New-York tribune., 1896-08-25
ANALYZING THE WATER.
CHEMISTS OF THE HEALTH DEPART
MENT STILL AT WORK.

STEPS TAKEN TO REMEDY ANY EvrIs-REPoRT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF l. NJ. DE vARoNA
The chemists of the Health Department are
still analyzing samples OF the city water from
different parts OF the city. but keep a profound
silence the result Of their Investigations
They say that ii is the business OF the CITY
Works Department 10 remedy the eVlL Inc
engineer Of the water supply J. NJ. De Varona.
says that his department stands ready ana VIII
ing TO remedy any trouble which the Health au-
thoritier may designate. but that he as yet mas
received no such detailed information. A con-
ference was held in his office more than two
weeks ago to talk over the numerous complaints
of bad water which were coming in. Since that
time it is understood that Investigations have
been made by the Health Department No def
mite action will he taken by the Health authori-
ties until Commissioner Emery returns on Fri
day. Then a report of what has been done will
be laid before him. and steps will be taken at
once to remove all cause OF the complaints az
to vile-smellng and vile-tasting water, which
have been heard in Brooklyn all summer.
In the latter part OF last week DR.. Wyckoff,
Deputy Health Commissioner. sent letter 10
the CITY Works Department asking that a re-
mort giving the ponds and reservoirs from
which water was being drawn from day TO day
he sent 10 the department twice every week
In the letter DR. Wyckoff said that his chief
bacteriologist reported that slight increase IN
culture colonies had been noticed in the water OF
late Mr. De Varona forwarded reply 10 DR..
Wvckof last night in which he said that the av-
erage amount drawn from the various sources
vas about the same from day to day. He de-
clares that the theory that the water is contam'-
mated By foul deposits In the Ridgewood basins
IS wholly false as one OF them is a new structure
and the other is as clean as it has ever been.
Some time ago II was suggested that some or the
trouble could be attributed 10 the stagrant water
and sediment in the mains In those streets where
the hydrants have not been opened for some
time orders have been given TO have such ny
drants about the city flushed. This Is gradually
being done.
The Engineer Of Water supply. |. NJ. De Va
roma in his report for The year 1894. and in that
for last year Just issued recommends the crea-
tion Of a laboratory 70 be charged exclusively
with the duty OF making chemical. microscopicai
and biological examinations OF the water ana
other Investigations pertaining to the water sup
ply Of the city Systematic chemical analyses
have been made for the last two years by the
Board Of Health which. il is said. show nothing
deleterious in the present condition OF the wafer
supply The biological examinations are more
important and take a longer time. The Engineer
of Water Supply has called attention to this fact
repeatedly and asserts that they are now being
made by the Department OF Health. as are also
nicroscopical examinations. As soon as the re-
suits Of the latter known. II the present
trouble in the water arises in the sources OF sup
ply OF exists at the reservoir the proper steps can
be taken TO remedy the evil. Mr.. De Narona ADDS
that "algae' vhich frequent source Of
trouble and have occasioned complaints. at one
time OF another in almost all the large cities,
may he present in the water He will make re-
suits Of the examinations Of the Board OF Health
are completed.