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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

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ARGYLE

HERMANN M. BIGGS, M.D., State Commissioner of Health:

I beg to submit the following report on an investigation of the public water supply of Argyle made by Mr. C. M. Baker, assistant engineer, on November 3, 1916.

Argyle is an incorporated village of 223 inhabitants, according to the 1915 census, located in Washington county, about 6 miles southeast of Fort Edward, the nearest railroad station. No sewer system is provided in the village, the houses being served by privies, cesspools, etc.

The water supply is obtained from Summit lake, a small body of water located about 2 miles southeast of the village. From the lake the water flows by gravity to a distribution reservoir near the village from whence it is distributed by gravity to the consumers. No purification is provided. The supply is owned by the municipality and was first put into operation in 1914. About 25 per cent of the population are now served with the water, there being in all 39 service taps, none of which are metered. The pressure in the village is about 75 pounds per square inch. There are in all about 31⁄2 miles of mains ranging in size from 4 inches to 6 inches in diameter. Since no meters nor other methods of measuring the water used are available, no definite information could be obtained regarding the consumption, but based upon a per capita rate of 100 gallons daily the present consumption would be 5,000 or 6,000 gallons per day.

The intake pipe extends 40 to 50 feet into the lake to a point where the depth of the water is 15 or 20 feet. This intake is protected by a screen. From the intake the main passes through a tunnel, constructed by the Washington County Alms House and through which a pipe furnishing their supply also passes to the reservoir. The reservoir is constructed of concrete, covered, and is about 30 feet square by 9 feet deep, thus having a capacity of 60,000 gallons. The size of the pipe from the lake to the reservoir is 4 inches and that from the reservoir to the village 6 inches.

The watershed tributary to the lake has an area slightly over 1 square mile and the area of the lake itself about .2 square mile. There are 7 or 8 houses on the watershed which are permanently occupied, thus corresponding to a population of 35 or 40 persons. There are, however, about an equal number of cottages which are occupied during the summer, making the summer population practically double the resident. The watershed is precipitous and is used principally for agricultural purposes. The lake is fed largely by springs, there being no visible inlet except a small stream entering near the outlet.

Two of the farms or permanent residences mentioned above are located on the shores of the lake as are also all of the summer cottages. The following places were observed where it seems quite probable that direct pollution at times finds its way into the water:

1. A summer cottage on the north shore of the lake one-eighth of a mile from the lake, is about 200 feet from the water's edge, the privy, however, is about 250 feet distant.

2. At a farm on the north shore of the lake one-fourth of a mile from the intake, the privy is 180 feet from the water's edge, the pig-pen and barnyard extend to the water and the barn is about 100 feet distant. Considerable garbage was noticed on the edge of the lake at this place.

3. At a group of 5 or 6 summer cottages, located on the south shore of the lake about three-eighths of a mile from the intake, the privies are 25 to 200 feet from the water's edge and are provided with ordinary earth vaults only.

4. At a farm on the south shore of the lake one-half mile from the intake, the barn is about 200 feet from the lake shore and the privy 250 or 300 feet distant.

Due to the number of summer cottages upon the shores of the lake there is undoubtedly more or less bathing in the water and there is also considerable fishing and boating in and on the lake.

Samples of the water were collected at the time of the inspection and sent to the Division of Laboratories and Research for analyses, the results of which are recorded in the appended table.

The results of these analyses show a water satisfactory in physical qualities with respect to color and turbidity but a water that is high in hardness. The figures for nitrogen in the form of albuminoid ammonia and nitrates are high as is also the figure for chlorine, thus indicating that considerable pollution finds its way into the water. The bacterial counts were low,

however, and colon bacilli were not found present.

It is impossible, however, to accurately judge the character of the water from a single analysis. In fact it is quite probable that, under different conditions, particularly during the summer when the lake is used extensively by the summer residents, considerable contamination finds its way into the water supply, and it, therefore, cannot be considered safe for potable purposes without purification. While the enforcement of rigid sanitary regulations along the shores of the lake would considerably improve conditions they cannot be depended upon to render the supply entirely satisfactory since there is always danger of accidental, incidental or wilful pollution from the residents and visitors upon the watershed.

As a result of this investigation it may be concluded that the water supply of Argyle is derived from a source which is subject to considerable pollution and the supply in its present state cannot be considered safe for potable purposes.

In view of the above, I beg to offer the following recommendations to be acted upon by the village authorities:

1. That careful regulations of the sanitary conditions about the lake shore be at all times maintained and that, should the village encounter any difficulty in maintaining such conditions, application be made to this Department for the enactment of rules and regulations protecting the sanitary quality of the supply.

2. That purification of the supply be provided by the installation of a slow sand filter or other equivalent method.

The slow sand filter recommended above could doubtless be located near the reservoir and it does not seem that the cost, either of construction or operation, would cause any undue burden upon the municipality. In any event some method of purification should be provided in order to render the water satisfactory for potable purposes.

Respectfully submitted,

THEODORE HORTON,
Chief Engineer

ALBANY, N. Y., January 27, 1917

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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.

ARKPORT

HERMANN M. BIGGS, M.D., State Commissioner of Health:

I beg to submit the following report on an investigation of the public water supply of Arkport made by Mr. C. M. Baker, assistant engineer, on September 10, 1917.

Arkport is an incorporated village of 538 inhabitants, located in the western part of Steuben county on the Buffalo Division of the Erie railroad, and the Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern Railroad, about 5 miles northwest of Hornell. It is in the valley of Canisteo river. No sewer system is provided, the houses being served by privies, cesspools, etc.

The supply is owned by the municipality and controlled by the board of trustees. It was first put into operation in 1914 and is derived from Lime Kiln creek, at a point about one-half mile northeast of the village. From the intake the water flows to a storage and distributing reservoir, thence by gravity to the distributing system. About 80 per cent of the population of the village is supplied with the water, there being in all about 100 service taps, only 1 or 2 of which are metered. The distribution system consists of about 21⁄2 miles of mains ranging from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Due to the lack of meters or other methods of measuring the water used, no definite information could be obtained regarding the consumption. The pressure in the village averages about 55 pounds per square inch.

At the intake a small reservoir is formed by the construction of a concrete dam, 35 feet long and 2 to 5 feet high across the stream. At the side of the reservoir thus formed, is a concrete intake basin into which there is an opening from the stream protected by a quarter-inch mesh screen. Near the upper end of the reservoir is a second dam constructed of logs to prevent the lower part from filling with stones, gravel, etc. From the intake the water flows by gravity to the storage and distributing reservoir located nearby. This reservoir is an uncovered concrete basin, 70 feet in diameter by 10 feet deep and has a capacity of about 300,000 gallons.

The watershed tributary to the supply is 4 or 5 square miles in area and has a total population of about 20 persons equivalent to 4 or 5 per square

mile. The area consists of a narrow valley formed by hills 300 or 400 feet high. The sides of the hills are very steep. A large portion of the watershed, probably 75 per cent, and particularly that portion in the immediate vicinity of the stream, is heavily wooded. The soil is mostly gravel.

There are 5 occupied and 3 unoccupied houses on the watershed and it is probable that 2 of the latter will never be occupied again. One of the occupied houses about 2 miles above the intake is located at the top of a steep bank draining toward the stream, about 300 feet distant. The privy was formerly located at the top of this bank but has now been moved so that there is little danger of direct pollution from this source. A second house about one-half mile above the intake is located about 250 feet from the stream at the top of a steep bank. The topography is such, however, that the drainage from the vicinity of the buildings is probably away from the stream. The remainder of the houses on the watershed are located from oneeighth to one-quarter mile back from the stream and there appears to be little opportunity for direct pollution from them.

Rules and regulations for the protection of the sanitary quality of the supply were enacted by this Department in 1915 and may be found on page 744, volume 2 of the 36th Annual Report. While rigid enforcement of these rules will probably prevent direct pollution of the supply under normal conditions there is always considerable danger of accidental, incidental or wilful pollution from the inhabitants on the watershed and visitors thereto, which might, under certain conditions, cause infection of the supply.

Samples of the water were collected at the time of the inspection and sent to the Division of Laboratories and Research for analyses, the results of which together with previous analyses are recorded in the appended table.

The results of these analyses show a water satisfactory in physical qualities with respect to color and turbidity at the time the samples were collected, but a water high in hardness. It is possible, however, that the water is at times turbid since the period of detention in the reservoir is probably insufficient to completely remove the turbidity at times of high water. The figures for nitrogen in its various forms are moderate but those for chlorine are somewhat above normal. The bacterial counts are moderate for a surface supply but colon bacilli are found present in 10 c.c. inoculations thus indicating some active contamination.

As a result of this investigation it may be concluded that although the public water supply of Arkport is derived from a source free from direct sources of pollution, it is subject to accidental, incidental or wilful pollution from inhabitants on the watershed tributary to the supply.

In view of the above I beg to offer the following recommendations to be acted upon by the village officials:

1. That consideration be given to the installation of a purification plant consisting of filters and supplementary sterilization with liquid chlorine.

2. That, however, in order to render the supply safe at all times for potable purposes, pending the installation of a complete purification plant, apparatus be provided and the water be sterilized with liquid chlorine.

While sterilization of the water with liquid chlorine will not improve its physical qualities, it will, provided the apparatus is properly operated, render the supply safe for potable purposes. Apparatus for this purpose could be installed and operated at a nominal cost.

Finally I would recommend that copies of this report be sent to the various local officials and to the sanitary supervisor of the district.

Respectfully submitted,

ALBANY, N. Y., December 28, 1917

THEODORE HORTON,
Chief Engineer

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