South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-15

the city water supply is made in the
South Bend medical laboratory. The
reports indicate that the water is of
satisfactory character Any seepage
Of river water into the reservoir
would be indicated by high bacterial
count and presence OF gas forming
organisms
The supply from the north pump
ing station while not possessing quite
as good a meteorological record as
that from the central pumping sta
ton, il of satisfactory character and
suitable for a public supply.
The pumps at the north station for
supplying water 70 the mains are two
Dean direct acting duples pumps,
one of 100000 gallons and the
other Of 100000 gallons capacity
and two Allis Chalmers crank and
hywheel type OF 100000 gallons
each
The average daily pumpage by the
north station is 100000 gallons.
The physical description OF the
South Bend water works system, to-
gether with ARCHAEOLOGICAL condi-
tons Of the water supplied 10y the
north and central pumping station.
as set forth in this report, was made
in an effort 70 determine any pos
sible connection between the public
water supply and the epidemic OF
typhoid fever existing in South Bend.
In the opinion of the writer, the
public water supply was not a rae
tor in the spread OF this disease. In
fact, the supply is of very high stand
ard and continues 10 be, in spite or
the fact that it's character has been
questioned. one of the best supplies
in the state.
Notwithstanding the satisfactory
record of the city supply there are
certain conditions disclosed by this
investigation which while they APP
parently have no bearing on the
quality of the supply, should be
brought to the attention of the water
works department that plans may
be made against possible future pol
luton.
The first of these is the location of
some Of the wells furnishing the city
supply. The wells in the river have
been discontinued and rightly so, for
while present conditions are such
that the pollution OF the public sup
ply through them is well nigh an
impossibiIity. future conditions might
result which would not be desirable
Wells SO located are more liable to
damage and less easily inspected
than those located on solid ground.
A reservoir located adjacent TO a
polluted body OF water is far more
liable 70 contamination should
break develop than one which is not
so located While no evidence point
ing to the contamination of the cen
tral station supply by the water from
the race now exists, yet such CON
tamination is a possibility at some
future time, and for this purely
precautionary reason the reservoir
at its present location should be dis
continued.
third suggestion is the elimina
ton of the suction lines which pass
through contaminated water or soil
which may carry contaminated
water BY taking these precautions
the public supply viii be guarded
against drawing contaminated water
into the pumps should a leak in the
suction line occur. The water flow
ing from all wells may be carried by
the force of their static head into a
collection reservoir which should be
located at point close 10 the
pumps, whereby an endangered sue
ton line may be necessary.
With these corrections the supply
will not only continue 10 he one OF
the best in the state as far as sani-
tary conditions are concerned but |
viii also be guarded against the un-
usual possibilities which might oc- /
cur at some future time.