Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14
IT MIGHT Be WORSE.
Result of a Chemical Analysis by
Experts Of Southside Water.
THE REPORT NOT SATISFACTORY
1t is Too Technical for Even Physician to
Understand.
THE MATTER TO Be CONSIDERED AGAIN

duObutE Wtttlug was uelu JOSV0iu"J y
the Southside Water Investigating Commit
tee. Chairman A. C. Robertson called upon
Southsiders to state their grievances to the
committee, but as none reported, the gentle
men proceeded to the consideration OF the
following report Of the analysis of Southslde
water made by Messrs. Hunt & Clapp:
We inclose analyses of our laboratory sample
1885, water taken from the Monongaheia rlVer
near the mouth of the company's 26-inch innu-
enr pipe, and sample 1857, water taken from
the Monongahela Water Company's reservoir.
The chemical examination does not show neces-
sarily poor water in either case.
Ammonia in the water is product evolved
as the result of the decomposition OF nitroge-
nous organic matter. Its presence in water IN
the small amounts that are reported in the
analysis, even of the foulest waters, If narm-
less. 1t is only as indicative of decomposing
organic matter that it shows the poisonous
nature of the water in which it is found in con-
siderable proportions.
When the free ammonia exceeds 002 parts
per loo. 900 in water taken from thickly popu-
lated district, it is a sign that the water
CONSISTS OF DILUTE SEWAGE.
In such cases the water will also contain over
6 parts of chlorine for river water. and over 08
parts per hundred thousand of chlorine for
deep well or spring waters. The presence OF
albuminoid ammonia lover 00l8 paris per hun
dred thousand), with but little free ammonia
and chlorine, is generally an indication OF veg
eIable contamination of such character as TO
be injurious to health Where sample OF
water contains moro than OF parts per hundred
thousand of chlorine, together with more than
00l5 parts per hundred thousand OF Tree and
albuminoid ammonia. or both, chemists can
with a considerable degree of certainty state
that the water contains decompoS1ng nltroge-
nous organic matter, which either in itsef, or In
the accompanying germs. contains septic poi
sons. and will be dangerous for potable pur-
poses Although, as the character OF the organ
fc contamination is so varied. no exact danger
limit can be positively stated with present
knowledge OF these impurities. Not that the
presence OF chlorine. which largely exists as a
. common SALT is dangerous IN itself, but that IL
indicates the presence of septic puisons, which
cannot be separated by themselves
Free ammonia represents the amount OF
change or complete decomposition Of nitrog-
enous matter in the water which has taken
place; alouminoid ammonia similarly repre-
senting the amount of change of which the
water is still capable by reason of the presence
of nitrogenous matter.
NOT so VERY BAD.
The presence of nitrites and Of ammonia
show intermediate states of decomposition Of
the organic matter, which are due, very likely,
to the microbes and living germs of disease
which are nearly always present with decom-
posing organic natter
From the above explanation the results OF
the analysis show that both samples OF water
are within the limits Oh WHAT'S recognized as
soT% IT, po'aOIu pnoios"s "au ni;,h .ooniod tho 10,
20. ,no.a an o. f"I,ow..
~ ihe infnenp nine. i'n' 'n'
0blorine narts ner loo OOo o27so
Nitric acid parts per ioO Ooo. ....... ... 0.O9O0
Free ammonia, parts per 100, 600. ......... 0O98
Albuminoid ammonia; parts m per 100000. oOlGd lC
Aos@i sou pal.s per $1,000 ;co raOOO' nao'
VI 'o'Ai ''''u' ii' POI 20 p'i 1OO'O'V n,
6I;da. q; ;ron nd oinInino SS ~
Carbonats of lime .. - 'S "a
Sulphate of lime. is
! Carbonate of magnesia. .3S
Cnioride OF SOFA.
Analysis Oh water taken from reservoir:
Chlorine In parts per lOGOoO ~ ;............ G6o7O
Elsric No acu. paris per I ~ n rGes nes5
Albuminoid ammonia. in parts per 1000 O.o3O4