Water Conditions in Niles

Water Conditions in Niles

At a special meeting of the Board of Public Works, of Niles, Mich., held recently, a statement by the board was issued, showing that the water condition was well in hand. The statement was signed by Walter Parkin, president, Lawrence Elder, John McGuirk, Henry Towar and Peter Troost, members of the board, and excerpts from it follow: “Mr. Eckert, State Sanitary Engineer, in company with the superintendent and two members of the Board of Public Works, took samples from each well and also one sample of the supply in the city. He states there is evidence of pollution, but does not advise the water is unsafe nor that the pollution is serious. He recommended that samples be submitted to the city chemist in St. Louis for daily analysis and as these reports arc received the condition of the water will be published. Temporarily, he recommends that chlorine be used as a matter of precaution. The board some time ago took action in installing a pit around the valves connecting the creek. This pit having already been dug and now ready for concrete, when completed the two valves are to be sealed and the key turned over to the mayor or health officer. The board also has taken action in regard to draining the surface water and installing pits around the wells and also the plugging of wells not in use. Due to the lack of labor it has been impossible to complete this work as promptly as the board would have liked. The board has confidence in the superintendent to complete all the above recommendations just as soon as labor conditions make it possible. The water department is now supplying 1,500,000 gallons every 24 hours, which is 50 pe rcent more than ever heretofore has been possible without the use of creek water. The supply is ample for all city requirements and up to the present time the water has been reported by analysis most satisfactory. At the present time we are pumping from the four newest wells, no one of which is over three years old, and therefore the casing must be intact, forestalling the possibility of seepage water in them. The report received from the city chemist at St. Joseph contained the following: ‘The samples sent to me on Wednesday, August 21, show that after a 24-hour test there is no evidence of contamination or gas.’”

The citizens of Manchester, N. H., have been aroused to the need for a filtration system, it is stated, by the children’s death rate in the recent report of the Board of Health of that city. Efforts have been made at different times to induce the authorities to take action in the matter, but thus far without success, but another attempt is now in progress.