Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-07
OUR WATER.

Ino reg uldr ncoIlHS VI Ino ACduoLuy VI
Natural Sciences was held last evening.
The committee appointed for
the purpose submitted
lengthy report upon the qualities of the
Mississippi river water, of which the fol-
lowing is a synopsis:
The investigation includes a chemical
and biological examination. On the 18th
of February water was taken from a point
at which the new intake is located, on the
line of the boom lying along the mill pond,
nearly opposite the bridge by which First
street crosses the railroad. On the same
day a sample was taken one and one-half
miles further up the river, opposite
Twenty fourth avenue, and in the middle
of the river. The chemical analysis result
ed as follows:
THETEST.
l. Test for ammonia (Wanklyn's process.)
a. Water above city opposite Twenty-fourth
avenue northwest showed free ammonia 11-100
parts per million; albumenoid ammonia 28-100
per million.
b.. Water at the new intake pipe showed free
ammonia IL parts per million, albumenOid am
mt MIA 23-l00 per million, the difference being in
favor of the water above the city.
2. Test for chlorine.
a. The water above the city contained 9-100
parts. At the new intake pipe l 12-100, to the
advantage of the water above.
8. The test for nitrates and nitrites showed
the water above the city to contain nitrogen 49,
100 parts per million. At the new intake I6-100
parts, to the advantage of the water above.
The test for organic matter showed that
the water above required for oxidation of
the organic matter l 75-100 parts of oxy-
gen per million; at the new intake 2 3-1O0
parts to the advantage of the water above.
OF solid residue from evaporation the
water above yielded $50 parts per million,
and water at the new intake 205 parts, no
appreciate difference. So far as chemical
tests go neither of the samples would be
classed as bad water, but the chemical test
alone is not sufficient to settle its charac-
ter.
On the 2nd of March two samples of the
river water were taken, one at the point
where the city supply is still taken into
the pump house, and the other at the crib.
The examination showed a difference in
favor of the new intake, though the
difference was not considerable. AS to the
biological test, it should be prefaced that
the winter season is an unfavorable one
for the purpose. The water taken in Feb
ruary from near the location of the new
intake pipe contained few organic impuri-
ties. A few orthopterous Larvae occur.
Water, however, taken from a hydrant
near the corner of Sixth street and Nicol-
let avenue in June last showed considera-
BILE quantities of animal and vegetable i'm
purities. That portion of the Mississippi
lying about the mouth of Bassetts creek
is subject during the summer to constant
slums and bitches which border that creek
and tester and rot in the sun. A quart of
water dipped from Oak lake showed the
following enormous number of animal
forms supported by the filth in that pool:
ceriodaphnia, 1,400; daphnia, 8; simoce-
phalus, Sc; cypris, so; cyclops, %; amphi-
pods, 120; infusoria, 35; molIusks, %; Dip
terra Qarvae), 100; hemiptera, 8; and all
were visible to the unassisted eye. The
present intake is obviously subject to
contamination from this source. The mi
croscopic examination of hydrant water is
sufficient proof that the water supply is
actually thus contaminated. The past
month, as intimated, has not been favor
able time for fully showing the character
and quality of the water supply since the
inflow of impurities have been reduced
greatly, from what it must be in the warm
season.
But the chemical and biological ex-
animation are not all of the investigation.
The nature and condition of the surround
ings of the stretch of water from which
the supply is derived also should be con-
sidered. To those not acquainted with
the ground in question, the committee
recommend the following walk: starting
from the market building, pass up on the
right hand side of First street north, the
slope is towards the river and the ground
is in very unclean state, being the back
yards of dwelling houses, and around
stables. Keep Oh across the railway to
where Bassetts Geek is crossed by the
road. Here the houses and out houses are
on the sides of bank. At a correspond
ing point of observation on Second street
is general dumping ground for mixed
refuse. Passing around to Washington
avenue and looking at the surroundings it
becomes finally apparent that the water of
Bassett's creek in that neighborhood must
be of
THE vILEsT CHARA CTER.