The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1905-11-17
THE SEWAGE QUESTION.
CHARACTER OF THE WATER WITH RE

CHARACTER OF THE WATER WITH RE
GARD TO sEDIMENTAT1oN.
The water is deeply clouded with
fine sand and talcum-like powder and
as it flows along, the current being
very slow, this powder is precipltated
and must carry down with it much OF
any impurities that may be in the
water.
This natural filtration and sedl-
mentation together with oxidation
exposure to sunlight and air must OF
necessity free the water OF much OF
the impurities that may enter it from
any source.
FLOW OF WATER IN MILK RIVER.
Data on this point, us collected by
the T.. S. Bureau, is embodied IN Dr.
HOPKINS report, submitted herewith.
1t is an unuuestioned fact that MILK
river has frequently been observed to
be dry at several points along its
course, and is very often so low that
a man can step across the stream.
Under such conditions any water that
appears i'll the stream below points
where the stream is dry, must pass
through the sands of the river bed
and be thus filtered to greater OF
less extent. Under date OF August
Both. 1905. DR.. Hopkins writes as fol
lows: "There is now no water run
ming in Milk river at Havre.' / i'm
mediately wrote to DIR. Hopkins
asking him with regard to the supply
of water at Chinook when the water
was not running at Havre. His re
ply was as follows: 1--WE have sutfici
ent water in the river for the tow
supply, but none to spare. The under
ground water and seepage from irri
gated lands above help us out. The
North Fork, which it has been claim
ed we should go to for water, is not
running at ALL I was was over to see
it Yesterday" This communication
is dated Sept. 5th, 1908.
Now, another question arises, name
": When the river is dry, or not
flowing at Havre, what will become o
the sewage that will enter the river
bed at such times? Will it accumu
late there and form Il source of in
lection for the people of Havre anc
later be washed down the river tC
form other sources Of infection, OF
will the water entering the river witt
the sewage carry part of the sewage
into the sandbed of the river and The
rest be oXidiZed by the air and sun
light? This question, we believe, car
be answered only by experience.
RESULTS OF WATER ANALYSES.
Regarding the analyses we beg tx
say that in order to get true picture
of the condition of the water of Mill
river it was necessary to take sample
Of water at points above as well a
of Beaver creek. The river was, a
the time of taking the samples, yer,
low and very sluggish, and the waite
at every point visited Of muddy
tGll0NlStl tOIpl. IduSCh ~ ll1uCll ItiCl
divided, suspended, clay PARTICLES.
(All samples were filtered befor
analyses were made.)
The analyses made from samples @
Milk River water and beginning at
point west Of Hayre, about POO yard
above the mouth Of Beaver cree
show the value Of total solids Az
chlorine LIS, oxygen consuming pow
er O.75, nitrogen trace and combine
sulphuric acid 1899. Reaction Slight
~ alkaline, color dirty yellOWisl
These figures might be taken as tn
average composition of Milk Rive
water before it receives any az
preciable. amount of household {
industrial waste and at a time whe
the river is low.
A sample taken at the mouth
Beaver creek shows, upon analyst
practically the same condition as tt
preceding one. It must be state
that Beaver creek was practically dl
and stagnant, containing practical
nothing but back-Water from Mi
river at the time the sample w
taken.
A sample taken about $50 yar
below the entrance of the sewers
Havre shows an increase in the tot
solids, Slight decrease in chlofi'
and in the free and albuminoid al