History of the Water Supply of the World / arranged in a comprehensive form from eminent authorities, containing a description of the various methods of water supply, pollution and purification of waters, and sanitary effects, with analyses of potable waters, also geology and water strata of Hamilton county, Ohio, statistics of the Ohio river, proposed water supply of Cincinnati.

by Thomas J. Bell

On the 29th of April, 1871, the Trustees of Water-Works, in response to the Council, submitted a report to them upon the necessity of a new water supply. On the ensuing 9th of June, the Council ordered that a competent engineer be employed to examine sites, and report upon the most suitable location for water-works, with plans, estimates of cost, etc. Mr. T. R. Scowden was accordingly appointed; and, on the 9th of September of the same year, he submitted a supplemental report, recommending, in the highest terms, the “Markley Farm” site. Upon his recommendation, the property was purchased for the sum of $22,321.50, consisting of 146 acres, with a river frontage of 2,000 feet. The principal points upon which the recommendation was based were:

“The site known as Markley Farm is a point where the water of the Ohio River is deep and free from drainage or any other vitiating influence to affect its quality, perhaps for a century to come, if ever. The shore is bold, and, with the bed of the river, is of gravel and rock formation, washed clean by an active current at all seasons of the year. Pumping works may be located at this point without any objectionable and expensive inlet-pipe; while the adjacent hills afford an excellent site for a storage reservoir, 307 feet above extreme low water, and 75 feet above the Garden of Eden Reservoir. On the lower level there is a fine plateau for locating, not only the pumping house, but subsiding reservoirs and filtering basins.

“The force-main extending from the pump house to the storage reservoir will be short, or about 1,450 feet long, whereas, works located on the second site, or any other sites examined, would require force mains several thousand feet in length. By the first site, water from the river would be lifted by the pumps and forced to the reservoir with the least amount of power, friction, and expense of fuel to do the work. This site also commands an excellent and safe landing for boats supplying the works with coal.

“The analyses of waters lately taken at the Water-Works and at the Markley Farm clearly indicate the superior quality, purity, and healthfulness of the latter.

“It has been suggested that the offal from one or more distilleries, said to be in operation at New Richmond, some ten miles above the Markley Farm, would leave its taint in the water reaching the latter point. My answer is, that in this case the river, so slightly affected at New Richmond, and flowing ten miles to reach the Markley Farm, would, from agitation and dilution, and from the well-known self-purifying property of water, become pure.”

Regarding the other sites surveyed he said:

“The second, but objectionable, site for water-works was found some three miles above the Garden of Eden reservoir, and about the same distance below the mouth and offensive discharge of the Little Miami River. This location, although favorable in many respects, intercepts the drainage of the upper portion of the city, and all of that from the Miami Valley emptied into the Ohio River, which renders that site wholly inadmissible for water-works purposes.

“The valley of the Miami forms a water-shed of several hundred square miles in area. Upon the surface of this vast plain is deposited the dead carcasses of animals, and the droppings from cattle of all kinds. The ground is covered with decayed vegetable matter, and the soaking of stable-yards, hog-pens, slaughter-houses, distilleries, stagnant pools, etc. The refuse is washed off by rain storms into the Miami, which is the common receptacle, and thence into the Ohio River.

“It is only necessary, first, to disease the water, then disease the man; and it is clear, therefore, that water-works located below the Miami would, by wholesale pollution, disease the whole community.

“There is no city in the civilized world so regardless of the cleanliness and health of its citizens as to adopt a plan of water supply to foist upon them the concentrated filth from sewerage and the impurities of a stream, the water of which is only fit for mill-power, manufacturing purposes, and for cattle to drink; and I did not think that Cincinnati was emulous of setting the example.