EFFECT OF MUD UPON BACTERIAL EFFICIENCY OF FILTERS.
The question is naturally raised as to whether or not the presence of large quantities of mud in the raw water will not seriously interfere with the bacterial efficiency of filters. Experiments at Cincinnati and Pittsburg have given most conclusive and satisfactory information upon this point. Up to the point where the effluents become quite turbid, the mud in the raw water has no influence upon the bacterial efficiency; and even somewhat beyond this point, with effluents so turbid that they would hardly be suitable for the purpose of a public water-supply, the bacterial efficiency remains substantially equal to that obtained with the clearest waters. Only in the case of excessive quantities of mud, where, for other reasons, sand filters can hardly be considered applicable, is there a moderate reduction in bacterial efficiency. As mentioned above, particles constituting turbidity are often much smaller than the bacteria, and in addition, the bacteria probably have an adhesive power far in excess of that of the clay particles. For these reasons clay particles are able to pass filters under conditions which almost entirely prevent the passage of bacteria.
On the other hand, it does not necessarily follow that the removal of turbidity is accompanied by high bacterial efficiency. Although this is often the case, there are marked exceptions, particularly in connection with the use of coagulants, where very good clarification is obtained, and notwithstanding this, effluents are produced containing comparatively large numbers of bacteria.