The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-05-28
PALATKAWATER WORKS
ORDERED TO PURIFY
Its Source of Supply or Quit
Business Mayor Ken
nerly Speaks.
Palatka has two systems of domes-

Palatka has two systems of domes-
tic water supply.
There is the Boston corporation,
first in the field, and doing business
as the Palatka Water Works.
Then there is the Municipal plant,
owned by the city, and managed by
the City Engineer, Mr.. S. c. Stall
ings.
These plants are competitors for
the business of supplying water to
the people of Palatka. All things
being equal, it would look as if the
people ought to patronize the NUM-
cipal plant, but
1t was charged at the beginning
of the municipal company's opera
tions, that it's water was hard. For
domestic purposes a soft water is pre-
ferable.
The supply of the old company is
undeniably soft. This gave the old
company some advantage.
Then year or more ago the Mu-
nicipal plant installed softening
and aerating plant. Since then the
business of the municipal company
has grown by leaps and bounds.
There is no question as to the purity
of the supply; neither can there be
question as to the absolute health
fulness of this modern softening pro-
cess.
There had been some complaints,
however, regarding the purity of the
old water works supply. These re-
ports coming to the officials, they
demanded an investigation. That in
Ivestigation was made. 1t was made
under the direction of the city en-
gineer.
1t won't do to say that it was
question of business rivalry, or spite
work. The only question at issue is:
IS THE SUPPLY OF WATER fur
nished by the OLD PALATKA WA
TER WORKS IMPURE?
The State Health Officer has set
tied that question in the AFFIRMA-
TIVE.
Here is the report OF the State
Health office, submitted to DR.. j. Y.
Porter, the State Health Officer. DR..
Porter sent this report to the city
officials with request that they act.
Here is the report:
Executive OTice
State Board of Health of Florida.
DR.. Joseph Y. Porter,
State Health Officer,
Jacksonville, Fla.
Dear Doctor
The following is report of an eX-
animation of water furnished the city
of Palatka by what is known locally
as "the old water works." together
Of hn
plant and survey of the area from
which this water is collected.
Persuant to instructions, | visited
Palatka March 10th and 11th, and
conferred with Mr.. S. 6. Stallings,
the City Engineer, who very kindly
offered to accompany and assist me
/ in this survey.
This water supply is derived from
springs which arise in a deep ravine
with verv steep banks covered with
undergtowth and decaying vegeta-
| BILE matter From the nature of the
soil, and from the fact that the floor
of this ravine is lower than the sur
rounding country, it seems extremely
probable that these springs are fed
by seepage from nearby lakes or
ponds, though this fact can not be
positively determined.
A specimen for laboratory eXamina-
ton was collected from these springs
at the head of the east fork of the
ravine and has been reported under
the laboratory number S7615 (copy |
attached). This examination shows |
this to be a contaminated water un-
fit for drinking purpoSes-thus sub
stantiating the results of previous
examinations.
The springs arising in the ravine
described above form a small creek !
which flows slowly down the floor of
the ravine for a distance of approXi-
mately half mile, being joined in
its course by similar stream from |
another branch of the ravine.
The water from these streams is
collected in an bpen, brick-walled,
unf1oored reservoir, which is equipp-
ed with bypass for use in rainy
seasons when the creek water be-
comes muddy and unfit for use. The
daily consumption of water from
this plant, however, is about 300,-
600 gallons; and the capacity of the
reservoir is insufficient to provide
for such "by-passing" during a pro-
tracted rainy season.
The water is pumped from this
reservoir to a standpipe, whence it
is distributed through the mains to
all sections of the city. A specimen
collected from a tap at the corner of
Lemon and 2nd streets reported un-
der laboratory number S7616 (copy !
attached) shows sewage contamina-
tion. {
A survey of the watershed re- t
vealed the fact that, while the ravine j
itself is fenced fully four-ffths of I
the collection area is wholly unpro- I
tected.' There are within the collec g
ton area, and within an average q
distance of $50 yards from the creeks,
no less than six open, surface privies
which without doubt drain directly I
into them. There are also two cess
pools within about 100 yards of the
east fork of the creek, and two 9th
er open privies about which there was
some doubt as to the direction of
drainage. L
These creeks are unprotected from L
fbrot,ohn1,t fhaiY aptira !