Connecticut western news., 1917-11-29
First Hearing Of Public Health
 Council Held at the ToUn Hall
Receive Testimony Given by Uses of Water in Regard to the Possible Contamination Through Filtration from Blackberry River into We'll from Which Supply is Pumped. Council Reserves Decision

The first mee ting of the newly ap- pointed Public Health commission, was held at the town hall last Thurs day, for the purpose of receiving evi dence regarding the pollution of/the water supply of the town of North Canaan. The council consisted of Com. missioner John T. Black, J. Frederick Jackson, sanitary engineer, R A. Cairns. sanitary engineer, O. E A. Winslow, M. S., Dr. Walter H. Brown, and James A. Newlanos, B. l.. The state recently appropriated $25, 900 for the use of this commission in solving problems just such as is presented in this town regarding water supply.
 The meeting was called to order by Dr. Black who stated that the meeting was to be informal and that the coun- ell would be glad to hear from anyone who had opinions in the matter, and the call for the meeting was read by Dr. Brown of Bridgeport.
 Dr Black, stated that the complaints in this matter have come in various ways from the first of July until the early part ot November, mostly through the local Health Officer, the first for. nal complaint being made on October 24th by Dr. Lee, accompanied by protest signed by number of citizens, and called upon. Dr. Lee for state ment. %.S&..1 ,s
 Dr. Lee said that sample of water taken from the well showed that it had the same odor as that which came from the river. At meeting of some of the citizens MT. Fuller who drew up this paper, thought that we should get some sort of petition from the people to have a meeting with the Health Officer and if possible stop using water from the we'll. He thought that might be doubtful, but would be willing to sign the protest. The water at that time was very decided in taste and odor and showed that we were getting the chemical from the river.
 Dr. Black: Will you be kind enough to tell us when this was?
 Dr. Lee: On October 24th. Shortly before that we discovered the taste in the water from the we'll. The water during the summer time tasted but this was from alga in the reservoir but that was cleared up and then we got the taste of the chemical.
 Dr. Black: When was the first com paint made? ...e..m
 Dr. Lee: Some time in October.
 Dr. Black: Have you always had this difficulty from the taste of alga during the summer time?
 Dr. Lee: When the water supply was low and the reservoir needed cleaning.
 Dr. Black: No complaints prior to October as to the taste or river water in the we'll?
 Dr. Lee: No, not any specific com plaints about the chemical. There was complaint about the killing of fish. This was in June. a%
 Dr. Black: What date?
 Dr. Lee: June 18th. It tame from Mir. Champion; he asked me to get samples of water from the river fo1 analysis at that time.
 At this point Mrs. Ives told of bring ing fish from Twin Lakes which hac been in the spring water for day and when the fish were put into water g.drawp~, from the faucet they all diet NMithin 8 short time. .
 Miss Minnie Peirce: All through September we went to the neighbor' we'll because of the taste of chemica in the water.
 Dr. Black: Was the taste of algs ever enough to lead you to get watel from other sources?
 Miss Peirce: No. .%...
 H. H. Scutt: believe that many O us will add, MT. Chairman, that i was in September if not earlier tha we got the odor.
 Dr. Black: You are clear as to tn difference in these two odors?
 MT. Scutt: Yes, the chemical odo is quite distinct from alga. +t
 Chairman: What report has beel given you (Dr. Lee) with refere nee t. the actual we'll water?
 Dr. Lee: The report, of the analyst of the we'll water shows no contamina tion by any bacteria.
 George s. Fuller: I do not think
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