Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-11-14
City Chemist Harms Reports on
His Findings After Exhaustive
Examinations.
SHOWN TO Be OF GOOD PURITY.
Both the Chemical and BaclerIoIogi-
cal Examinations Produce Very
Satisfactory Results.

city Chemist Harms has Just CONT
pleted several tests OF the waters Of
Spring Creek, which the city council is
now figuring on purchasing to increase
the cltys water supply Concerning
the result Of the analyses Mr. Harms
makes the following comments:
Notwithstanding the chances for
contamination possible at all hours,
both the chemical analysis and the bac-
THEOLOGICAL examination show the wa
ter to be Of good purity, fully meeting
all sanitary requirements aud perfect
ly nc for all culinary ana domestic
purposes.
This water contains fair amount
Of solids OF mineral matter Organ.
ically considered the yield OF ammonia
is very small Notwithstanding the
chances for possible contamination at
all hours, no contamination whatever
by sewage drainage or seepage has
taken place. Both the chemical ANAL
ysls and the meteorological examlna-
ton show the water to be OF excellent
quality fully meeting all sanitary re-
qurements and perfectly ft for all do
nestle and culinary purposes. See also
general remarks,
1.-THE subterranean aud the various
creek waters are OF Identical character
excepting the organic purity. which Is
greater In the flowing we'll than In the
surface waters.
mo objection whatever can be urged
against the character Of the mineral
constituents. the same constituting the
ordinary ingredients Of nearly all
drinking waters. Objectionable COM
stituents. such as calcium chloride,
magnesium chloride, excess Of Iron or
traces Of poisonous metals are entirely
absent
concerning quantity. the water car
rles a fair amount which would fall
between our City creek and Parleys
canyon water, the former carrying
IA grains and the latter ordinarily l2-A
grains Of total solids per United states
gallon Emigration canyon water car
res 35-iO grainO.
mo particular objection can be urged
on the quantity OF solids, although a
water. as low as possible IN mlnerai
matter Is the more desirable one TOT
general drinking household Saving OF
s0aD. and manufacturing or boller
purposes Few authorities have az
tempted to fix a minimum standard LOT
solids In a drinking water Tor tne
obvious reason Of tine exceedingly Varl-
GUS geological formations In the dif-
ferent localities. Unless a water con-
tains more than 40 grains per gallon
no execution need be taken TO the sollds
as such and n the solids do not ex-
ceod 80 or 40 grains per gallon thls
amount of solids affords no reason TOT
rejecting o water for domestic use, are
the general views held by water au-
thorties nj.
"Regnrdlng organic matter Tests
made right on the grounds upon the
water al the time OF COLLECTION anu
confirmed by the laboratory tests show
all the sources Of supply to be OF eN-
cellent purity. The well or subterrah-
can water Is certainly remarkable Tor
lts organic purity No contamination
or pollution by sewage, seepage or
drainage has taken place, notWlth-
standing the possible pollution at any
time by conditions as they exist az
present. Comparing the organic mat
Ter OF the City creek and Parleys wa
ter. the last examination OF these sup
plies. made Aug. .. 1904, showed.
"Cuy Creek-Free ammonia, is part
per million: albuminod ammonia, 10
mart per million. total 30 part per mill
lion oxygen consumed 80 part per
million.
"Parley's Creek--Free ammonia, 10
part per million: albumlnoid ammonia
10 part per million, total 80 part per
million. oxygen consumed LIZ parts
per million
"(Both these sources gave much
higher purity on this date, Aug. ., 1904
than at any previous tests maie)
THE water Is absolutely odorless'
colorless, sparkling, proper temperature
in brief. inviting to the eye and PAL
ate For domestic culinary and manu-
featuring purposes, the Spring creek
water forms. In my opinion, a very de-
gltable source Of supply u Is how
ever, essential that proper steps be
taken. so as TO avoid any possible
chance OF contamination or pollution
OF the water from the surrounding ter
ritory as to conditions existing at pres
emit
Tn conclusion beg TO state that all
samples were collected personally In
the presence Of George w, Snow city
engineer, IN absolutely sterile bottles,
and an samples submitted as soon as
practicable 60 the respective analyses
and examinations, II Is scarcely nee
essary to state that absolutely new APP
paratus absolutely pure chemicals
and reagents were used and all samples
subjected under exactly the same Con-
dtlons TO the most severe and thorough
tests. with greatest care ana scientific
accuracy.