HH62/1/M-LOTH/23

Transcription

[Page] 22

questions can be answered in the affirmative, for we
at least have examples pointing so far to both being
possible.

If it were not for the bing drainage and the surface
drainage (entering, as a rule, when streams are in
flood, and therefore less harmful), such a work as
Champfleurie, near Linlithgow (which, by the way, is
out of the district of the present inquiry), shows us
there is no need to pass dirty water from a work.

Again, we have in Addiewell an example of what
can be done by care, watchfulness, and a sufficient
number of good separators, in keeping a large effluent
from appreciably polluting the streams into which it
flows. The effluent from Addiewell Works, by an
order of the Court of Session made some fourteen
years ago, must be of a certain standard of purity.
This standard, which has been kindly forwarded me
by Mr. Fyfe, managing director, is as follows:-

'The discharge into the Breich Water and the Longhill Burn
shall, on analysis and calculation, to the imperial gallon not exceed
the following proportions:-

[Table inserted]

[Page] 23

I drank the water of Longhill Burn, into which
Addiewell effluent flows, and failed to find any smell
with it, or unpalatable taste. What is done in this
respect at Addiewell can undoubtedly be done at
other works.
I am therefore of opinion that, if the 'best practi-
cable and reasonably available means' be employed
to prevent pollution from paraffin oil works, they shall
prove successful.

POLLUTION FROM IRONSTONE MINING.
There are two classes of water from ironstone
workings:-
(1) Water pumped from the mine, which comes
up either almost perfectly clear, as at
Addie's No. 3 Pit in Lanarkshire, or with
a muddy like appearance, as at Crofthead
Pit, where it has already, before pumping,
been subjected to conditions favouring
precipitation of some of its iron which
appears in suspension.
(2) Refuse bing soakage, which is not very large
in quantity, but extremely rich in iron
salts, and very acid in reaction.
The first class (1), or pumped water, is highly
charged with ferrous salts. On exposure to air and
motion, iron is precipitated partly as a carbonate and
partly as a hydrated oxide, the water assumes an
ochry hue, and the irony deposit coats the stones and
bottom of the river all along its course. The water
of the other class (2), or bing soakage, is clear, and
of a rich mahogany tint, and holds its iron almost
wholly in solution, and mainly as ferric salts.
I made a number of experiments with these waters
to find some easy method of purifying them.