EXPERT REPORT ON TROY WATER

EXPERT REPORT ON TROY WATER

The Record, one of the newspapers published in Troy, N. Y., being determined to arrive at a proper conclusion as to the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the complaints as to the quality of the city’s water supply, had an analysis made of it by Prof. James M. Caird, the wellknown chemist and bacteriologist, the results of which were submitted to Dr. Nichols, the local health officer. Two samples were sent him for analysis, one from a tap on the East Side, another from one in the central part of the city. The sample from tin* East Side tap showed that the water could not he considered a “firstclass quality of water for domestic purposes.” It has an “earthy taste, but no odor, carries a slight amount of matter in suspension and has considerable color; therefore, its appearance cannot be called satisfactory. The nitrogenous matter, as measured by the ammonias, nitrites and nitrates, is rather high, while the chlorine is above the ‘normal’ for this section. This is a ‘soft’ water and does not contain enough iron to make it objectionable for laundry purposes. The number of bacteria per cubic centimetre is excessive, hut the ‘intestinal bacillus,’ B. coli-communis, was not found. There is quite a variety of micro-organisms (algae) present ; but as yet they are not of sufficient number to cause any trouble due to odor and taste.” The sample from the tap in the centre of the city was of a very inferior quality. The report says: “This water has a disagreeable odor, a taste which might he described as ‘cucumber’ or ‘fishy;’ carries a slight amount of matter in suspension; has a high color and turbidity; and cannot be classed as satisfactory in appearance. The nitrogenous matter, as measured by the ammonias, nitrates and nitrites is too high, while the chlorine is slightly above the ‘normal’ for this section. This is a ‘soft’ water and does not contain sufficient iron to cause any trouble when used for laundry purposes. The number of bacteria per cubic centimetre was excessive. The ‘intestinal bacillus,’ B. coli-communis, was present. The quality of this water is far superior to that formerly obtained from the Hudson river; hut it cannot be considered, under present conditions, as a firstclass water for domestic purposes.” large number ami variety of micro-organisms (alga) were found, “due to their breaking up and starting to decompose, and thus giving off an oily substance, which tastes and smells like, but does not come from dead fish. The disagreeable odor and taste were present in the Troy water during the summer months. In some eases after the fall frosts, the algae may disappear; but, when they do not. the water in all probability will be disagreeable during the cold months, unless it has been properly treated.” The remedies suggested by Prof. Caird are aeration and copper sulphate the lattet, the bestknown, and one which, though better and more economically applied during the warm weather, can, nevertheless, be applied at tlie present time. As only a very small amount of copper sulphate would he required, there need be no fear of injurious consequences resulting from its employment. as in “a short time after the treatment it would settle to the bottom of the reservoir. In other cities consumers have used waters containing copper sulphate; hut no ill effects were ever detected The present conditions might lie somewhat improved if the street mains were well ‘blown off’ in a systematic way. The use of waters containing alga* has not been known to produce serious illness among the consumers. These waters should be thoroughly aerated, then passed through an up-to-date filtration plant operated under proper supervision. Under such conditions the water would be free from bacteria, color and turbidity, and in every way most desirable for all purposes. It would then be unnecessary to purchase the expensive ‘spring waters,’ and all of the inhabitants could use the city supplied with safety.” Prof. Caird gives the results as follows: From a tap on the East Side, sample taken January 21, 1908. Results in parts per million.—Taste, earthy; odor, none; color, 22.0; sediment (quickly falling), slight; turbidity, 5.00; free ammonia, .0020; albuminoid ammonia. .1200; chlorine, 2.50; nitrogen in nitrates, .4000; nitrogen in nitrites. .0030; oxygen required to oxidise organic matter at 212 Fahr., 2.60; hardness (as parts of CaCC>3) soap-test, 5729; alkalinity (as part of CaCOi). 3100: total solids. 7500: loss on ignition, 28.00: carbon dioxide, 7 00; iron. .25: bacteria per cubic centimetre, 1288.0; bacillus colicommunis, not found. Remarks.—Micro-organisms (algae), nitschia, crenothrix, navicula, chlamydomenas. straustrum, asterionella, fragilaria, synedra, raphidium and epithemia. f rom a tap in the centre of the city, taken January 21, 1908. Results in parts per million.—Taste, “cucumber;” odor, disagreeable; color, 25.0; sediment (quickly falling), slight; turbidity, 15.0; free ammonia, .0750; albuminoid ammonia, .1920; chlorine, 2.0000; nitrogen in nitrates, .5000; nitrogen in nitrites, .0040; oxygen required to oxidise organic matter at 212 Fahr., 2.95; hardness (as parts of CaC()3), soap-test, 55.65; alkalinity (as parts of CaC03), 33.00; total solids, 75.00; loss on ignition, 40.00; carbon dioxide, 4.00; iron, .35 ; bacteria per cubic centimetre, 2420.0; bacillus coli-communis, present. Remarks.—Micro-organisms (algae), dinobryon, crenothrix, chlamydomenas, cosmarium, navicula, synedra, asterionella, nitschia, aiiurea, surirella and statoblast.

The Record, one of the newspapers published in Troy, N. Y., being determined to arrive at a proper conclusion as to the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the complaints as to the quality of the city’s water supply, had an analysis made of it by Prof. James M. Caird, the wellknown chemist and bacteriologist, the results of which were submitted to Dr. Nichols, the local health officer. Two samples were sent him for analysis, one from a tap on the East Side, another from one in the central part of the city. The sample from tin* East Side tap showed that the water could not he considered a “firstclass quality of water for domestic purposes.” It has an “earthy taste, but no odor, carries a slight amount of matter in suspension and has considerable color; therefore, its appearance cannot be called satisfactory. The nitrogenous matter, as measured by the ammonias, nitrites and nitrates, is rather high, while the chlorine is above the ‘normal’ for this section. This is a ‘soft’ water and does not contain enough iron to make it objectionable for laundry purposes. The number of bacteria per cubic centimetre is excessive, hut the ‘intestinal bacillus,’ B. coli-communis, was not found. There is quite a variety of micro-organisms (algae) present ; but as yet they are not of sufficient number to cause any trouble due to odor and taste.” The sample from the tap in the centre of the city was of a very inferior quality. The report says: “This water has a disagreeable odor, a taste which might he described as ‘cucumber’ or ‘fishy;’ carries a slight amount of matter in suspension; has a high color and turbidity; and cannot be classed as satisfactory in appearance. The nitrogenous matter, as measured by the ammonias, nitrates and nitrites is too high, while the chlorine is slightly above the ‘normal’ for this section. This is a ‘soft’ water and does not contain sufficient iron to cause any trouble when used for laundry purposes. The number of bacteria per cubic centimetre was excessive. The ‘intestinal bacillus,’ B. coli-communis, was present. The quality of this water is far superior to that formerly obtained from the Hudson river; hut it cannot be considered, under present conditions, as a firstclass water for domestic purposes.” large number ami variety of micro-organisms (alga) were found, “due to their breaking up and starting to decompose, and thus giving off an oily substance, which tastes and smells like, but does not come from dead fish. The disagreeable odor and taste were present in the Troy water during the summer months. In some eases after the fall frosts, the algae may disappear; but, when they do not. the water in all probability will be disagreeable during the cold months, unless it has been properly treated.” The remedies suggested by Prof. Caird are aeration and copper sulphate the lattet, the bestknown, and one which, though better and more economically applied during the warm weather, can, nevertheless, be applied at tlie present time. As only a very small amount of copper sulphate would he required, there need be no fear of injurious consequences resulting from its employment. as in “a short time after the treatment it would settle to the bottom of the reservoir. In other cities consumers have used waters containing copper sulphate; hut no ill effects were ever detected The present conditions might lie somewhat improved if the street mains were well ‘blown off’ in a systematic way. The use of waters containing alga* has not been known to produce serious illness among the consumers. These waters should be thoroughly aerated, then passed through an up-to-date filtration plant operated under proper supervision. Under such conditions the water would be free from bacteria, color and turbidity, and in every way most desirable for all purposes. It would then be unnecessary to purchase the expensive ‘spring waters,’ and all of the inhabitants could use the city supplied with safety.” Prof. Caird gives the results as follows: From a tap on the East Side, sample taken January 21, 1908. Results in parts per million.—Taste, earthy; odor, none; color, 22.0; sediment (quickly falling), slight; turbidity, 5.00; free ammonia, .0020; albuminoid ammonia. .1200; chlorine, 2.50; nitrogen in nitrates, .4000; nitrogen in nitrites. .0030; oxygen required to oxidise organic matter at 212 Fahr., 2.60; hardness (as parts of CaCC>3) soap-test, 5729; alkalinity (as part of CaCOi). 3100: total solids. 7500: loss on ignition, 28.00: carbon dioxide, 7 00; iron. .25: bacteria per cubic centimetre, 1288.0; bacillus colicommunis, not found. Remarks.—Micro-organisms (algae), nitschia, crenothrix, navicula, chlamydomenas. straustrum, asterionella, fragilaria, synedra, raphidium and epithemia. f rom a tap in the centre of the city, taken January 21, 1908. Results in parts per million.—Taste, “cucumber;” odor, disagreeable; color, 25.0; sediment (quickly falling), slight; turbidity, 15.0; free ammonia, .0750; albuminoid ammonia, .1920; chlorine, 2.0000; nitrogen in nitrates, .5000; nitrogen in nitrites, .0040; oxygen required to oxidise organic matter at 212 Fahr., 2.95; hardness (as parts of CaC()3), soap-test, 55.65; alkalinity (as parts of CaC03), 33.00; total solids, 75.00; loss on ignition, 40.00; carbon dioxide, 4.00; iron, .35 ; bacteria per cubic centimetre, 2420.0; bacillus coli-communis, present. Remarks.—Micro-organisms (algae), dinobryon, crenothrix, chlamydomenas, cosmarium, navicula, synedra, asterionella, nitschia, aiiurea, surirella and statoblast.