[1 Published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 4, No. 3, June, 1907.]
Before the practice of raking was finally adopted as a part of the routine filter operation, the subject was given a great deal of thought and study, as may be seen by referring to Mr. Longley's discussion.
The re‑sanding has been done by the hydraulic method, for nearly two years, and, as far as the writer is able to judge, this method has been more economical and also more satisfactory in every way than the old one. As Mr. Hazen states, this does not prove that the hydraulic method would be as satisfactory for other filter plants and other grades of sand. The elevated sand bins at the Washington plant fit in well with this scheme, and save the expense of one shoveling of the sand; and the low uniformity coefficient of the sand is favorable in decreasing its tendency to separate into pockets or strata of coarse and fine sand. The method of washing is also well adapted to this method of re‑sanding, as the sand is made very clean in its passage through the washers and storage bins. The hydraulic method of replacing sand tends to make it cleaner still, because any clay which may be left in the sand is constantly being carried away over the weir and out of the bed, to the sewer. Sand replaced by the hydraulic method is much more compact than when replaced by other methods, and consequently the depth of penetration of mud in a filter thus re‑sanded is less. Careful tests of the effluents from filters which have been re‑sanded by the two methods have invariably shown the superiority of the hydraulic method.
The experiment of replacing sand by water, referred to by Mr. Longley, was not considered a success at the time, and the method was abandoned for about a year. At that time an attempt was made to complete the re‑sanding of a filter which had been nearly completed by the old method. The precaution of filling the filter with water was not taken, nor was any special device used for distributing the sand. When this method was again taken up, various experiments were tried before the present method was adopted.
Mr. Whipple's remarks on the results from the operation of filters under winter conditions are very interesting, and, considering his standing as an authority in such matters, they are worth careful consideration.
In the operation of the Washington plant, it has always been noticeable that the results were much poorer in winter than in summer. In fact, nearly all the unsatisfactory water which has been delivered to the city mains has been supplied during the winter months. On the other hand, the typhoid death rate has always been comparatively low in cold weather. These facts would seem to indicate that the water supply was not responsible for the typhoid conditions.