The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-09-29
NUUANU WATER
md continuing for one week only.


l., 10. Plnkham, So, freSlueII Dual u
of Health, Honolulu.
Sir:-I beg to hand you report of par
tial chemical investigation of Nuuanu
Valley water; samples taken in COM
pany with DR.. ]. S. B. Pratt, Chief
Sanitary officer, September 26th.
The stream supplying the reservoirs
flows through the dam now being con-
structed and is of normal quality.
About 500 feet below the new reservoir
site Lulumahu stream enters the main
Nuuanu stream. Lulumahu water was
being used on the Goth for sluicing pur-
poses. and no provision being made for
the separation of this water, the same
entered the main reservoir supply and
a considerable part of the suspended
matter flowed into the reservoirs.
The analytic results are as follows:
Main Nuuanu stream above point of
contamination contains 4.OS grains
solids per gallon
Lulumahu stream at point where it
enters main Nuuanu stream contains
7O5. grains solids per gallon.
Luakaha weir (where stream is di-
verified to reservoir) about 1a mile below
Lulumahu stream, water contains 2O,O5
grains SOlldS per SdlIoH.
Upper CNo. 81 Reservoir contains Sc
grains per gallon.
Middle (No. 2. Reservoir contains 6.99
grains per gallon.
Lower mo. y Reservoir contains 1O.9
grains per gallon
From eight analysis of Nuuanu res
ervoir water previously made the solid
matter ranges from A to 5.3 grains per
gallon. The solid matter in No. l Res
ervoir, where the city supply is taken
thus contains twice the normal amount
of solid matter.
While this increased solid matter is
largely made up of earthly substances,
yet the amount of organic matter has
been also largely increased.
The normal value of oxygen consum-
ed in oxydizing the organic matter in
the reservoirs water ranges from 1 to
LIS parts per million Gas shown by for
mer analysis). 1 find the value now S.S,
SO and 2.5 parts per million for reser-
Voirs to 1 respectively. The albumi-
mold ammonia. content of the reservoirs
(an indication of the quality and
amount of organic matter presently is
also higher than the normal, ranging
from OPT to O29 parts per million. The
normal for the reservoirs is from O.O4
to O.. 095 parts per million.
The contamination due to the sluic-
ing operations thus consists in an in
crease of double the solid matter and
a very large increase in highly OBJ
jectionable organic matter. The high
est amount of organic matter found
previously is about 2-3 less than the
present content.
In reference to the probable injurious
effects of this water l may say that the
use of water contaminated with earthly
and organic matter may possibly re-
suit in disease.
In company with DR.. Pratt another
inspection of the Nuuanu supply was
made today (2Sth). From Mr. c.. H.
Smith, the government engineer, we
learned that within one hour of our
visit of Tuesday the sluicing operations
were discontinued and when again be-
gun provision will be made to prevent
contaminated water reaching the lcger-
y0irs.
The present appearance of the res ar-
volrs is apparently the same as on the
26th and from the mechanical condi lon
of the suspended matter some days will
be required for the subsistence of the
finely divided clay and the returns of
the reservoirs to normal condition.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) NJ r. A. DUNCAN,
Food Commissioner and Analyst.