The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-10-09

81 Bad Drinking Water.
Since the water supplied to the towI
, by the Water Company has been consid
cred unsafe or unfit for drinking purposes
most residents have been using pump
water. There is well on the public
school ground from which the scholars
obtained drinking water that was sup
posed to be good. To remove any doubt
about its wholesomeness, however, the
4 Board of Trustees requested the Board of
Health to have the water analysed. A
sample was sent to Prof Shipper Wal
lace, who made chemical analysis. His
report follows:
The following is the result of my analysis of
| the water from the well on the public school
80 Parts per 100000
Inorganic solids, 1900
| Loss on ignition. 32.OOO
| Free ammonia 0.O50
Aibuminoid ammonia, 0.l90
Chlorine as chlor1des, 6lOO
| NitriteS, Present
off fumes showing the presence of organic
matter to large amount. The ammonia and
chlorine figures are also high. Judging from
the analysis, the water is In my opinion total
! ly unfit for potable use.
Yours truly,
sHIPPRN WALLACE. Chemist
Immediately upon receiving this report,
the use of the well was prohibited, and
the handle of the pump removed.
If this water is totally unfit for pot
able (drinking) use" there is strong pre-
sumption that all other wells in Mount
Holly are also condemned. In fact. there
is ground for the belief that some of it in
lower sections of the town is worse, for
the chance of sewage contamination is
greater.
The late Captain Douglass Ottinger, a
year or two before his death, had sam
pie of the we'll water on his premises on
upper High street sent to New York
chemist for analysis That report also
condemned the water, and the well was
abandoned as drinking supply
Accompanying the letter of Prot. Wal
lace was copy of the report of the State
Board of Health of the recent inspection
of the upper creek by Dr. Hunt. Anidea
of his conclusions was obtained during his
last visit of inspection, when he stated
that at present the water sis not fit to
drink" The report of the State Board
follows:
September %. 1900.
Mr.. Henry G. Risdon,
Supt Mount Holly Water Co.,
Mount Holly, N. j.
Dear Sir-The report OF Dr. Hunt of an in
spection of the Mount Holly water supply is
at hand. The inspection shows that the Ran |
cocas creek, from which the water supply is |
obtained, is liable to contamination from
several sources, and such concentrations
point the drainage from the boarding house
sinks. wash room and urinal empty directly |
into the brook At Birmingham the closet In |
the rear OF the casino OF the Birmingham Inn, |
and also the house waste from The Kitchen of |
the casino, is SO deposited on the ground that |
the stream is liable to be contaminated at any |
time. The report also shows that there Is an |
increased amount of vegetable matter In the |
waters OF the creek at the present time. and |
that vegetable taste and odor is noticeable |
The deductions drawn from the examination |
of this supply are as follows:
l. That If 1t were possible to obtain supply L
from artesian wells it would be an improve
nent over the present supply, and 1t is under |
your company looking toward the establish
ment of this plan.
2. II the present stream is to be retained as
source OF supply that some form OF mechan-
ical filtration should be introduced.
g. Ii the present stream Is to be used, either |
with or without filters, that there should be
stream tor the purpose of dong away with all
and sources of danger.
We draw your attention to these matters,
trusting that you Will make an effort to sup
ply to the citizens of Mount Holly as pure q |
water supply as possible
HENRY MITCHELL, sec'y
Following is the reply of the Water
Company to the above communication:
Mount Holly, October 6, 1900
To the State Board of Health,
Trenton, N. j.
We are in receipt of your letter in reference
to the water in the Rancocas creek, which we
furnish to our consumers. Ii any cause of
pollution exists in the stream, we desire that
townships local Boards where the trouble ex-
Ists thai such action may be taken to pre-
vent the water from being polluted, in &C.
Revision of the Laws of New jersey. We de-
sire to have everything possible done to have
q pure and wholesome supply of water.
By order OF Board of Directors,
HENRY 9. RIsDoN. Sec'y.
AS both the creek and well waters are
DR.. r. Fl. Parsons, physi-
clan of the Board of Health recommends
that no water be used for drinking pur-
poses unless it has been boiled, which re-
moves Cne uauger VI persons Delng maze
Ill from this source.
The Water Company made contract,
on Friday, for the sinking of an expert
mental artesian well on the ground at the
pumping station on Green street An
eight-inch pipe will be sunk. Thomas B.
Harper, of Jenkintown, Pa, is the con-
tractor. The work will begin this week.
The Water Company has had some
water from the Columbus wells analysed
by Prof. Lehman, of Philadelphia, and it
was found to be good for all purposes.
1t is therefore proposed to reach the same
strata with the well here