 cents per M for the next
| 5000 gallons; 80 cents per NJ for the
next 10000 gallons; 28 cents per M
for the next 10000 gallons; 25 cents
per M for the next 10000 gallons
and 20 cents per M for any excess
| 81 To, East Grand Forks.
| The next town. visited was East
Grand Forks.
The city has a alteration plant
This plant is older than the Grand
Forks plant. Instead Of using liquid
chlorine they use the hypo-chloride
of lime. They have crude way of
| mixing the same, which forces them
| to use an overdose of. the chemical,
the result being bright, clear wa
ter But with somewhat Of taste
and smell. This water would not
slit the people of Bemidji, who are
used to good water. They have no
chemical laboratory and depend upon
Grand Forks for their analysis of
the same. The operator at the plant
is not a technical man. He keeps
4 the5machinery going, but his knowl-
edge ends there.
Minot's Problem. +
Saturday evening, May 4, we went
to Minot, Nd. Here they have an
interesting situation. Up to 1917,
ithey used mechanical filterine
plant of 1000, ,000-gallon capacity.
They secured their water from the
1 Mouse river In the dry season OF
the year the river produced 100000
gallons per day, and their consump-
ton was about 100000 gallons per
day, so it is readily seen that some
other method must be used for Sc
| curing water The filter plant, il
appears, was also operated by rule
| of thumb more than by scientific
methods, with the inevitable result
that the water was of very poor
quality from the plant. After being
| forced to look for new supply o1
water they put in series Of dug
test wells which finally eliminated
| in securing a ten-inch we'll 1872 feet
which gives them an exceptionally
heavy flow. The water is perfectly
safe. apd very soft, but it has a very
! high color, and has a taste from or
ganic substances This water would
not satify our citizens at all. How.
| ever, the water could be made as
clear and bright as any water in ex.
| istence with -filteration, but they dc
| not want to go to the extra expense
Most of the water for domestic use
is secured from shallow wells from
a depth of twenty to twenty-five feet
which is a clearer water than the
deep we'll water, but not of as safe a
quality. AS part of this report, we
attach q report Of the Chamber of
Commerce, which may be used If de-
sired in regard to further investiga-
! tions if found necessary. In sur in
vestigations here we had thef;hearty
| cooperation of Mr.. Thomas, cby en-
gineer and water commissioner
which we could, not get at Grand
| Forks, owing to its being Saturday
| afternoon, and the city buildings
were closed.
Fargo's Fine Plant.