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Cuddapah .—The physical conditions appear to have been about the same in both
years, yet there is a very marked difference in the condition of the water, and it is
satisfactory to record that the change is in the right direction if the improvement
has been brought about by the new gallery, noted in October 1908 to be under
construction, the outlay has been justified.
Ootacamund.—In the autumn months of 1909, there was less rain than in the
corresponding months of 1908. The lakes, however, were full on both occasions so we
might expect to see some improverment in the latter year due to the nátural
agencies of sedimentation and sunning. The results of the analysis do not bear this
out however. A puzzling feature that has been noted in these waters is the evidence
of pollution that has been detected in all the sources and channels in turn. With the
exception of the old Ooty cistern and, strange to say, the Marlimund pipe line, all the
lakes and pipe lines have at one time or another shown fœcal contamination in as little
as one-tenth of a cc. of water. At other times all the lakes and pipe lines have shown
a high degree of purity. Of the lakes, Dodabetta upper, and Tiger Hill have been
most consistently good, Marlimund has been most consistently bad. The contrasts
obtained between the water of this latter lake and that of its pipe line are nothing
short of extraordinary. Chemically, very extraordinary variations are also obtained,
but, as a rule, all the waters except that of the Μarlimund reservoir are satisfactory
in this respect.
Cocanada.—The passage of a year has not brought about any improvement in the
water of this supply, nor apparently in the way that it is managed. In spite of there
having been less rain this year the chemical impurities appear slightly less and the
bacteriological impurities are greater. This is just the opposite of what one would
a priori expect. As noted in the previous year, the water is definitely worse after
filtration.
Coonoor.—The liability of the Coonoor water-supply to pollution of a dangerous
nature was pointed out in December 1908, and in November 1909 we have the
pollution in the service reservoir all too evident. The section of pipe line supplying
the fountain in front of the choultry near the railway station continues to maintain
an unsavoury reputation. As notice has been taken of the bad quality of the water
from this fountain on almost every occasion that the water has been examined, it
would be interesting to learn what steps the authorities have taken to try and cure
the evil.
Nellore.—The features that stand out in the results obtained with Nellore water
are variability of the filtration efficiency and the powerfully cleansing action of the
pipe lines. The Municipality are to be congratulated on the possession of these pipes
which so powerfully second what efforts they may make in the direction of obtaining
a purer supply. That the infiltration gallery can be efficiently worked was shown in
February 1909. Compared to these, the results got in November 1909 are simply
disgraceful.
Tirupati. — T h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f T i r u p a t i h a v e l i t t l e r e a s o n t o b e p r o u d o f t h e i r
water-supply and the way that it is managed. Sometimes it is good water that is
dealt with, sometimes rather inferior; but it is always made worse by passage through
the filtration system or through the service pipes.
Guntúr .—The filtration system is far from satisfactory in Guntúr and this is all
the more regrettable as the water from the head works is often grossly polluted.
Vigorous action should be taken to see if better filtering material or better manage-
ment cannot bring about a more satisfactory state of affairs. The water being derived
from a spring, the actual source of the pollution in it might be difficult to ascertain;
but the possibility of direct access of surface pollution to the water at the head works
should be enquired into and carefully guarded against.
Gudiyáttam.—Αt the end, of September 1908 the bad state of the water from the
suction well was attributed probably to temporary causes. The inspection of January
1909 showed it to be due to removable rather than temporary causes, and the
water has been consistently better since. A disquieting symptom, however, is
present in the increasing pollution of the water in the reservoir. As this is an
overhead tank the suggestion that the pollution of the water in it is due to dirty