Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-09
RESERVOIR GETS MORE ASSISTANCE
Farview Has Been Holding Its Own, But Rain Should Give 1t Another Boost-Pumping Station Finished Visit of State Chemist Newlands

calcium carbonate and is d measure of the lime and magnesium salts in the water.
 Oxygen consumed. The oxygen con- sunred is an approximate measure of the carbonaceous organic matter which can be oxidized by potassium pefman- ganate in an acid solution.
 The above data give the general phy- the water and are of significance in determining it's value for general household purposes. The following tests are of more importance in de- terminfng it's sanitary quality:
 Chlorine. Chlorine is present in practically all natural waters, coming originally from salt deposits in the earth. In Connecticut the chlorine con- tent is also affected by salt sea spray carried inland by wind and rain. The normal chlorine has been very care fully determined for the waters in this state and has been found to vary, roughly, with the distance from the sea but in any given locality the va riation is very slight Any apprecla- ble increase in the chlorine content, therefore, indicates contamination from some source. This is, perhaps, the most important test for the presence of sewage contamination.
 Nitrogen. Nitrogenous organic mat ter in the process of decomp0slt1on passes through several intermediate stages 10 lfIG IIldi OA1U1ISd loA HI cl nitrates. The albuminoid ammonia test gives an approximate measure of the organic nitrogen. Surface waters frequently contain considerable amounts of nitrogen in this form due to the presence of harmless vegetable growths Ground water filtered more or less in passing through the soil usually contains only small amounts. Sewage is heavily charged with organ ic matter and contaminated water, therefore. shows an increase in al- buminoid ammonia. Free ammonia is a product of the first step in the de- composition of organic matter and Is a rough measure of the amount of de- composing organic matter. Nitrogen as nitrites represents a, short transition period between free ammonia and nj trates and indicates a partial oxida- tion of the decomDosed organic matter by bacterial action. Nitrogen as nj trates represents the last stage in the oxidation of organic nitrogen by bac- ter.ia and is a rough measure of past contani ton.
 Poisonous metals. Poisonous. metals are frequently taken into solution by the action of water on service pipes Of the metals now used for service pipes. lead is the most dangerous. One half of one part in one million parts of water has been known to cause serious illness.
  teria, although of considerable value ir many cases, is liable to great variation from very slight causes, and i5, there fore. not so important as the types ot bacteria found. As disease germs car be isolated from water only under l ! special conditions. it is the common practice to look for a group of 0ac- teria known as colon bacteria, whose l normal habitat fs the intestinal trac 1 of man and the higher animals. The presence of these bacteria in water is an indication of sewage or animal pol ! lution and therefore of the possible ] presence Of disease germs.
 The above tests on the sanitary Qual- l ity of water give much information and in a few instances the analyst i! able to pass or condemn & supply o1 l these data alone. In a very large | number of cases, however, where tht l ingredients found may or may not b, I of harmless origin, the opinion of tht l analyst is necessarily based upon th' l relation of these results to the sani 1 tary conditions about the supply, an( l it Is of the utmost importance, there ] fore. that persons submitting samples l of water for examination should als, send all available information wf1icl 1 might be of value in deterIninn; 1 whether tfle ingredients come iron harmful or harmless sources.