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Writer's pictureScott Britton

UV Disinfection as Early as The Civil War

Updated: Nov 24, 2023




The Following is historical fiction but the science is factual.


During times of War in America, ensuring clean water for troops on the march was a critical task. One mostly true story that showcases the ingenuity and determination of soldiers took place on the battlefields of the Civil War.


In the midst of the conflict, General Ulsses S Grant, a key commander for the Union Army, faced numerous challenges, one of which was providing clean and safe drinking water for his troops as they advanced through the rugged terrian of Appalachia (Battle of Antietam in Maryland, for example) and multiple other states like Virginia, Tennessee and Mississippi.




With limited resources and a constant need for mobility, General Grant devised a unique strategy to sterilize water on the march. He appointed a group of skilled medics, who became known as the "Water Pioneers" whose job it was to make sure that troops had access to clean water.


The Water Pioneers developed a system using a combination of boiling, filtration, and chemical treatment to purify water sources found along their route. They carried potable water filtration units. which were made from a combination of cloth, charcoal, and sand, to remove humics and sediment from the water.




To sterilize the water, they utilized a technique known as "solar disinfection." During daylight hours. the filled clear glass bottles with contaminated water and placed them in direct sunlight for several hours. The heat and ultraviolet rays, from the sun effectively killed the harmful bacteria and pathogens present in the water, making it safe for consumption.


This innovative method allowed General Grant's troops to have access to clean drinking water even in the most challenging and remote locations. The Water Pioneers played a crucial role in ensuring that the malnurished men often fighting infections from their wounds at least were prevented form waterborne diseases and maintained their fighting strength.




Through their dedication and resourcefullness, the Water Pioneers not only helped General Grant's troops survive but also set a precendent for future military campaigns, highlighting the importance of clean water in times of war.


Note: For this story I was unable to determine exactly who was responsible for the "Water Pioneers" of the Civil War, it may have been General Grant himself, or it seems more likely it would have been someone under his command. It is unclear from the records who exactly was responsible for disinfecting the drinking water for troops. Therefore, I took some liberty to attribute this to General Grant, rationizing that in any case, clean water most certainly would have been the "Commanders intent." I was able to find three individuls who most certainly wer involved with Water Treatment during the War effort.


These were:


Montgomery C Meigs, QuarterMaster of the Union Army. Also Charles Suter was a Civil Enginner in the Union Army at the time and he most certianly would have had input on the matter. Lastly, George Waring J. was a Sanitary Enginner in the Union Army at the time, who went onto make immense contributiions in the field of water treatment, for instance,the separation of black water from brown water in sewer drainage and disposal is attributed to his designs.



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