FORESTPORT

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 Forestport, made by Mr. C. M. Baker, assistant engineer, on October 24, 1916.

Forestport is an incorporated village of 505 inhabitants, located in Oneida county, on the Adirondack Division of the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R., 30 miles north of Utica. The village proper, however, is about 11⁄2 miles northwest of the railroad station, near a dam forming a reservoir on Black river, which provides storage for a Black river canal feeder. There are three private sewer systems in the village, each serving 10 or 12 families. They discharge without treatment into the Black river.

The water supply is owned by the village and was put into operation in 1903 or 1904. Since the original installation some 3,000 feet of tile pipe across a swampy area has been replaced with wooden pipe, due to clogging of the tile with roots, etc. The only other improvements have consisted of extensions to the distribution system.

The supply is derived from an impounding reservoir formed by a small dam across Crystal creek, about three miles northeast of the village. From the impounding reservoir the water flows by gravity to the village and through the distribution system into an equalizing reservoir. About 75 per cent of the population is served with the water, there being in all 140 service taps, none of which are metered. The mains consist of 34 miles of 4 and 8-inch pipe. The pressure in the village averages approximately 52 pounds per square inch. The dam which forms the impounding reservoir is constructed of concrete. This reservoir is of irregular area and no definite figures were available regarding its capacity. It probably provided, however, for about 750,000 gallons storage. The equalizing reservoir into which the water flows from the impounding reservoir is located about one-half mile southeast of the village on a hill. It is constructed of concrete and is 80 by 100 feet in plan by 12 feet deep, thus having a capacity of 720,000 gallons. This reservoir is adequately protected from surface wash, and although uncovered it is protected from trespassers by a woven wire fence placed 8 or 10 feet from its edge.

The watershed tributary to the supply which is uninhabited and mostly wooded is slightly over 1 square mile in area. Most of it is owned by the State, but can now be purchased, since it is not a part of the forest reserve. The watershed consists of gently sloping land, and the stream is fed to a considerable extent by springs. No insanitary conditions were observed at the time of the inspection, and it is apparent that the supply is subject to only accidental, incidental or wilful pollution by trespassers on the watershed. 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 that is at times somewhat colored, but one that is low in turbidity and only moderately hard. The figures for nitrogen in its various forms are low, as are also the figures for chlorine. The bacterial counts are comparatively low for a surface supply and colon bacilli are found present only occasionally in 10 c.c. inoculations, thus indicating the presence of only a small amount of contamination, which is probably of animal rather than of human origin.

As a result of this investigation it may be concluded that the water supply of Forestport is obtained from a source which, in its present state, is subject to only accidental, incidental or wilful contamination, due to trespassers on the watershed. If, however, a portion of the watershed tributary to the supply should be purchased by private individuals conditions might develop which would constitute a menace to the supply.

In view of the above it seems advisable to offer the following recommendations to be acted upon by the village authorities:

1. That the advisability of purchasing at least that portion of the watershed in the immediate vicinity of the streams tributary to the supply, in order to adequately protect it from pollution, due to future development, be seriously considered.

2. That, to protect the supply from possible pollution, due either to future developments on the watershed or to the presence of trespassers thereon, application be made to this Department for the enactment of rules and regulations for the protection from contamination of the supply. Respectfully submitted,

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.

FRANKLINVILLE

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 Franklinville, made by Mr. C. M. Baker, assistant engineer, on September 5, 1917.

Franklinville is an incorporated village of 2,065 inhabitants, located in Cattaraugus county, on the Olean-Buffalo Division of the Pennsylvania railroad, about 4 miles southeast of Buffalo. It is on Ischua creek, a tributary to Olean creek and the Allegheny river. The village is provided with a municipal sewerage system and disposal plant.

The water supply is owned by the municipality and controlled by the board of trustees. It was first installed in 1890. Since the original installation, however, wells and a pumping station have been constructed and put into operation as an auxiliary supply. The regular supply is obtained from two groups of springs, one located 2 miles east and the other 6 miles southeast

of the village. The water flows from the springs to the village by gravity, the excess going to a storage reservoir on a hill just east of the village. The well water is pumped directly into the distribution system. Practically all of the inhabitants of the village are served with the water, there being in all some 500 service taps, only a few of which are metered. The average pressure in the village is approximately 75 pounds per square inch. Little definite information could be obtained regarding the consumption, but roughly estimating from the pump records and the yield of the springs, the maximum daily consumption is approximately 300,000 gallons.

The reservoir is located on a hill, about 11⁄2 miles northeast of the village and is constructed by excavation and embankment, the sides and bottom being protected by riprap. The bottom of the reservoir is 72 feet square and the top 100 feet square, its depth is about 13 feet, and its capacity about 700,000 gallons.

The reservoir is protected by a woven wire fence topped with barbed wire, the fence being about 8 feet high. The pumping station is located near the wells, about 1 mile north of the village. It consists of a brick building, in which are located two Smith-Vail triplex double acting pumps, each with a rated capacity of 500 gallons per minute. These pumps are driven by two 35 horse power direct connected motors.

One spring, known as the Gage spring, is located in pasture land about 2 miles west of the village. The spring is protected by a masonry curb about 3 by 10 feet in plan. It is covered by loose boards held in place by stones laid on them. Drainage ditches are provided to divert surface wash, but no land is owned about the spring by the village, nor is a fence provided to prevent access to the immediate vicinity of the spring.

The second group of springs, known as the Scott springs, are located about 6 miles southeast of the village. About 2 acres of land are owned about these springs and this area is enclosed by a fence. Within this area there are several springs which are developed in a similar manner to the Gage spring. They are doubtless subject to surface wash to some extent, since adequate drainage ditches are not provided in all cases. The area about the spring is used as pasture land. There are, however, no buildings in the vicinity and there appears to be no opportunity for pollution of human origin except accidental, incidental or wilful pollution, due to visitors or trespassers in the vicinity.

The wells, three in number, were constructed by sinking 10-inch casings to a depth of about 15 feet, and then within these casings sinking 8-inch pipes to a depth of about 23 feet, the lower end of the inside piping being provided with small openings to admit the water. The space between the two casings is packed to prevent surface wash from finding its way directly into the supply. The stratum consists of a gravelly loam to a depth of about 23 feet, where an impervious clay stratum is encountered. The water is obtained just above the clay. One acre of land is owned by the village about the wells, but this area is not enclosed by a fence. The nearest house, however, is about one-fourth mile distant.

Due to the lack of containers samples of the water could not be collected at the time of the inspection. They were collected later, however, by Dr. C. L. Randall, health officer, 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 satisfactory in physical qualities with respect to color and turbidity, but a water that is somewhat high in hardness. The figures for nitrogen in the form of free and albuminoid ammonia and nitrites are moderate, but those for nitrates and chlorine appear to be at times above normal. The bacterial counts are at times high which, however, may be due, in part, to delays in transit because of the uncertain express connections between the village and the laboratory. Colon bacilli are occasionally found in 10 c.c. dilutions. thus indicating the presence of some active contamination, caused probably by surface wash finding its way, either directly or by rapid infiltration through the soil into the springs.

As a result of this investigation, it may be concluded that the public water supply of Franklinville is obtained from sources which if at all times properly

protected should furnish a satisfactory supply. It appears, however, that the springs should be more adequately developed in order to protect them at all times from pollution by surface wash.

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

1. That a suitable area about the Gage spring be enclosed by a substantially constructed fence to prevent access of live stock to its immediate vicinity. Furthermore, that a more suitable cover equipped with a lock be provided for this spring.

2. That the Scott springs be more adequately protected by drainage ditches, and that they also be provided with suitable covers and locks. Finally, I would recommend that copies of this report be sent to the various local officials and to sanitary supervisor of the district.

Respectfully submitted,

ALBANY, N. Y., December 18, 1917

THEODORE HORTON,
Chief Engineer

RESULTS OF WATER ANALYSES

BACTERIOLOGICAL