The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-23
PEQUANNOCK GERMS
NeWark'S Health Board
of His Examina-
tion of the
Water.
EVIDENCES OF BACILLI In STREAMS
Recent investigation Shows a
Marked Improvement in
the Water Jersey
City Drinks.

pert, SuDiullttu To the DOdiQ VI ASoe
last night, in two detailed reports. the
result of his examination of water taken
from various suspected places in the
~Pequannock watersheds on two occasions.
The reports "a with a germ life as found
in the water, giving a number of bacteria
found in a cubic centimere at each ex-
animation, but the expert says that the
number in q given quantity of water is a
constantly varying quantity, changing
from our to hour n influenced by
time and the condition of the water. DIR.
Connolly writes that in his examinations
a careful search was made for patho-
genie germs, with negative results In
nearly all of the fifteen samples examined
he found distinct evidence of the presence
of the bacillus coli communis, particu-
larry in the water taken from three points
in the Tower stream, a small tributary of
the Pequannock River, with which it con-
meets a short distance below the juno
ton of the Clinton and Oak Ridge
streams. In a single cubic centimetre,
twenty drops. taken from this point ON
August 2s, the bacteriologist discovered
324, 800 bacteria, and he writes that the
bacillus coli communis must have been
present in large numbers in this sample.
Aside from this, DR.. Connolly figures show
a great multiplication of bacteria in the
course of the short stream, which, he
holds, would make it seem advisable that
frequent and systematic examinations of
the water at hat point be made, to
determine whether the test represents a
permanent or only temporary condition
of the water.
In his report of September is DR.. Con-
nolly's figures show a decided falling off
in the number of bacteria in water AIKEN
from the same point in the lower stream,
a cubic centimetre of that date containing
1873. 1876, but the colon bacillus was still
easily obtained from tubes containing only
two drops of the water from that point.
The samples treated of in the first re-
port represent the Canistear and Clinton
reservoirs, the Clinton and Oak Ridge
streams, as we'll as such suspected sources
of pollution as could be obtained at Char
l%otteburg, Newfoundland and Booths
Pond. with one sample taken from a fau-
Get in Newark. In the Canistear sample
DR. Connolly found 632 bacteria. Distinct
evidence of coli communis was found in
the sample. The explanation of this, the
Expert states, may be foun III the fact
that the reservoir has only recently been
completed, and he says that as the sur
rounding region does moi offer much
change for future contamination the ba-
cIlli present at that time will very prob
ably ave but a temporary existence. NO
evidence of the colon bacillus was discov-
cred in the samples taken from the Clin-
ton reservoir or from the Clinton stream
near N~eWfoundland, but IN the water tak-
en- from the Oak Ridge stream was found
verv d;ef,ncts evidence of the hacilli. Pro-
nounced evidence Oh the preseAee VI the
coli communis were found in samples a X
f,ou 10 pao,,annock R;var hack NJ
~ y ehe =.
WiSe's Hotel at N~eW1ounolana, even III
very small quantities of the water.
a1ns;aar.hsa anoo,,nt If tho water
a coiis.uesi aoio -
examined in order to obtain any evidence
- a.,at;o, ana uyb;la Some colon
y ' .S
bacili can still be Isolated from water
vet the number contained in a given
,arr naraan.;h1x d;,n;rIsbad
aihouht mas Wy pei.e'e
as ompare with the last analysis OF wa
saa -, 1so bacter,o ~ the c,,h;c cant;-
ereo ohls 2
metre OF this sample.
SAMPLES taken from q we'll ana TWO
nsmsams 80 rhar,a,tan,,rg traot
sman streains olhe Siaiio''couis ua
gave evidence or the coion pacillus; a
similar result. was obtained from the test
~ s $500 rraap Mil,
OF Tie water u iaiiouse
had a decided hrownfsn tlnge, the pactiill
evidence being. very slight.
witt regard to the number Of bacteria
present in a given amount or water,
writes DR.. Connolly, 1T must be borne IN
mind that this IS a constantly varying
quantity, changing from DAY 70 day, ana
very probable from nouf 10 nour, mn
enced by time and the condition OF the
The character of the bacteria present is
of far more consequence IN determining
the quality of a Thinking water, and as
the appearance OF some bacteria mas peen
stuaied,We are aple, WIZ MOD
crate degree OF certainly, 10 identity ana
isolate them. Inc con c0m a1a 9r Inc
colon bacillus. is one Of those winch mas
received considerable attenlioh,ahu whose
origin we know, ana It's presence In a
drinking water shouiu put US Oh our
guard and cause us TO watch Tor other
bacllh, Whicn are not 50 lHhoeeiil' ana
which sometimes come from the same
source.
For this reason a care1ui search was
made IN the ABOVE specimens LOT any us
tinctly pafhogenlc germs, with negative
In the examination on the samples TAX
en- on september 5, Dr. connolly dlVldes
his subjects into two classes, thus
Class I-Main streams and reservoirs;
Macopin intake, Macopln streaIn, Echo
lniet slreann, Eeno Lahe' 9utiet
stream; CnSFfottepurg oaH, YAK ridge
reservoir.
CiasS l.ifiputary strsaIns, ozler
Ssasaai, !, renm f I a's samnles 'nioe DiooA'