The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-26
ANALYSIS OF WATER
As MADE ny PROF. A. ~. LYONS
OF OAHU COLLEGE
samples of water Tested After standing
Twenty-Four Hours -Ena's Cave
and Vicinity.

Prof. A. b. Lyons has made a careful
| analysis of all artesian water in this
city for the information of the Govern.
ment. They are classified as follows
Artesian well II. B. stable yard. No. /
artesian well at Executive building, No.
2; artt sian well at James Campbel's
| place, Emma street, No. 3; John Ena $
cave, Kamoilili, No. 4; Makiki artesian
well, No. .; Punahou spring No. 6.
Oi these Professor Lyons says: The
samples OF water contained in gallon g.s.
bottles OF blue glass. All were clear and
bright.
Alter standing twenty-four hours, all
were found to have more or less OF dis
agreeable odor, more pronounced in the
case Of No. 4, John Ena's cave, but also
very bad in No. |, from the Kameha
meha well. No. was most nearly free
from odor, and only Nos. and were
to be positively condemned on this
ground.
To portions of the water in clear
TASKS, little sugar was added, and the
TASKS set in light place. Under these
circumstances the presence OF sewage
material reveals itself by the rapid de-
velopment of a fungoid growth and
gives the water milky appearance.
No. | AID No. became distinctly milky
within twelve hours. The other samples
showed no milkness until 30 to SO hours.
Only No. and are tu be considered
On this test, which is probably one OF
the most useful of all.
1t was found that No. (Ena's) con-
tains a much smaller proportion of
chlorine than any of the others. an ind-
cation that it has more the character of
surface water.
No. 4 contains, however. a very large
proportion of "Albumimoid ammonia
i. e. of organic matter containing nitro
gen.
1t is probable that this is largely OF
vegetable origin, and, if so, may not
necessarily condemn the water abso-
lutely, but so large proportion leads to
grave suspicion Of present danger in the
use of the water, and would certainly
prohibit its use as source OF water sup
ply to the city if such thing were
thought Of
1t will be observed, however, that
No. 5, the water OF the Makiki well
which is actually used in the city water
supply is but very little better in this
respect.
The circumstances make it quite clear
in this case that the contamination is OF
vegetable origin and not therefore q
source OF immediate alarm, and yet such
water is never to be accepted when bet
ter can be had. The moment germs OF
pathogenic bacteria find access to it it
will become a source of positive danger,
because it contains the food on which
these organisms thrive.
An examination Of the water from the
artesian well opposite tie residence OF
d. +. Dillingham; shows hat this also is
rich in all umimoid ammonia as is also
that OF Punahou spring, the proportion
being near the limit that is to be toler-
ated-i. e. O.l5 parts per 100000
On the whole No. and No. are the
best examined, and are as nearly unob-
jectionable as any waters to be had in
this vicinity, certainly to be preferred to
such surface water as must be supplied
in summer il the present source OF sup.
ply is depended upon.
Respectfully submitted,
A. b. LYONS.
Government Analyst