POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
35
The analysis above shows that the water is a very fair sample of potable water, and 1
think that seeing such may be obtained at the well it ought to be made much deeper, and.
capable of holding more water. This may be used as a reserve stock in case of failure of the
supply from other sources. The well is to be covered in. Two samples of water, marked
respectively A and B, were sent to the Chemical Analyser for analysis last January. The
water was obtained from the Suckur well previous to the last rains. That marked A was
water from the well filtered once through a "Spencer's magnetic carbide filter;" that
marked B unfiltered water from the well. The following is the result:—
A.
B.
"Total solids, grains per gallon
28
20.70
Chlorine
,,
3.57
3.64
Free ammonia, parts per million
.02
.06
Albuminoid ammonia „
.26
.32
Sediment very scanty; consists chiefly of vegetable d é b r i s
. B c o n t a i n s i n
addition some small rounded bodies resembling pollen cells, also Paramecia and
Monads."
The Chemical Analyser remarks that "both samples contain a larger quantity of albu-
minoid ammonia than good potable water ought to contain. In both cases, however, the
quantity of free ammonia yielded by the water is small. In respect of ammonia results both
samples (as will be seen on referring to previous reports) contrast favourably with samples
of tank water from Asirgarh previously analysed. Of the two samples, that marked A, the
filtered water, yields lower ammonia figures than that marked B. From this it may be pre-
sumed that one effect of filtration has been to diminish the amount of dissolved organic
matter present in the water. The filtration also appears to have removed some of the sus-
pended impurities of the water. On the other hand, the total quantity of dissolved solids
is greater in the filtered than in the unfiltered water."
Below is the result of analysis of the Suckur well water, made on June 19th, 1877; the
water was sent in consequence of the cleaning of the well, when a quantity of contaminating
material, such as leathern buckets, &c., was removed, and it was hoped that the condition
of the water was improved in consequence:—
"Total solids, grains per gallon
33.60
Chlorine
,,
4.69
Free ammonia, parts per million
.005
Albuminoid ammonia „
.21
Sediment small in quantity, reddish-yellow, consists of greenish-yellow vege-
table débris. No Infusoria."
It will be seen on comparison with the other two analyses that the water as regards
both varieties of ammonia had considerably improved; although the amount of solids and
chlorine had increased, yet it does not prevent the water from being used for drinking
purposes. It was found by the Fort Adjutant here, who had observed it for some years,
that during the rains one of the chief sources of supply to the Suckur tank were three or
four small streams of water which issued from the side of the hill at the south-eastern corner
of the tank, and that these streams continued to keep on flowing for several days after the
rains had ceased. He asked me to send a sample of this water for analysis, and the following
is the result,—September 1877:—
''Total solids, grains per gallon...
26.60
Chlorine
,,
1.03
Free ammonia, parts per million
.05
Albuminoid ammonia
,,
.08
Sediment scarcely any, chiefly mineral; no Infusoria."
The above shows an example of very good water, and seeing that was so he has sent in
his scheme for the supply of pure water, which has been' partially sanctioned by Government.
His scheme consists in making a well at this corner of the tank to catch this pure water,
and to compensate for the loss to the tank he proposes that the water from the parade-
ground, which is a large piece of ground. and a clean catchment area, should be diverted by
means of properly constructed drains into the Suckur tank. The Government has sanctioned