SCIENCE. 



425 



SCIENCE: 



A Weekly Record of Scientific 

 Progress. 

 JOHN MICHELS, Editor. 



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Published at 

 TRIBUNE BUILDING, NEW YORK. 



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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1881. 



Residents of New York city who visited Cincin- 

 nati on the occasion of the meeting of the Ameri- 

 can Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 doubtless returned with a better appreciation of the 

 water supply of their own city. 



Cincinnati draws its supply of water direct from 

 the Ohio river, at a point within the city limits, and 

 within a few yards of the outlet of a main sewer 

 which discharges its abominations into the already 

 discolored and muddy waters of the river. 



Some idea may be formed of the condition of this 

 water, when we state, that a small quantity poured 

 into a washing basin, obscured the view of the bot- 

 tom of the utensil, so opaque is the water by reason 

 of its muddy impurity. And yet, the river at this 

 time was at its best, lor, undisturbed by rains or floods, 

 it flo ved past the city reduced to its lowest limits, and 

 in its highest condition of purity. 



Unanimity among the population of a large city on 

 any one point, is not to be expected, but, it was with 

 some surprise we heard expressions of admiration 

 regarding this water, from some Cincinnatians. The 

 majority of the people, however, were disgusted with 

 the water supply of the city, and many were seeking 

 their own remedy by the construction of artesian 

 wells. The public press of Cincinnati, during our 

 visit was loud in its denunciations of the evil, making 

 excellent suggestions for obtaining the water supply 

 from a purer source, and other needed improvements. 



Recently the question has been much discussed, as 

 to whether a city should draw its supply from a river, 

 or from lakes and storage reservoirs. Which will give 

 the best results? 



This question is beset with many difficulties, and, in 

 our opinion, cannot be determined in such a manner, 

 that any particular decision for future guidance, in all 



cases, can be delivered. We apprehend that local 

 causes and conditions which vary for every locality, 

 having due weight and being well considered, should 

 decide the question. 



Of course absolute purity is not demanded, neither 

 is it essential. The object to be aimed at, and that must 

 be secured at any cost, is such a condition of purity 

 which may be expressed by the term " fitness." 



A water that is free from any impurities dangerous 

 to health, of a good color and inodorous, may be con- 

 sidered "fit" for the supply of a city. 



The question as to the best source for a supply of 

 water, has of late received much attention from chem- 

 ists and sanitary engineers. Reviewing the discus- 

 sions, we express the opinion, that water drawn from 

 a river which is free from sewage contaminations and 

 not subject to discoloration, is preferable to water 

 collected in lakes and storage reservoirs. The stor- 

 age of water in reservoirs for long periods, without 

 doubt, causes a deterioration in the quality of the 

 water, generating a variety of animal and vegetable 

 forms that are characteristic of stagnant waters, and 

 which are dangerous to health. River water, on the con- 

 trary, if not contaminated directly near the source of 

 supply, is usually free from those impurities which are 

 most undesirable. 



On this point we refer our readers to " Science," 

 Vol. I. page 67, where will be found an analysis 

 of the water supply of Newark, N. J., obtained 

 from the river Passaic, contrasted with water used 

 in that city, obtained from driven wells. The 

 result showed that the water from the Passaic 

 river, although contaminated with sewage to a 

 certain extent, and below what may be consid- 

 ered a satisfactory condition, stood at the head of the 

 list in regard to purity and general fitness for sani- 

 tary purposes. We believe that recently Professor 

 Leeds, of Hoboken, has made analyses of the same 

 waters, with very similar results. 



But, from whatever source water may be obtained, a 

 certain amount of manipulation appears to be essen- 

 tial before it is fit for distribution in a city. In the 

 first place it should be held in a reservoir for 24 hours, 

 to permit the suspended matter to subside ; it should 

 go through some simple process of filtration; and, 

 lastly, be pumped to a sufficient elevation to secure a 

 supply of water to the upper part of every house in 

 the city. 



The question of the public filtration of water for 

 city use no doubt presents many difficulties, but until 

 such filtration is accomplished by the authorities, every 

 householder should make use of a filter, to cleanse 

 from impurities, the water used for drinking and cook- 

 ing purposes ; for apart from the question of health, 

 the interest of the public in securing pure water is 



