REPORT OF THE KING INSTITUTE, GUINDY
(D) WATER.
The periodical examination of samples from all protected water supplies in
the Presidency constituted the bulk of the routine work of the section. Occa
-sional samples of water were examined for their suitability for industrial and
boiler purposes. There was no increase in the total number of protected water-
supplies during the year under report. Table XIV gives the total number of
examinations carried out and it will be seen that there has been an enormous
increase in the volume of work turned out. This was mainly due to the very
large number of samples that bad to be examined daily at the Kilpauk Experi-
mental Filter Station. Details of these will be found under (F) " Work for the
Commi ttee on Water and Sewage Puri fi cati on. " As was done i n previ ous years,
a synopsis of the results of the periodical examination of water-supplies is given
in Table XV. The following call for comment :—
Municipal water-supplies.
Adō ni.—There has been no improvement in the condition of this supply,
since it was, adversely commented upon last year.
Bezwada.—It is not known whether the cause of the increased free ammonia.
figure in the samples from the pumping station (noticed this year also) has been
investigated.
Chidambaram.—The mechanical filter plant was found to function fairly
efficiently but there was serious deterioration in transit to the reservoir and in.
the distributary system.
Cocanada.—In June, the slow sand filters failed to function properly.
Filming of the beds with alum before starting, which was recommended both by
the Sanitary Engineer and this Institute, should be carried out systematically.
This simple process was found to work very well first at the Guindy Experi
-mental Filters and also subsequently at Berhampur.
Coonoor.— Although the water supplied to this hill station has been passable,.
it has never been equal to the water from similar impounding reservoirs at
Ootacamund, nor can it be considered to reach the standard of purity which one
would expect of a supply derived from a mountain reservoir. It should be
possible to improve the quality so as to bring it up to the level of that of the
Ootacamund reservoirs.
Ellore.—Poor results were again obtained from the slow sand filters.
Erode.—The mechanical filter plant does not appear to have been worked
any better this year than last and last year's remarks therefore still hold good.
Kumbakōnam.— Following the adoption of our recommendation to lime-treat
the borehole water, there has been a great improvement in the physical appear
-ance of the water and this supply is now in every way excellent.
Kurnool.—Results of slow sand filtration are poor. The practice of mixing
raw water with the filtered supply in times of increased demand for water, is.
still in vogue. This is a very dangerous procedure and should be stopped.
Masulipatam.—This supply affords an instance of great improvement follow
-ing close adherence to the rules of working laid down by the Sanitary Engineer.
Ootacamund.—Several special samples were examined at the request of the
Municipal Health Officer, while the improvements to the Dodabetta reservoir
were in progress and after their completion. The old Ootacamund cistern has
been yielding water which though passable is yet definitely inferior to the water
from the other reservoirs and is below the standard to be expected of a hill station
supply. Kodappamund reservoir though superior to the old Ootacamund cistern
is also not up .to the level of the rest.
Salem.—The remarks of last year again apply.
Tuticorin.—This supply continues to be unsatisfactory. The cisterns in the
town which receive chlorinated water continue to be polluted by the people who