Evening journal., 1920-01-05

e
: Of this city and 10 make immediate tests
Of Tn city water wherever they are in
doubt Of the quality Of same.
Respectfully,
IS. n. VAN TRUMP.
"Chief Engineer"
The bacterologlst's report follows:
"Nlr. 5. y. Van Trump, Chief Engineer,
Water Department,
Dear Sir: In regard 10 our conver-
sation this morning. concerning several
cases OF stomach disorder and which
are thought 20 have been caused by ex-
cess chlorine in the water, wish 10 eX-
plain some facts pertaining TO chlorine
and chloridcs in water.
There Is rarely found a water that
does not contain chlorine IN soUe
form, and, most generally. Il is in COM
bnation as the ch brides OF certain
mineral deposits, and also as common
salt.
MANY mineral waters on the market.
which contain large amounts OF chlor-
ides. are sold for stomach disorders.
The raw Brandyw.ne creek water
contains from To 80 parts per mil
lion OF chlorine and fltration will not
/ remove this element The silver nj
trate test Is the usual method for de-
! termining the chiorides in water and as
I understand, this method has been
used recently by some physicians IN
testing for excess free chlorine In our
supply.
"The amount Of chlorine added at our
Utter plants. is 10 is per million, is
so small that it cannot be detected by
The silver nitrate test. Therefore, when
silver nitrate Is used 70 detect excess
free chlorine. the result obtained is not
excess chlorine, but the natural ch.0r-
ide content
"Thc proper test for excess free chlor-
inc is the Tolidin test and is sensitive
10 one hundredth Of a part per million.
"Our numerous tests show that lhc
water supply Is OF good quality anu
safe 20 use for all domestic purposes.
Respectfully submitted,
"NONTG OMERY ALEXANDER,
"Baclcriologist 90
The report Of Engineer Wills fol
lows:
'Nfr. S. y. Van Trump, Chief Engineer
Water Department.
Dear Sir: Monday morning just be-
fore noon / received q personal telc-
phone call from you In regard TO
complaint Of taste and odor in our dis
lribution system in the northern sec
tiop Of the city. This complaint was
investigated and the taste and odor
could not be detected. Also an excess
of chlorine was not found. l reported
10 you by phone my findings.
Tuesday several extra tests We're
made on the high, low and extreme
high services In various sections OF the
city for taste, odor and excessive free
chlorine. In every instance Of test the
taste and odor was absent and the free
chlorine less than the amount recon-
mended by consulting bacteriologists
and water work engineers Of our lead
ing cities.
In regard TO our chlorine treatment
we wish 10 state that last week the
department delivered 20 the city iO2,-
6S6,O0O gallons Of water, 97,7450OO gal
Ions passing the filter and 5,t23,OOO gal
Ions being taken from storage at Cool
Spring Reservoir. As the g1,1ij.OO0 gall
Ions left our filter plant, we added TO
this quantity only $50 pounds OF
chlorine at an average rate Of 80
ounces per hour. This is az the rate
OF less than one-nfth part per million,
which is equal 10 IS pounds per mil
lion gallons, or .0i50 grains per gallon.
As one pound contains 1000 grains and
It takes iG ordinary drinking glasses to
contain one gallon or 8 i-3 pounds, the
small amount Of chlorine added to the
water is certainly readily realized.
From these figures and allowing that
the chlorine did not react with the or
ganic matter Of the water and remain
free, the amount Of free chlorine in
glass Of water would be OO06 grains.
Always some Of the chlorine added
combines with the organic matter and
does not remain free in the water.
IN order TO get any bacterial Ell
cheney from the chlorine 1t is neces-
sary 10 add sufficient chlorine TO unite
with the organic matter and have a
slight excess as we term % parts by
the Tolidin test. This slight excess Is
still further reduced as the water
passes through the distribution sysem.
The free chlorine test is made sew
eral times every day, depending on the
change OF altering rate and condition Of
the raw water. In our experience check
ing chlorine rates we find that the
chlorine pipes cOrrode and diminish the
supply OF chlorine rather than in
crease It.
THE reports OF physical operations
and bacterial results. clock dials and
meter charts sent TO your Office daily
from the filter plant will verify our
gallons Of water delivered, our chemi-
cal treatment and the extreme care
taken to reduce the number Of com
plants TO a minimum.
l.rI,l, - lhn .r,rnlll,. Of cl.r. l.llr N..otar