St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-09-27
WATER SUPPLY.
Origin of Trouble Located by Sanitary
Expert and Condition now Satisfactory.

Origin of Trouble Located by Sanitary
Rxpert G Condition now Satisfactory.
Editor CALIFORNIAN:
In order that the cause Of the taste Of
the water for the past few weeks may be
intelligentIy understood, l beg to say
that a thorough investigation has been
made by DR.. H. n Kingsford. Professor
of Bacteriology and Pathology OF Dart
mouth Medical College, and also
Bacteriologist and Pathologist for the
New Hampshire State Board of Health.
DR.. Kingsford has had wide experience
in connection with water supplies, and is
authority on this subject. His inVesti-
cation has resulted in report to US that
the origin or source of the trouble is not
in Stiles Pond, but in pond some two
miles from there. known as Russell's
Pond. In his report, he makes the fol-
lowing statements.
CATER careful inspection of the water
shed and examination of the bottom of
Stiles Pond, am very glad to say that |
find them excellent. l have never seen so
many springs emptying into brook in
so short distance as those found on the
Duck Pond branch. l do not think you
will ever be confronted with the problem
which so often comes up, viz, the
scarcity of water. In my opinion there
are springs enough in Stiles Pond to fur
nish all the water st. Tohnsbury needs,
and excellent water also. The color of
the water is due to the oxidation of the
vegetable material in the overlooked
area in the upper end, and to the very
wet season, more particularly the wet
season. There is also a marked color to
the water from RusselPs Pond, due to
the oxidation there where the mud is
very deep and large amount OF coarse
vegetable matter undergoing degenera-
ton. Ifyou could rule out the wet sea.
son and the color brought to Stiles Pond
from Russel's Pond, you would have no
color which would be noticed.
There is no question in my mind but |
that the origin of the odor and taste is
from Russells Pond, and is due to ana
bena and uroglena, a form of algae which |
is quite common in water supplies. am
convinced that as soon as you do away |
with RusseWs Pond you will have no
further trouble. l would remove the
dam at RusselI's Pond, and do away
with the Pond altogether, as you have
plenty Of water. st. Johnsbury is not
the only town having trouble of this ma
ture with drinking water. Never have
there been so many complaints about
disagreeable odors and tastes in water
whtre there has never been anything of
the kind, as this year. | think you will
agree with me that the past year has
been record breaker for water.
There is not the least danger to health
from the algae or the COLOR
1t will be seen from DR.. Kingsford's re-
port that the vegetable growth or algae
originates in what is known as Russell's
Pond and that the water has been flow
ing down into Stiles Pond, thereby caus-
ing the unsatisfactory condition of our
water supply, mourning large expense
to the Aqueduct Company, also an i'll
convenience to the public, tor which the
Aqutduct Company was not culpable or
responsible.
This demonstrates and confirms the
statement formerly made that this
growth is found in other localities.
Amicable arrangements have been
made with the parties who owned the
Pond for its abandonment; every known
means applied for the removal of the
algous growth; the dam has been taken
down and the water very largely drawn
off from Russell's Pond, and | think we
may reasonably conclude that our trou
bles are practically over. l wish to EN-
phasize the fact that at no time has an
analysis of the water shown it to be un-
safe for domestic use; its condition is
such that there is no reason why anyone
and everyone who wishes should not use
it for all purposes.
St. Johnsbury Aqueduct Company,
H. N. TURNER, Manager.