The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-04-11
PURE DRINKING WATER
FOR ELIZABETH CITY
Elizabeth City Water Company InstaIls Distllation
Plant and Plans New Filtration System

1n0 EuZaDeCn City water 90.
after spending a fortune in
futile attempts to get good and
potable water for Elizabeth City
consumption, has finally found
what looks like a solution to
the problem and is now produc-
ing an absolutely pure water,
said to be superior to any spring
water in the United States or
elsewhere.
The Water Company has just in
stalled at it's plant on Pennsylvania
Ave-, an H-2O still having a daily capa-
city of $500 gallons of absolutely pure
aerated distilled water. Get that word
aerated!
Ordinary distilled water is not neces-
sarily pure water. 1t may be con-
densed from the steam of boilers and
carry with it the taste of boiler COM
pounds and the lubricating oils of the
engine. It is always fiat and lifeless
because in the process of distillation
the vitalizing air is taken out of it.
Distilled water to be absolutely pure
must be distilled in a special appara-
tus and handled thru pure block tin or,
porcelain lined pipes. Running dis
titled water thru a dirty iron boiler
and rusty iron pipes doesn't produce
good water. After providing special
apparatus for distilling water and get
ting the water chemically pure, you
still have a fiat, lifeless, tasteless pro-
duct because distillation doesn't return
the air to the water. DIR. J. G. Merrill,
of Washington, D. c. invented a pro-
cess to produce pure distilled water
with it's air content restored and this
same DR.. Merrill has installed the still
at the plant of the Elizabeth City
Water Co. Dr. Merrill has been in
Elizabeth City for two weeks, not only
to look after the installation of the
still, but to see that the company
thoro1y understands it's operation.
DR. Merrill is a water expert. In fact,
he was the water expert of the United
States War Trade Board and has help
ed governments t4izaamany a water pro-
blem. He has Installed his process all
over the United States and Canada, in
the West Indies. in India. in China and
in Japan. The American Expedition
ary Forces used 125 of his stills in
France. Elizabeth City is the first city
of less than $4,000 inhabitants having
tn1 Id hos
been in operation in Norfolk for several
years and the water is sold as a pure
Spring" water and the Norfolk public
has never known the difference.
OF course the distillation of water for
drinking purposes does not solve the
water problem for Elizabeth City.
Elizabeth City consumes more than
500, 900 gallons of water daily for all
purposes. Distilled water is too ex-
pensive for washing, bathing, sprink-
ling lawns and putting out fires. Dis
titled water will be just a side line
with the water company and will be
delivered in five gallon demijohns to
consumers who will pay extra fof it.
But the Water Company will not rest
there. 1t expects to improve it's whole
supply and is now negotiating with the
Pittsburgh Filter Mfg. Co, of Pitts
burgh, Pa. for a filter plant that will
give Elizabeth City chemically pure
water, if such a water can be obtained.
Plans for the new filter plant have
been received and the Water Company
expects to close with the Pittsburgh
concern at an early date. installing the
new filters this summer if possible.
The plans call for two filters, each
of 100000 gallons daily capacity, with
provision for two additional filters
when the demand justifies the supply.
The filters will be Of the most approved
type, as mechanically perfect as fill
ters can be built. The water taken
from Knobbs Creek will be treated
in the present concrete sedimentation
tank as it is now and then given "a
hours to work thru the new filtration
plant.
eff that doesn't give us clean, pure,
wholesome water" says Superinten-
dent r. E. Lewis, "Then we will
abandon all efforts to get such water
from the sources available in this To-
ca1ity.'