storage, a second dam was built above the first, forming a second reservoir of about 500,000 gallons capacity. Connections are provided whereby water may be drawn from either reservoir. The sides of the lower reservoir are rip-rapped with stone, while those of the upper reservoir are protected by concrete. The reservoirs are thoroughly cleaned each year and since this practice has been followed there has been little or no trouble from algæ.

The watershed tributary to the supply has an area of about one-half square mile. There are two families living on this area but the houses are well back from the streams. The total population is about 10 persons, an equivalent to 20 per square mile. Fourteen acres of land in the immediate vicinity of the reservoirs are owned by the village. This area is enclosed by a substantially constructed fence and no insanitary conditions were observed within the enclosure. Just above the land owned by the village, however, is pasture land in which cattle and live stock have free access to the streams tributary to the supply. It is apparent, therefore, that although no insanitary conditions were observed on the watershed causing direct contamination of the supply from human origin, there, is considerable direct pollution from cattle and live stock.

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 those of previous analyses are recorded in the appended table.

The results of these analyses show a water at times high in color and occasionally somewhat high in turbidity. The figures for nitrogen in its various forms are at times high as are also the figures for chlorine, thus indicating the presence of pollution. The bacterial counts are at times very high and colon bacilli are prevalent in the 10 c.c. inoculations, frequently present in 1 c.c. and occasionally in 1/10 c.c. inoculations, thus indicating the presence of active and potentially dangerous contamination.

As a result of this investigation it may be concluded that the water supply of Boonville is subject to pollution:

(a) Possibly, at times. of human origin from inhabitants and trespassers on the watershed.

(b) From cattle and live stock which have free access to the streams tributary to the supply.

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

1. That the matter of providing adequate purification of the supply by means of filtration, or filtration supplemented by chlorination be given careful consideration.

2. That pending the development of a complete purification plant, apparatus he installed with as little delay as possible for the purification of the supply with liquid chlorine and that this plant be carefully and effectively operated at all times in order to minimize the danger of contaminated water reaching the consumers.

The carrying out of recommendation No. 2 would render the supply comparatively safe from a sanitary standpoint, the cost would be but little and the chlorination plant could be used later in connection with any other method of purification developed. Chlorination alone, however, will not improve the physical qualities of the supply with respect to color and turbidity and for this reason careful consideration should be given. as recommended above, to the development of a complete and adequate purification plant. In the development of this complete purification plant. the village authorities should employ the services of a competent sanitary expert to make a study of the problem and advise them as to the proper procedure.

Respectfully submitted.

ALBANY, N. Y., January 8, 1917

THEODORE HORTON,
Chief Engineer

RESULTS OF WATER ANALYSES

BRASHER FALLS

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

I beg to submit the following report upon an inspection of the public water supply of Brasher Falls, made on May 1, 1917, by Mr. M. F. Sanborn, assistant engineer in this Department.

Brasher Falls is an unincorporated village with an estimated population of about 600, and is located in the northeastern part of St. Lawrence county, on the St. Regis river, and about 11⁄2 miles from Winthrop station on the Rutland railroad.

The village is not provided with a public sewer system, although there is a small private sewer serving a few houses, while the remaining houses are served by privies and cesspools.

The water supply is derived from the St. Regis river, just above the dam located at the village. The supply is used principally for fire purposes, but there are a convent, hotel and four houses connected with the system, although the water is not supposed to be used for drinking purposes. The supply was installed in 1907, after the design and under the direction of the Board of Water Commissioners of the Brasher Falls Water District. There is about one-fourth of a mile of 3-inch pipe, connected to which are 6 fire hydrants located in the lower part of the village. There are only 6 service taps, none of which are metered.

Water is pumped at the mill of the Brasher Falls Milling and Lighting Company from the flume leading to the water wheel of the mill. The pump is operated about four times a week, the water being stored in tanks located at the various places supplied. In case of fire the water is pumped directly into the mains.

The St. Regis river above Brasher Falls has a watershed of approximately 875 square miles upon which there is a resident population which may be estimated at 7,000, or 8 per square mile. The river receives sewage pollution at the various villages and hamlets located along its course and general pollution from surface run-off. The water is highly colored and is objectionable both from sanitary and æsthetic standpoints. An analysis of the river water collected above the village of Winthrop shows a colored and soft water free from turbidity. The total bacterial count is excessive and fecal organisms of the B. coli type were isolated from inoculations as small as 1 c.c., indicating active and potentially dangerous contamination.

In view of the above facts the following conclusions may be drawn:

1. That the water supply of Brasher Falls derived from the St. Regis river is unfit for domestic use.

2. That the entire waterworks system is inadequate and unsatisfactory for general public purposes.

I would, therefore, recommend:

1. That the village authorities consider the installation of a complete waterworks system sufficient to provide for the needs of the entire village for domestic purposes and for fire protection.

2. That before taking the steps recommended above the village retain a competent engineer to prepare plans for the development of an adequate water supply system derived from a source free from all possibilities of contamination.

3. That if the present supply is retained its use for drinking purposes be strictly avoided.

I would further recommend that copies of this report be transmitted to the local authorities and to the sanitary supervisor of the district.

Respectfully submitted,

ALBANY, N. Y., June 27, 1917

THEODORE HORTON,

Chief Engineer

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.

BROCKPORT

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

I beg to submit the following report upon an investigation of the sanitary condition of the public water supply of Brockport, made by Mr. C. M. Baker, assistant engineer, on August 1, 1917.

General information

A

Location.-Near western boundary of Monroe county. On Niagara Falls branch of N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R.

Population.-3368, practically all of which is served with the water. Source of supply.-Lake Ontario, at a point about 12 miles north of village. Consumption.-Average for year ending March 1, 1917-241,887 gallons daily, equivalent to 72 gallons per capita.

Distribution system.- Water is pumped from the lake through about 17 miles of mains ranging from 4 to 14 inches in diameter, excess going to a storage reservoir located in the southern part of the village.

Service taps. About 1,150, of which 800 or 900 are metered.

Pressure.-Eighty pounds per square inch.

Storage.— Distributing reservoir, 1,500,000 gallons.

Purification.— Coagulation and sedimentation, pressure mechanical filters and sterilization with liquid chlorine.

References to previous investigations.—1915, page 294, 36th Annual Report.

At the time of the preceding investigation it was pointed out that the water of Lake Ontario at the intake is subject to a small amount of intermittent contamination from the sewage of the city of Rochester, discharging into the lake through the Genesee river; also that the lake water is at times turbid. It was further pointed out that due to the lack of proper sedimentation satisfactory results were not being obtained by the process of purification.

In view of the above, the following recommendations were then made:

1. That, as recently advised by this Department, the shunt system of alum application be abandoned and measures taken for constantly applying the coagulant by means of a gravity feed apparatus.

2. That it would be advisable to consider the use of the present hypochlorite plant, if possible, for the application of the alum solution and the substitution of apparatus for applying liquid chlorine to the water instead of hypochlorite of lime.

These recommendations have since been completely carried out by the village, the old hypochlorite plant being converted into a plant for applying alum to the intake well and a Wallace & Tiernan chlorination apparatus installed for the sterilization of the supply with liquid chlorine.

Alum is applied in amounts ranging from .5 to 2.00 grains per gallon, the normal amount usually being .7 to .9 grains per gallon. Some difficulty was experienced, however, during the spring in securing proper sedimentation. The suction well is circular in plan, having a diameter of about 27 feet and a depth of water of about 32 feet. A wall through the center divides it into two sections, one for each of the pumps. Circular baffles are provided to assist in the proper distribution of the water. The total capacity of the suction well is about 137,000 gallons or the capacity of each compartment is 68.500 gallons. In normal operation only one pump is used, it having a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons daily. The detention period in the coagulating basin is therefore 1.6 hours. If, hower, a suitable gate were provided in the division wall by means of which the full capacity of the suction would be available for.sedimentation, this detention period could be doubled or made equivalent to 3.2 hours. The change undoubtedly would materially assist in obtaining proper sedimentation of the water.

The chlorine plant was installed and put into operation on May 2, 1917, and consists of a Wallace & Tiernan solution feed manual control chlorinator, the chlorine being applied into the suction line of the pump. No scales are provided to check the operation of the apparatus by the amount of chlorine actually applied. At the time of the inspection 8.2 seconds were required for one pulsation of the chlorine meter which, according to the operation chart, corresponds to 2.84 pounds per 24 hours or approximately .34 part per million of chlorine. No definite check, however, could he made upon this figure since, as pointed out above, no scales are provided, and a complete cylinder of chlorine had been used since the installation of the apparatus. If the total amount indicated, namely, .34 parts per million, was being applied. it seems probable that satisfactory sterilization would be obtained.

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 other analyses made since the previous investigation, are recorded in the appended table.

The results of analyses of samples collected in March, 1917. show a high bacterial count in both the raw and treated waters with colon bacilli present in 10 c.c. inoculations, thus indicating inefficient purification at that time. The results of analyses of the samples collected at the time of this investigation show high bacterial counts in all samples, which, however, may be largely due to after-growths in transit, since two days elapsed from the time the samples were collected until they were received at the laboratory. Colon bacilli were present in 10 c.c. inoculations of the raw water, of the effluent from the coagulation basin, and of the sample collected from a tap in the village: while the effluent from the coagulation basin after chlorination showed It is apparent from these results that effective purification is not at all times being obtained. As pointed out above, the rate of chlorine application as indicated by the chlorine meter at the time of the inspection should be sufficient to secure satisfactory sterilization. The analyses, however, do not bear out this conclusion. The unsatisfactory analytical results may, however, be due to the possibility that the amount of chlorine indicated by the apparatus was not actually being applied or to the existence of residual pollution which passed the plant at a time when a less amount of chlorine was being applied than at the time of the inspection.

no coli.