Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-02-28
FACTS CONCERNING
Continued from page |

race. which reaches the Brandywine just
above Market street.
oo-inch sewer constructed in 1908,
is laid along the south bank of the Bran
DIVINE. which takes the drainage from AS
far back as Pennsylvania avenue, and also
connects with the Bancroft mills, being
used by them, however, mainly when the
flow in the 24-inch line is shut off for
cleaning out the main catch basin. A
2O-inch cutoff valve is TO be installed on
this lne at once.
When the 2O-inch line WAS put in, its
size was based on carefully compiled data
of the amount of water used by the Rock
ford mills. the amount being doubled as
factor of safety.
Since that time. the amount used has
increased, in what proportion is not stated
The Bancroft mills has under way IN
vestigatons ~ to the feasibility OF using
less water In its processes.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM DEFECTS.
Partly owing to the slight fall in these
sewer lines and partly due to conditions
common to all sewers, they at times be-
come obstructed, rs by boys throwing
stones into them, ''for fun, or broken,
causing overflow from menholes or leak
age. at points which affect the water
supply intake.
1t such times. If certain dyes are being
used. il is thought that their waste unites
with the chlorine employed as bacteri-
eide for the filtered water. to form certain
combinations that faint the water IN the
storage reservoirs.
S,,ch break was found recently about
100 feet west of the Il. 4 o. bridge
Repairs are possible only between Satur-
dav noon and Monday morning, when
weather conditions permit. The sewer
cleaning gang of the Street and Sewer
Department is limited, by financial rea-
sons. to four men. and has not been m
creased. for the same reason, with the
growth of the city.
puRIFrCATroN METHODS.
The chlorination of the filtered water
Is essential as an anti-bacterial measure.
Its result is to oxidize dangerous bacteria.
This sometimes produces a talnt IN the
water supply. this being proof that 1T Is
performing its function. Free chlorine m
the regular dosage. does not affect the
taste of the water. In excess 1t may NJ
times do SO.
The water in the Brandywine is sampled
at five different points, up as Jar as the
State line, every other day, and tested.
The water as il is pumped Is also tested
regularly in the Water Department lahora-
tory and for the past SIX months samples
have been sent weekly for testing by the
expert. DIR. TelIert Alleman, OF Swarth-
more College.
The Water Department tests serve TO
detect abnormal conditions and 10 con-
troll the dosage of the chlorinizlng ma
terial.
THE DEPARTMENT LABORATORY.
A visit 10 the Water Department offices
on Sixteenth street, took an lnquisltlve
reporter to the administration building,
which faces French street and the old
Shirley house. credited with having been
one of the George Washington visiting
places in Colonial times. Turned over for
the uses of the selective service, otherwise
known as the draft board IN the summer OF
1917. the Water Department structure
was so occupied until January, 1919.
immediately afterward, the rehttlng OF the
building was begun to accommodate the
engineering and operating department,
which has its offices on the ground moor,
the laboratories being on the second floor.
Incidentally, there is ample room on tins
floor for other laboratories, such as those
of the Health Department, and the ad-
vantage of the concentration OF these
under one roof is easily seen.
The laboratory is fully equipped for
both organic and inorganic analysis, so
Ear as these are likely to be required for
practical purposes. The inorganic re-
searches are necessary TO BRING out the
possible impurities resulting from the
finding of their way into the supply OF
chemicals, such as sludge
acids, bleaching compounds and the like.
ls- f1rsid
in the results of the action of such Sub |
stances on chemical, animal or vegetable |
matter with which they may come in |
contact, or the wider realm of the de- |
along natural lines of bacteria !
or germs. representing the animal or !
vegetable kingdoms in their origin, but |
both capable of carrying and causing /
disease. The laboratory is In charge of /
Alexander, representing Pro- I
fessor James NJ. Card of Troy. \. Y
The chemical tests applied are those for
free ammonia, albuminoid ammonia. 4
nitrites, nitrates, ehlorides, excess free
chlorine and the required oxygen to oxi- /
die organic contents.
The bacterial tests are the "B Coli" test. /
and the numerical count of bacteria de- /
veloped on agar at blood temperature and l
ON gelatine at room temperature, isolat-
ing chambers being provided, for. these
These together meet the
of the Federal government.
The special researches Of DIR. Alleman 90
beyond these, in the line of determining
probable source of such undesirable con-
iitions as are found to exist, and the APP
remedies.
LARGER SEWER DESIRABLE.
The radical kennedy for the sewer CON
iitions would seem 10 be the construction
IF larger sewerage line. While admitting
he desirability Of such new construction.
officials of the Street and Sewer Depart
nent literally threw up their hands at the
of the possibility of obtaining
he necessary funds for such a purpose,
which might amount under present labor
md material conditions, to 100000
Whether the people of Wilmington will
lllow that sum to stand between them and
he Improvement Of the water supply,
which Is vital to the existence of the com
nunity, is a question which they must de-
idle. in case it Is proved that the existing
ystem Is a menace. which point the COM
NO season may decide