The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-02-25
Just Cause for Indignation.

Within the past ten days rumors
came to the Skowhegan Board of
Health that an analysis of the water
being supplied through the mains OF
Skowhegan Water Company had been
made and decidedly unfavorable
report returned thereon. The men,
bers of the board at once took steps
to ascertain the authority for the re-
port and the result made it impera-
tive to give the notice, published In
the columns of the REPORTER last
week, to the effect that the water
should be boiled before used for
drinking purposes. The final letter
which gave them full warrant for this
course was received here, SO late that
further explanation could not be
formulated in time for publication,
but the board has decided that the
fullest publicity should now be given
the matter. The letter referred to
above, from II. d. Evans, director of
the Maine State Laboratory of Hy-
giene, gives information of a most
serious and startling character and is
here presented in full.
Augusta, Maine, Feb. II, 1909.
DR.. w. S. Stnchfelc.
Skowhegan, Maine.
Dear Ductor:-
Your letter of even date is at hand, as
is also the correspondence between you
and DIR. Young in regard to the typhoid
situatUh in your town. AS he has
written you. we have always made re-
ports on analyses of water samples to
those who have S. mt them and to no one
else. In the present case it has SCI med
to me, and to the Laboratory Committee
whom have consulted on the matter,
that the interests OF the people OF your
town took precedence over our rule of
reporting samples; and l would make
the following statement in regard to the
analyses Of samples of water from your
supply.
Since October, 1907 we have been max
ing quarterly examinations oi the public
supplies Of the State in addition to such
analyses as were required by individuals.
Since the above date we have regularly
received samples both from the pond and
river supply of your town: THESE have
come from the Skowhegan Water Co.
In addition Mr.. c. l.. Webb sent a sam
pie from the pond in November, 1857:
you sent two samples on Nov. 10th,
1905: Mr.. b. A. Sawyer sent sample
on Nov. 10th. which was followed by
pond and river sample from the Water
Company on the 18th Of the same month.
Up to, and including these samples no
sewage bacteria had been detected in
any of the samples; nor have any ap-
peared in the samples from the pond
since then. In the first report on the
river water made to the Water Com
pany attention was called to the fact that
this water was open to serious pollution
from the towns above, and that trc uble
would follow any outbreak Of typhoid
in them.
On Ian. I2th, 1909 the usual quar-
terly samples were sent by the Water
Company, and on the 10Th l reported
the analysis. The report on the river
samples stated that sewage bacteria were
present in it, and that it was not safe
drinking water unless it were first boiled.
On Feb. Ist the water was again ex
amined with the same results, and a
similar report made.
In rome of the examinations of the
pond water have sewage bacteria been
found and. although turbid and subject
to surface drainage it has been safe
drinking water. The river water has
been in the same condition until the
samples which l received on Jan. 18th.
At the time OF the last analysis. Feb.
Ist, colon bacilli were present in the
water. The water cannot be considered
safe drinking water in its present con-
ditiun and while at almost all times its
use may not cause disease through the
: absence Of infectve material. its posi-
bilities Of serious pollution as at the
present time renders the river water
unsafe for a drinking supply.
Very truly yours,
II. d. EVANS, Director.