Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-15
MlDDLeBuRYs WATER SUPPLY.

Editor Of the Register From the item
in last weeks issue of the REGISTER, in
regard to the intake pipe, some might
Infer that the water supply from the
creek is necessarily pure. Believing
that to be a dangerous impression to
convey, as some might undergo serious
illness, possibly death, through this
erroneous idea, | deem it my duty, as
health officer. to say word more in re-
gard to the water supply.
Allow me to quote from the 9th an
nual report of the State board of health,
pages 2l-22:
"TO the SeCer Committee, lIddleJury AT the
request of the health officer OF your town, Dr..
Caverly of our board visited Middleburv
Oct. II, 1891. From such inspection as he was
able to make OF your sewerage and water
systems, and from conversation with mem
bers of your committee, there were developed
the following facts: Your water supply is
taken IRON Otter creek above the ialls IN
your village. The plant consists of an in.
take crib near the railroad bridge, from
which an IRON pipe leads to the pumping
station, situated in the falls below, from
which water is pumped by water power di-
rectlY into the distributing Mains In the
IRON pipe leading to the pump a filter, the
exact composition OF which could not be de
terInlhed' There are approximately 40
families emptying sewage by private drains
into the creek above the falls at present.
me IRON pipe from the cltb to the pumping
station Is broken liz several places 1t Is lie.
sired to complete an unfinished sewer to the
creek above the falls. This sewer will carry
the sewage OF about p families. On certain
days each week in warm weather, ana when.
ever there Is fire nj any season, 'he water
IRON the creek is pumped dire city into the
lnalns-the water supplied by the intake iron
pipe being insufficient for the extra demand.
The statements above made were agreed to
by your committee as substantially correct.
Such being the case, our board would re
specitully submit the following report and
suggestions:
lst Your water supply and water mains
are now contaminated with animal excreta.
2d. Adding the sewage from the uncom-
pleted sewer to the water above the falls will
only make an already bad water supply
worse.
81: single case of typhoid fever in any
Ialnlly sewering into the creek above the
tails jeopardizes the lives and health of ali
those drinking the water Further, the pres
ent contamination, without the addition of
typhoid excreta, renders the water positively
unhealthy.
4th: a new intake pipe for your water sup
ply should be extendei above the present
crlh, to point beyond the entrance OF any
sewer or drain, large enough to meet all the
u heeus OF your community, and so laio as to
be safe from frost and remain intact.
oth. Meanwhile, every family using the
present supply of water should be emphati.
cally cautioned TO boil all the water used tor
drinking purposes.
9th The money proposed to be expended
10 carrying the present unfinished sewer be.
low the falls, can more easily be expended in
carrying out the fourth suggt stion, and the
sewer can De run directly into the river AT
the nearest point.
The fourth and dfth suggf stions are ones
that should receive prompt attention.
aRespectiully submitted,
State Board of Health.
The members of the board were DR.. c..
). Caverly Of Rutland, DR.. O. w. Sher-
win of Woodstock and DR.. j. II. Hamil-
ton of Richford.
TO the best of my knowledge the situ-
alton. as above sketched, is practically
the same today. Our water commissioners
from time to time, have repaired the in
take pipe and are untiring in theil efforts
to give US good water, but under the
present system | believe this is impossi-
BILE for them to do.
The sewage from dozen or more
houses finds its way into the creek bur
short distance above the oliiice of the
intake pipe, and, as stated by the State
board OF health, in case of fire the mains
of the village are filled with water
directly from the flume. Much
OF this water remains in the pipes until
1t is used, during the following days, for
and other purposes. 1t seems
to me that as soon as it is practicable
should be done to remove this !
source of Danger.
Respectfully yours,
ID. c. NOBLE.
Jan. II, 1897.