At both ponds the water was very turbid and had a musty and disagreeable odor. Along the banks of both of them where the bottom could be seen there was evidence of decomposition. At the time of inspection, the pumps at both stations were at work, but were being used for the driven wells. The ponds were not being drawn from and are not being used by the department of water supply. Aside from the condition of contamination, as shown by above chemical analyses, no water should be used from either of these ponds without being submitted to a process of filtration. The water from these ponds, in their present state, is unfit for human consumption. Respectfully submitted. R. A. BLACK, M. D. Assistant Sanitary Superintendent Within the last 24 hours I have received word from Deputy commissioner Moffett, of the department of water supply, that the water from Baisley's and Springfield ponds have not been used since he assumed office on January 1, 1898; that the use of the water in Baisley's pond was discontinued during the term of Hon. A. T. White, commissioner of city works of the city of Brooklyn, and that the use of the water in Springfield pond was discontinued during the term of the Hon. T. B. Willis, successor. Respectfully submitted. R. A. BLACK, M. D. Assistant sanitary inspector EAST HAMPTON Water supply ALBANY, July 9, 1900 To the State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.: Gentlemen-At the request of Dr. J. Finley Bell and other residents of East Hampton, N. Y., I visited that village on the 30th of June, for the purpose of inspecting the possible effect upon their water supply of the system of leeching cesspools which many residents have installed on their premises. East Hampton is a village of from 1500 to 1800 inhabitants, many of whom occupy their homes only in summer, their residences being in New York city. The location is upon the shore of the Atlantic, the ground very flat, the soil composed of a layer of loam, underneath that a layer of clay which is practically impervious to water, beneath which is a substratum of coarse sand and gravel. This formation is practically the same over the entire site of the village. The water supply is secured from a well or wells driven through the clay and into this substratum of sand and gravel. The water-works belong to a water company, but many of the residents still use wells, and in some instances these cesspools complained of are located near wells which have heretofore been used for household purposes. It is a serious question whether or not the final result of this species of cesspools will be to saturate the soil and thus pollute the existing wells on private premises, and in time possibly the wells belonging to the water company. I inspected several of these cesspools, also others of the Waring system which many residents have put in, in company with Mr. Osborne of the local board of health. While it is my opinion that no serious trouble is to be anticipated for some time to come with the town water-works supply, which is now in the neighborhood of half a mile from any dwelling, yet some of the private wells are undoubtedly in danger, and it seems wise in the opinion of the local board of health, in which my inspection compels me to coincide, to take such precautions as are necessary now before serious trouble has been rendered probable. If the local board of health has the power to require the installation of the Waring system, or some other equally efficient, and to prohibit the use of leaching cesspools, they would doubtless avail themselves of that authority, if so advised by this Board. I therefore would offer the following recommendation: That the question of the power of local health boards to regulate the methods of the disposal of sewage in unincorporated villages be referred to the drainage committee with the request that the attorney-general give an opinion thereon for transmission to the authorities at East Hampton. Respectfully submitted. DANIEL LEWIS ALBANY, July 24, 1900 EDWARD OSBORNE, M. D., Health officer, East Hampton, N. Y.: Dear Sir-I transmit herewith a copy of the report made by Dr. Daniel Lewis upon his investigation as to the possible pollution of the public and private supplies of potable water in the village of East Hampton by reason of the use of leaching cesspools. While it is not within the province of a local board of health to specify the Waring or any other particular system for the abatement of nuisances caused by leaching cesspools, a local board may adopt and enforce rules requiring that all cesspools be constructed and maintained in such a manner as not to cause the pollution of the soil near or about habitations, or of any well, spring or other source of water used for drinking or culinary purposes. In view of the report made by Dr. Lewis, it is recommended that the board of health of the town of East Hampton adopt as one of its rules section 2 of the sanitary regulations, a copy of the section referred to being enclosed. In adopting the rule it will be necessary to have a fixed penalty for its violation as the courts do not always recognize a sliding scale. Very respectfully BAXTER T. SMELZER FORT PLAIN Pollution of water supply Secretary FORT PLAIN, N. Y., August 30, 1900 T. A. STEWART, Assistant secretary State Board of Health: Dear Sir-Enclosed find the resolution of our local board of health passed last evening at a special meeting. If your engineer will let me know on what train he will arrive here I will meet him at the depot and take him over to the waterworks. Yours, etc. W. ZOLLER Health officer FORT PLAIN, N. Y., August 29, 1900 At a special meeting of the board of health, August 28, 1900, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the health officer communicate with the State Board of Health and ask them to send a sanitary engineer to go over the route and make a perfect analysis of the water and send it to Health officer Zoller of the town of Minden. F. E. HUFNAIL Clerk ALBANY, September 6, 1900 Dr. WILLIAM ZOLLER, Health officer, Fort Plain, N. Y.: Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your communication of August 30th requesting the services of one of the consulting engineers of this Board to examine the watershed and reservoir of the public water supply of Fort Plain. In reply you are informed that C. W. Adams has been detailed for the duty, and has been instructed to communicate with you as to when he will reach Fort Plain. Very respectfully BAXTER T. SMELZER Secretary UTICA, September 21, 1900 Hon. B. T. SMELZER, Secretary State Board of Health: Sir September 7th you sent me instructions to visit Fort Plain and inspect the watershed furnishing the public water supply of the village, the quality of which was complained of by some of the citizens of Fort Plain. On the 8th of September, accompanied by Dr. William Zoller, health officer of the village, an inspection was made of a portion of the watershed, the reservoir, the intake supplying the reservoir, and the stream above the intake to its sources. Before describing the conditions of these several features of the water supply, it may be well to refer to the complaints which brought up the question as to the quality of the supply. During the early part of last August one of the physicians of Fort Plain had a few cases of typhoid fever. He ascribed the cause to the public water supply. He sent samples of the water to Dr. Theodore Deecke of Utica, who gave them a bacteriological examination. His report on August 11th condemned the water as unfit for potable purposes. The number of bacteria per cubic centimeter was excessive; the presence of the colon bacilli in large numbers, and a strong probability of the presence of the typhoid bacillus, led him to the condemnation expressed. |