Samples of water collected from this well at the time of the inspection show a water high in color and turbidity, also a water with a very strong odor of hydrogen sulphide. The figures for nitrogen in the form of free and albuminoid ammonia and nitrates are high. Those for oxygen consumed are also high which, however, may be due in part to oxygen absorbed by the sulphides in the water. The figure for chlorine is excessively high and is probably due largely to mineral deposits. The hardness is low but the alkalinity is excessively high. While the bacterial counts are low, colon bacilli were found present in all three of the 10 c.c. inoculations thus indicating the presence of active and potentially dangerous contamination. Whether this pollution is due to the infiltration of water frem n ar the surface, along the pipe leading into the well or to pollution finding its way into the ground water tributary to the supply from some more remote source cannot be definitely stated, nevertheless in view of the above, this supply cannot be considered safe for domestic purposes. The shallow wells mentioned above are dug to a depth of 20 or 25 feet, are provided with only board covers and are equipped with chain pumps. One is located about 75 feet northwest of the house and the other about 60 feet east. The sewer from the house passes within a distance of about 75 feet from each of the wells. Due to the inadequate protection afforded by the board covers and the way in which the wells are developed, they probably receive considerable pollution from the surface. Furthermore, these wells may also be subject to pollution by sewage from nearby sewers or from Mr. Mayer's cesspool, which is about 300 feet above the wells. Analyses of water from these wells showed a high and variable chlorine content. The bacterial count in the water from the well northwest of the house was high and colon bacilli were found in all 3 of the 10 c.c. and 1 c.c. inoculations and in 1 of the three 1/10 c.c. inoculations, thus indicating the presence of active contamination. The sample collected from the well east of the house, however, showed a somewhat lower bacterial count with colon bacilli present only in 1 of the 10 c.c inoculations. In view of the above, the supply from these wells as now developed cannot be considered satisfactory for potable purposes. It is thus apparent that none of the sources of supply on the premises of Mr. Becker furnish a water of a satisfactory sanitary quality. It seems necessary, therefore, that: (a) The present supplies should be abandoned and a new supply developed from a satisfactory source, or, (b) That, providing the village of Altamont carry out our recommendations regarding improving the sanitary quality of this supply, this supply be used. Pending the carrying out of the recommendations of this Department by the village, the village supply could be rendered absolutely safe by boiling. Finally, it is apparent from this investigation that, with the exception of the water supplies of Mr. Becker, the others, by proper development, can be made to furnish water satisfactory for domestic purposes. It is evident, however, that none of the sources of supply on the premises of Mr. Becker are satisfactory and that a new supply should be developed from some other source in the vicinity free from pollution or that, subject to the improvements recommended in our recent report on the Altamont supply under date of December 27, 1917, the village supply be used. Respectfully submitted, THEODORE HORTON, ALBANY, N. Y., December 31, 1917 RESULTS OF WATER ANALYSES Abbreviations used to describe odors of water: 0, none; 1, very faint; 2, faint; 3, distinct; 4, decided; 5, strong; 6, very strong; a, aromatic; d, disagreeable; e, earthy; f, fishy; g, grassy; m, musty; v, vegetable Bacteria per c.c.; gelatin 20°, 48 hours BACTERIOLOGICAL 25 0+3-0+3-03 800+30+3~0+3— 500+30+30+3— 2753+01+20+3— 153+0—1+2—0+3— 1803+0-3+0—1+2— 30 1+20+3—0+3— ANDOVER HERMANN M. BIGGS, M.D., State Commissioner of Health: I beg to submit the following report on the public water supply of the village of Andover, Allegany county. An investigation of this supply was made on December 5, 1916, by Mr. M. F. Sanborn, assistant engineer, who was assisted at the time of the inspection by Dr. E. J. Laughlen, health officer of the village. Andover is an incorporated village in the southeastern part of Allegany county and about 15 miles southeast of Hornell. It is on a tributary of the Genesee river and on the Erie railroad. The population at the time of the inspection was estimated to be about 1,200. There is one public sewer which serves a small portion of the village. The remaining portions of the village are served by septic tanks, cesspools and privies. The water supply is owned by the village and is under the control of the board of trustees. The waterworks were constructed by contract in 1893. The water supply is obtained from several springs about 2 miles southwest of the village and from an auxiliary well supply at a local creamery. About 1,020, or 85 per cent. of the total population, are served by this supply. The average daily consumption was estimated to be 102,000 gallons. There are 61⁄2 miles of water mains varying from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. It is a gravity supply and the average pressure in the village is about 80 pounds per square inch. There are 250 houses in the village, of which 210 are served by this supply, and of these only 6 are metered. Hydrants are placed in various parts of the village for fire protection. The several springs from which the supply is obtained are located on the steep sides of a small brook. Water from these springs is collected in small spring chambers and conveyed to a main spring house from whence it flows through the pipe line to the village. Surplus water passes through the mains to the reservoir in the eastern part of the village or overflows at the spring house. The main spring chamber is about 12 feet in diameter and 8 feet deep. The reservoir which is located on a hill in the eastern part of the village is about 75 feet in diameter and 11 feet deep. This reservoir is open and has a capacity of about 300,000 gallons. It is provided by the village to construct a new reservoir in the spring at a somewhat higher elevation, so that the pressure from' the new reservoir will be about 100 lbs. per square inch. The proposed new reservoir is to be about 52 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, and have a capacity of 300,000 gallons. The present reservoir is said to be cleaned out twice a year and the street mains are flushed qut five times a year. Cattle are pastured around the springs and some surface water may find its way into the spring chambers. There is one farm house on the watershed of the brook above the springs. The land adjacent to the springs and brook is very hilly and rocky. The brook above the springs has a watershed of about one-half square mile. The creamery at which the auxiliary well supply is obtained is located in the western part of the village. The well is 8 inches in diameter and 205 feet deep. It was driven through 20 feet of gravel, 20 feet of clay, 20 feet of shale and the remaining distance through hard rock. An 8-inch casing extends from the surface to the hard rock. This supply is used only a short time each year during the dry season. The pumping station for the well is located in the creamery and the water is raised by an air lift from the well and is then pumped by the creamery pump into the village mains. There are about 6 houses within 500 feet of the creamery and 12 within 1,000 feet of the creamery. Most of the houses near the creamery are small and have outside privies. Some of the privies were in rather insanitary condition and drainage from many of them passes into the ground. At the time of the inspection samples of water were collected from the spring supply and from the well supply and the analyses of these samples together with those previously made by the division of laboratories and research will be found in the appended table. The analysis of the sample from the spring supply collected at the time of the inspection shows a water clear, colorless and moderately soft. The figures for nitrogen in its various forms are comparatively low with the exception of that for nitrates. The somewhat high figure for nitrates indicates a small amount of organic pollution of vegetable or animal origin, rendered inactive, however, by natural processes of purification. The total bacterial count is low and organisms of the B. coli type were not found in any of the inoculations tested. The analysis of the sample from the well supply shows a clear and colorless water with a high potassium or sodium, alkalinity. At the time of collection a slight odor of hydrogen sulphide was noticed and the high figures for free ammonia and chlorine taken in conjunction with this occurrence of hydrogen sulphide and high temporary hardness indicate a somewhat mineralized water. The total bacterial count is low and organisms of the B. coli type were not found in the inoculations tested. In view of the location of the well in a populated district with leaching privies in the vicinity it is possible that samples from this well taken under different hydraulic conditions of the ground water might show active contamination. The samples collected prior to the inspection were apparently from the spring supply. The analyses of these samples show varying figures for nitrogen, chlorine and oxygen consumed. At times the supply has been colored and turbid with high bacterial counts and organisms of the B. coli type in inoculations as small as 1/10 c.c., these results indicating that the supply has received active contamination by surface wash from adjacent pastures. As a result of this investigation and of the analyses the following conclusions may be drawn. 1. That the springs from which the regular water supply of the village of Andover is obtained should furnish a water of satisfactory sanitary and physical quality if properly protected from surface wash and contamination by cattle. 2. That the auxiliary well is unsatisfactorily located with respect to proximity to potential sources of contamination and, furthermore, the water is of a somewhat undesirable physical quality due to its mineralization. In view of the above conclusions, I would make the following recommendations: 1. That the village authorities construct a wire fence around the area upon which the springs are located and divert surface wash therefrom by means of adequate and proper drainage ditches. 2. That, in view of its unsatisfactory location, the village consider the abandonment of the auxiliary well supply and the further development of the spring supply or the development of some other satisfactory supply to be used as needed. In conclusion, I would further recommend that copies of this report be transmitted to the local authorities and to the sanitary supervisor of the district. ALBANY, N. Y., March 28, 1917 Respectfully submitted, THEODORE HORTON, Results are expressed in parts per million. + Present. Absent. Abbreviations used to describe odors of water; 0, none; 1, very faint; 2, faint; 3, distinct; 4, decided; 5, strong; 6, very strong; a, aromatic; d, disagreeable; e, earthy; f, fishy; g, grassy; m, musty; v, vegetable. Results are expressed in parts per million. Abbreviations used to describe odors of water; 0, none; 1, very faint; 2, faint; 3, distinct; 4, decided; 5, strong; 6, very strong; a, aromatic; d, disagreeable; e, earthy; f, fishy; g, grassy; m, musty; v, vegetable. * Slight H2S odor at time of collecting sample. ANGELICA HERMANN M. BIGGS, M.D., State Commissioner of Health: I beg to submit the following report upon an investigation of the public water supply of the village of Angelica, made on April 5, 1917, by Mr. E. S. Chase, assistant engineer. |