The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-09-05
C|TY'S WATER SUPPLY
LITTLE SHORT OF IDEAL
DR.. Mack Submits Result Of Analysis to County Physician
Mdn9dn, Which Declares Water Free from Typhoid Germs

| practically body temperature), well
within the limits for an approved wa
ter. There was no fermentation of
glucose, but one culture in six Goa
gulated milk in twentyfour hours,
there was no indol production. This
means that the bacterial content of
this water is very low and that there
is no indication whatever Of fecal con-
tamination. In fact the bacteriologi-
cal showing is not only very favorable,
| it is better than is often met with in
public water supply.
Well Supply.
| The number of colonies of bacteria
that developed from this water at in
cubator temperature are also within
the limits fixed for a reasonably salts
factory water. One tube in six fer
mented glucose, one in six coagulated
milk in twenty-four hours. There was
no indol production. While the bac-
THEOLOGICAL showing for this water is
not quite so good as that for the noun
tain supply, it would be considered sat-
isfactory and safe.
Chemical Analysis
Mountain Supply.
A chemical analysis of this water
shows:
Free ammonia-0.026 parts per mil
lion
Albuminoid ammonia-O.11O parts
per million.
Nitrogen as nitrites-none.
Nitrogen as nitrates-none.
Required oxygen-0.95 parts per
million.
Chlorine-75 parts per million.
The amount of free albuminoid am
monia in this water is rather high.
Still all surface waters contain more
or less, derived from plant as well
from animal or human sources. The
amount of required oxygen and of
chlorine are low and there is an en-
tire absence of nitrogen as either
nitrites or niarates. These facts con-
sidered together indicate that the am
monia found has it's origin. in the
vegetation, probably leaves and algae,
small amounts of which may reach the
water, that no fecal material reaches
it. While the reservoirs are cleaned
frequently it is impossible to entire
ly prevent the growth of algae in stor-
ed waters in warm weather. These
algae, a low form of plant life con-
stituting the greenish, Shiny growth
in reservoirs and pools of water in
warm weather with which we are all
familiar, are not detrimental in small
quantities, and do not give origin to
any of the specific diseases. As stat
ed above, practically all surface and
stored waters contain small quantities
of ammonia derived from algae and
oJher vegetable sources, especially in
summer, and, considered together with
the findings from our sanitary survey
and meteorological examinations, as
well as the other chemical constitu-
ents of the water may be disregarded
as of little or no consequence.
Well Supply.
A chemical analysis of this water
shows
Free ammonia-O.016 parts per mil
lion.
Albuminoid ammonia-O056 parts
per million.
Nitrogen as nitrites-trace.
Nitrogen as nitrates-present.
Required oxygen-0.50 parts per
million.
Chlorine-67. 900 parts per million.
The chlorine content here is very
high. This raises the higly important
question whether the chlorine is of or
ganic or inorganic origin. Ordinarily
high chlorine content is considered
indicative of sewage contamination.
However, the results Of water analy
ses, particularly of ground waters, in
a highly mineralized region like Ne
vada, require different interpreta-
tion than in localities with lesss miner
al. In much of this state there is con-
siderable sodium chloride Common
salt) in solution in the water. IT the
chlorine found here is due to sodium
chloride it is manifestly of no sanitary
significance. On the other hand if it
is due to fecal contamination it be-
comes serious matter and the ques-
tion is not easily answered. In ar
irving at conclusion it is necessary to
consider all other findings. In this
water we have appreciable quantities
of both free and albuminoid ammonia.
To be sure they are less than in the
mountain supply but it must be remem-
bered that they are less permissible
in water from moderately deep well
than in surface water. The fact that
this water contains also a trace of
nitrites and that nitrates are also
present, although not in sufficient
quantities to determine the amounts, is
less favorable than if these constitu-
ents were lacking. 1t indicates the
possibility that small quantities of
surface water penetrate to the lower
levels from which the well draws its
supply. 1t is probable that the
chlorine is largely of inorganic origin
and harmless and the meteorological
findings tend to confirm that view. At
the same time the evidence is not alb
solutely conclusive and the eonclu
sion that this water is less desirable
than the mountain supply is warrant
ed. Taken althogether this may safe
ly be regarded as reasonably salts
factory water supply, better than
most towns enjoy but nevertheless the
other IL to be preferred.
Summary.
An tAings considered the mountain