This is what your drinking water looks like when it arrives at the water purification plant, at Eagle and Spruce Streets. Unattractive, isn't it? N. Saune, a plant worker, skims debris off the top. First, it remains in what are called grit basins for between eight and 10 hours while sand and dirt settle out. It is piped next to the mixing basins, where suspension of lime is added to make it soft. Still later in the process, it gets a dose of ferrous sulfate, to take out the clay and clarify it. Then the water flows into other settling basins.

Photo is dated 1948.

Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches.