The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-01-15
THE PURITY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY.


a Workingman alleges in the
Bulletin that the water supply of
the city is contaminated by a heavy
body of decaying grass on the up
lands. This has accumulated under
the growing grass since the cattle
were removed. This would particu-
larly apply to the upper portion of
Nuuanu valley, known as Luakaha,
a Crown Land, comprising some
seven hundred acres of valley pas
turage, the larger part of which is
drained by streams flowing into the
upper reservoir. About twelve years
ago, we believe, the milk ranch then
occupying that tract was bought
out by the Government, and the
stock removed. The grass, jungle
and forest have since grown undis-
turbed, and there are large accumu-
lations of dead vegetable matter un-
derneath. No evidence is presented
by A Workingman that the Lua-
kaha water. derived in large part
from this source, is impure. A thor
ough analysis OF the water supplies
Of Honolulu was made not very long
ago by Prof. Van Slyke. He found
the Luakaha water in the reservoir
below the electric light works to be
Of the highest quality for purity,
That in the lower reservoir. to the
watersheds supplying which cattle
have access, was, in comparison,
quite impure.
Workingman's7 allegation. there
fore, appears to be fanciful. Decay
ing animal matter breeds poison.
Decaying vegetable matter, if undis-
turbed, rarely does so. If other
wise, how is it that the purest
streams are those draining vast for
ests with their thick beds Of rotting
leaves and wood? As soon as this
heavy mass is torn up by the plough
or otherwise, it begins to breed
miasm. Left to nature, it seems to
act as a purifying filter, OBTAINING
the rainfall upon the land, and de-
livering the water gradually and in
purity to the streams. This is what |
now goes on at Luakaha. Formerly
the cattle tore up the decaying vege- !
tation with their tramping in multi
tudiuous trails, fouling the streams
with deleterious matter. Large
spaces at the heads of the foothills |
were entirely denuded, and enor-
nous quantities Of earth were car
ried into our harbor by the floods.
In the present undisturbed condi-
ton of Luakaha, the rank vegetation
IS natures efficient disinfecting
agent for purifying the water sup
piled to the town.
The action of the Government at
that time met with general approba-
ton, as did subsequent measures Of
ike character. We think that this
plan of action continues to be APP
proved. and viii stand as a wise
and necessary method of dealing
with the matter. In any case the
would deserve the
severest censure if it altered SO well |
an arrangement, which
has stood the test Of years Of trial,
without the fullest investigation of
the subject, and a general consensus
Of opinion from competent special
lists to guide them.
Workingman'sn letter is an ex-
cellent illustration of the readiness
Of some persons to undertake to en-
tighten the public upon subjects
which they do not themselves un-
ierstand. His real animus appears
n his vigorous but Ill directed little
trade against the Ministry. He
lad better try again. He is doubt
ess very much in earnest, but he
VII hardly get up another revoIu-
ion on the dead grass question.