Connecticut western news., 1917-11-29

underground stream which flows much more slowly through the sand gravel, or water bearing strata in the same general direction as the stream Your well represents a section of au under. ground sf:esm Ordinarily, most of the water forming the underground streams on each side ot the river repre- sents accumulations from the adjoin- ing hills, the surface stream being made up or contributions from the sur face of the drainage area, with addi- tions from the underground streams Under certain conditions, water from the river may become mixed with the underground flow. but the major per tion of the surface stream is not likely to find its way underground again, ex. cepting under unusual conditions, and that portion which seeps into the sand and gravel becomes purified as it passes slowly through these Altering pledia which make up the soil formations of the valley under consideration.
 A a matter ot facr, a small surface water reser voir, such as you have on the hill above the Blackberry River, while normally receiving pure water, is more likely to become dangerously contaminated from persons temporarily on the drainage area than a ground weter supply where the water is slowly filtered through considerable area of sand and gravel.
 The writer has made examinations of your well supply in the past and we have no record of the presen ,e of obiec. tioneb!e contamination in any of the tests made. Tie accom- mpanyiag report indicates that the sdpply under exist ing conditions Is entirely safe and we can see no reason for objecting to its use for general household p1rnoses
 Very truly vours,
 The Henry souther Engineering Go.
 Jas. A. Newlands
 Dr. Black then called upon MT. Jackson tt give brief resume of what he knew of the situation.
 MT. Jackson: This matter first came to my attention in June through a communication from Commissioner Rla"k stating that the Commissioner on Fish and Game had brought to his attention the fact that the fish were being killed by the passage of chemi- cal into the stream. At that time I had business out this way and looked up Dr. Lee and made an appointment with him. That appointment I was unable to keep until August 7th, and on that date Dr. Black and myself went over the situation with Dr. Lee and made general survey of the town during the time that we had. At that time pr. Black and myself visited the chemical plant. and there is no ques- tion but that the waste was running into the river, evidently direct from the tank. MT Durrett stated to us 1T at the, principal diff .ulty occurred in making their tanks tight. and particu larly becanse one tank burst and the tar flowed down into the river before they could stop it, but that had been obviated to a considerable extent and it was their intention to build lagoons On the upper side of the plant for eva DOT tion.
 We did not near anything more in relation to this matter until some time in September, at which time Dr. Lee called us on the telephone and said that he was having lot of trouble. and that u ere was no doubt but that the chemical was getting into the we'll. That was about the latter part of September I was not able to get here until October 25th, at which time odors and tastes had disappeared and had been absent for about ten days. went over the reservoir on the hill and might add that there might be a source of contamination there.
 MT. Adams stated that detected an odor frop the we'll, but I might 4uali- fy that statement by adding that I noticed the odor before I tasted it at all, and finally ran it down to the fact that MT. Lyles had been up at the chemical plant and was using his gloves and that was where I was get ting the odor rather than from the water.
 At that time. October 25th, the situation hal cleared Rp and as you will notice zone of ;he analyses were made when the testimony seems 10 show that the tastes and jdor were most evident.
 pr. Adam:~I want to say that per sonally I am very. much pleased that the Commission has been here and I think it is source of qualification to all of us to have the matter we'll aired. We have been suspicious and suspicion grows largely from ignor- Il pon and vSxu that xyox, bayo bDox, haro and given us such a generous hearing, am sure that the people will appre- ciate the fact that you are all doing all that you can and we know the Water Company means to give us the best possible water that they can give US. just want to make one suggestion to the President of the Water Com- l nany Personally think we unnld