El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-07


! the quality of the water from the Watts
well few words should be said about
the mesa supply.
The Mesa Water
Some Is or more artesian wells have
been sunk by the International Water
company on the LanOria mesa, a short
distance north of the military reserva-
ton al Fort Bliss. In addition TO these
wells large shaft has been sunk 10
a depth Of 264 feet. At the time of my
visit only part of the artesfan wells
We're In use and from these the water
was pumped with an air lift into
herrispherical reservoir From the reser-
voir il Was pumped into the water mains
| and distributed to its destination
With respect to proximity to habita-
lions this reservoir is well located: but
II IS an open reservoir and supports a
I Father luXuriant growth of aloae The
hehlspherlcal shape and the shallow
ness OF the reservoir make it possible
lot the sunlight to completely penetrate
the water contained in IT, This is ad-
Vqntageous with respect to the growth
OF some organism, but the reverse with
respect to others. \ little more than
100000 gallons Of the mesa water dat
Iy flow to the city Of FL Paso.
AT times decomposition of aIgae in
Nhe mesa water has given rise to much
SolhpIalnt on the part of water users A
sample OF the water containing some Of
the easily obtained growths was
brought to Austin for further study.
ne results are given in exhibit H.
aUlaIity of Water.
nile In FL PasO I heard many com
pIalnants about the quality of the water
supplied to the citizens by the Interna-
uonai Water company. In the main tbs
complaints were lodged against the wa
Ter from the Watts well; the COM
pla1qants insisting that the water was
uIiWholesome and not fit for domestic
purposes Inasmuch as I was obliged to
urlnk water from the Watts we'll dur
ing fny stay in the city, my interest in
us quality partOOk of a personal. as well
as a scientific aspect.
The observations Of the first dav
Iorced upon me the necessity of drink
ing larger volume Of water than my
system required in Austin The aridness
and the altitude Of the FL Paso area is
Inc explanation Of the increased need
Oh water This point should be con-.
Stantly borne in mind by citfzepA
III PasO- They should daily drink fSPgS
quantities Of water. and if this be car
ried out the water they drink should
De "holesome- Now, what does the ex-
animation Of the water supply OF Ell
Paso disclose? Let US first examine the
evidence in regard 20 the
Qual1ty OF Watts Well Water.
tFrom a archaeological Viewpointl
here are the facts disclosed by the
PSYCHOLOGICAL examinations made of this
water during my stay in FL Paso:
l. The samples Of water taken as il
flowed directly from the pipe into the
discharge" basin contained fewer bac-
terra per cubic centimeter go drops)
than any other sample of water exam
fned during the progress Of this in
vestigation, and no disease producing
micro organism were found therein.
2 The samples Of water from the
settling" basin similarly examined.
contained from three to four times IS
many bacteria per cubic centimeter as
were found in the samples taken direct
from the water as flows from the
We'll No disease producing bacteria
found In these samples.
3 The first sample of water from
the suction" tank contained many
more bacteria per cubic centimeter than.
we're round IN the sample from the
settling basin The other samples from
the suction" tank contained practical
ly the same number of bacteria per Gu
bic centimeter as were found in sam
pies from the settling basin. No dis
ease producers were found in these
samples.
Bacteria in Pipes.
tap al the city hall contained larss
number Of bacteria per cubic centimeter
than we're found in any OF the sam
pies thus far mentioned under this
heading No disease producers found
IN the samples from the tap at the
city hall
8 The samples Of water from the
dead ends contained a larger number
of bacteria per cubic centfneter than
IN
from the tap at the city hall While
few red colonies were found in the
samples taken from the dead ends, the
cOrroborative tests for members OF the
colon group were negative In ny
judgment, the colon bacillus was not
present.
s. Samples of watar from the reser-
voir contained a larger number Of
bacteria per cubic centimeter than wers
found IN the samples from the well d.
rect, the settling basin and the sue
ton tank. No disease producing BAG
terra found in the samples
The evidence positively shows that
fewer bacteria per unit volume were
present in the water as it came directly
from Watts well than were present in
any of the samples Of the water taken
at points external 10 the point Of issu-
ance from the low pressure pump It
further shows: that during the period
OF the meteorological examination no
germs were present
nor We're any members of the colon
group OF germs present in the water
al the point of issuance from the we'll
Danger In Dust
The evidence clearly shows the great
danger that turks IN the dust of Ell
PasO, particularly in the dust of the
areas OF population that are unsupplied
and inadequately supplied with eff
Gent sewage diSpOSal-areas without
sewers, unfinished sewers, broken sew
ers, and premises not connected with
sewers This dust is richly laden with
germs and the dust from the districts
mentioned always contains members Of
the colon group.
While no disease producing germs
were discovered in the water from the
Watts We'll during the period of the
the evidence adduced
Clearly points to the necessity of ''eter-
nal vigilance in regard TO the care OF
this water land all other waters) after
1t issues from the well, TO the end
that il may be fully protected from
of every sOrt-particu-
larly frOn incursiOns OF dust from in