Absent.

Results are expressed in parts per million. + Present. 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.

WORCESTER

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 the village of Worcester, Otsego county. An investigation of this supply was made on November 22, 1916, by Mr. M. F. Sanborn, assistant engineer, who was assisted at the time of the inspection by Mr. Frank E. Rockfellow, superintendent of the water company.

Worcester is an unincorporated village in the town of Worcester, in the eastern part of Otsego county. It is about 20 miles northeast of Oneonta, and is on the Susquehanna river, and the D. & H. R. R. The population at the time of the inspection was estimated to be about 1,300.

A private sewer which discharges into a creek tributary to the Susquehanna serves two hotels, two stores, the depot and five residences. The remaining portion of the village is served largely by septic tanks, cesspools and privies.

The water supply is controlled by the Worcester Water Company, of which Mr. George I. Wilber of Oneonta, is president. The waterworks were designed and constructed by contract, under the direction of Mr. J. Cowan, civil engineer, in 1888.

The water supply is obtained by gravity from Caryl lake, about one mile northwest of the village. The lake is at an elevation of about 400 feet above the village, and two reducers are installed in the pipe line, by which the pressure in the village is maintained at about 90 pounds per square inch. Twenty-two hydrants are placed in various parts of the village for fire protection. There are about 7 miles of water mains, varying from 4 to 10 inches in diameter. There are about 250 houses in the village, of which about 225 are connected with this supply. Thus about 90 per cent or 1170 of the inhabitants are served by the supply.

In developing the supply the water level in the lake was raised about 2 feet by the construction of a small dam. The intake is several feet under water, and about 75 feet from shore. The lake is said to have an area of about 40 acres, and an average depth of about 20 feet.

The lake has a watershed of about .16 of a square mile. There are two cottages on the lake, which are used only during the summer, one of these cottages is located a short distance from the intake, and the privy is subject to overflow and excretal wastes may be washed into the lake during rains. The land surrounding the lake is hilly, although there is a small amount of swamp land at the upper end of the lake.

At the time of the inspection a sample of the water was obtained from a tap in the village, and the results of the analysis of this sample, together with those previously made by the Division of Laboratories and Research will be found in the appended table.

From the results of these analyses it will be seen that the water has a small amount of color, apparently due to the swampy land, is practically free from turbidity and is moderately soft. The figures for nitrogen in its various forms are comparatively low with the exception of that for albuminoid ammonia, and the high figures in this test, together with the high oxygen consumed are undoubtedly due to the color and organic matter from the swamp. The total counts of bacteria are usually low and organisms of the B. coli group have been found only occasionally in 10 c.c. inoculations.

As a result of this investigation and of the analyses, it may be concluded that the water supply of the village of Worcester is apparently of a satisfactory sanitary quality, except for pollution from the privy of the cottage near the intake and from cattle pasturing in the field adjacent to the lake. In view of the above conclusion, I would make the following recommendations:

1. That the water company secure the removal of the privies at the two cottages near the lake to such a distance as may be found necessary to prevent any contamination of the waters of the lake from these sources; or provide privies with water tight removable containers, the contents of which should be frequently emptied or disposed of by burial at some point off the watershed tributary to the lake.

2. That cattle be prevented from pasturing within 50 feet of the lake, within a distance of 500 feet from the water supply intake.

3. That should any difficulty be experienced in carrying out the above recommendations, application be made to this Department for the enactment of rules and regulations for the sanitary protection of the supply. In conclusion, I would further recommend that copies of this report be transmitted to the Worcester Water Company, the local authorities, and the sanitary supervisor of the district.

Respectfully submitted,

THEODORE HORTON,
Chief Engineer

ALBANY, N. Y., March 22, 191*

RESULTS OF WATER ANALYSES

WYOMING

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 Wyoming, made by Mr. C. M. Baker, assistant engineer, on August 2, 1917.

General information

Location.- Town of Middlebury, northeastern part of Wyoming county, on the B. R. & P. R. R.

Population. Unincorporated village. Estimated population 450.
Waterworks in charge of-Wyoming Water Company.

Source of supply.— Springs 2 to 4 mile northwest of village.

Consumption.- No definite information.

Distribution system.- Gravity system. About 11⁄2 miles of mains, ranging from 1 to 2 inches in diameter. No fire hydrants.

Service taps.- 100, none of which are metered.

Pressure.- 40 pounds per square inch.

Storage. Reservoir, 10,000 gallons.

Purification.— None.

Reference to previous investigations.— 1915, page 725, 36th Annual Report. At the time of the previous investigation certain unsatisfactory conditions were found to exist. These conditions were, principally that the quantity of water supplied was insufficient for the needs of the village at times, and also that inadequate development of the springs from which the supply is obtained resulted in possible pollution of the water under certain conditions. The following recommendations were therefore made at the time of the previous investigation.

1. Develop the present supply to a further extent or secure additional water from some other satisfactory source.

2. Protect the springs more carefully from contamination and surface water by the construction of concrete basins around each spring, the basins to extend 1 foot above the surface of the ground and to have a tight cover which can be kept locked.

3. Provide a water tight bottom for the reservoir.

4. Install a larger main from the springs and reservoir to the village. 5. Flush the water mains at sufficiently frequent intervals to keep them free from deposits.

Since the previous investigations the Water Company has changed hands and certain improvements have been made in the development of the supply, both with reference to protection from pollution and to securing a more ample supply of water. The springs have been cleaned and walled up to protect them from surface wash, and a new concrete reservoir, with a capacity of about 10,000 gallons, has been constructed about the main spring. Leaks which had developed in the main leading from the reservoir to the village have been repaired, and it was stated that sufficient water is now supplied for domestic purposes. As pointed out in the previous report, however, no hydrants are provided for fire protection.

Although the springs are now so developed as to be protected from surface wash, they are located in pasture land or cultivated fields, and there still appears to be some possibility of pollution by rapid infiltration of surface water, since they are not adequately protected by fences and drainage ditches. Samples of 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 slightly colored but clear, and also a water high in hardness. The bacterial count is high, and colon bacilli were found present in all 3 of the 10 c.c. inoculations, thus indicating the presence of active contamination. The high bacterial count may be due in part, at least, to delay in transit, 2 days elapsing from the time the samples were collected until they were received at the laboratory. The presence of colon bacilli is probably due to the rapid infiltration of water from cultivated fields or pasture land, the possibility of which was pointed out above. As a result of this investigation it may be concluded:

1. That the present water company has in the main carried out the recommendations of our previous report.

2. That, however, there still appears to be some opportunity for pollution, as is indicated by the analytical results of the sample collected at the time of the inspection.

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

1. That a sufficient area be enclosed about each of the springs, and that suitable drainage ditches be constructed within this enclosure to divert surface water, in order to prevent possible pollution of the supply by the rapid infiltration of polluted surface water.

2. That, if pollution is still found present in the water after the above recommended improvements are carried out, the necessary steps be taken to determine the source of such pollution, and to adequately protect the supply therefrom.

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,

+ Present.

Absent.

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.

YOUNGSTOWN

LINSLY R. WILLIAMS, M.D., Acting State Commissioner of Health:

I am enclosing herewith a copy of the report on an investigation of the sanitary condition of the public water supply of Youngstown, made by Mr. C. M. Baker, assistant engineer, on December 6, 1916.