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THE HARDNESS OF ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL WATER 



SUPPLIES. 



Edward Bartow. 



It is not the purpose of this paper to show the advantages 

 of a soft water. We are all agreed that a soft water is best. 

 The large majority of the municipalities of Illinois have hard 

 waters, and therefore what we wish to know is how to make 

 them soft and when it is practicable to do so. 



Whenever it is necessary to purify a water for drinking 

 purposes an additional installation to soften the water is com- 

 paratively inexpensive. The same is true when it is found 

 necessary to remove the iron from a water supply. To soften 

 a hard but pure and clear water would mean a complete in- 

 stallation for softening purposes alone. In the latter case 

 there will therefore be much hesitation on account of the ex- 

 pense before general softening plants are established. In 

 all plants also there is a reluctance to treat all of the water 

 supply when a soft water is not needed for all purposes. 



Railroads are finding it profitable to soften the waters used 

 in their locomotives, and plants for water treatment are in 

 operation on all of the principal lines. The matter is of so 

 much importance to them that an extended report has been 

 made by the Committee on Water Service of the American 

 Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association*. 

 The Committee discusses the matter from the standpoint of 

 use in locomotives quite fully. What has been found practi- 

 cable in locomotive practice may be extended to general boiler 

 uses or even to domestic practice. 



The whole supply of a municipality may be softened or, 

 where this is impracticable, plants may be established by the 



*Am. Ry. Eng. and Maintenance of Way Assn. Bull. No. 83. Jan. 1907. 



