The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-06
AS TO THE WATER
OF LAKE MERGED,
MAYOR SUTRO CALLS IT TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE BOARD
OF HEALTH.
ASSAYED BY PR0FESSORPRICE
DECLARED TO BE TOTALLY UNFIT
FOR DRINKING OR Do
MESTIC USE.

The purity OF the water supply of San
francisco was discussed pro and con by
the Board OF Health yesterday. Mayor
Sutro, after sundry objections on the part
OF DIR. Regensburger, had resolution
passed providing for a microscopic and
chemical examination of the waters of
Laguna de la MERGED, which furnishes a
portion of the water used by househoIders
in this city.
Prefacing his remarks by a statement
that his attention had been called to the
fact that the waters of Lake MERGED were
unfit for domestic use, the Mayor read the
following statement from the assaying firm
OF Thomas Price & Sons regarding the
water of the city:
F1rst-Sample drawn from tap in our lab
oratory. Total residue per United States gal
lon 14.12 grains, of which 257 grains are
sodium chloride. The free ammonia present
amounts to 0.03 part per million parts of
water ana the albuminoid ammonia to 0.146
part per million.
Second-Sample taken from reservoir near
AlImshouse; e. Total residue per United States
sodium chloride The free ammonia present
amounts TO OO2 part per million parts of
water and the albuminoid ammonia to O.23
part per million.
Third-Sample taken from Lake MERGED.
Total residue per United States gallon 1925
grains, OF which 5.4S grains are sodium
chloride. The free ammonia present amounts
to 0.90 part per million parts of water and the
albuminoid ammonia to 092 part per million.
In the first and second samples of water the
atbumlno1d ammonia is present in abnormal
quantities but the quantity of free ammonia
is normal, pointing to the contamination of
the waters with vegetable organic matter.
In the case Of the third sample shown from
Lake MERGED both the free and albuminoid
ammonia are present in extremely abnormal
quantities, pointing to extensive animal and
vegetable contamination Such a water can
only be classified as foul and dangerous, and is
absolutely unfit for drinking purposes or gem
eral domestic use. Such a water should be
employed solely for purposes OF irrigation.
"ln view of the statement of Professor
Price, whom I deem to be the most COM
petent assayer in San Francisco ~ said the
Mayor, 81 think the Board of Health
should take official cognizance of the fact
that a portion of the citys water supply
is unfit for human consumption, and should
condemn the water of Lake MERGED -
DR.. Regensburger stated that he did not
think that the assays of Professor Price
were sufficient to show that the waters of
Lake MERGED were really contaminated by
animal and vegetable matter. He said
that in his own home he insisted that al l
water used should be boiled efore using,
but this course of procedure was merely
aimed at any possible danger and not b E.
cause he knew that the city water was
bad. He offered resolution calling the
attention of householders to the necessity
of cooking al water before using.
The Mayor then offered reso luton as
substitute that samples of the waters of
Lake MERGED be microscopically and chemi-
cally examined by DIR. Spencer at an ex-
pense of $50, and the results of his investi-
cations be reported to the board.
DR.. Regensburger thought that if one
source of supply was to be investigated all
should be submitted to the same authority.
and offered an amendment to that effect
The amendment was lost on tie vote, and
the vote on the Mayors resolution was
carried, Messrs. Bucknall, Mays and Sutro
voting aye.
Mayor Sutro gave notice that at the next
meeting of the board he would offer reso-
luton declaring that the safety of the
city's health required that the water from
all supplies be examined and empowering
the board to employ an expert to analyze
the water from taps in all sections of the
city.
DR.. Regensburger said that he would
certainly object to any such measure, as
he had offered exactly the same thing to
the board and his measure had been de-
feated.