Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-11-22
Our Water Supply.

The situation in regard to Ellis
worth's water supply is brighter
The last analysis shows the water
safe for drinking. AS shown in a
news article printed elsewhere in
this Issue, influences are at work
from within and without the water
company, to make impossible a re-
eurrence of the contamination of the
water
In justice to the water company
we wish to say here that Supt.
Leach says the water company did
not receive four reports showing the
water bad. He says that the first
unfavorable report he had was
dated October 10. On the other
hand, in a letter to the water COM
pany dated October 90, the State
board Of health used the phrase, as
you are aware, this is the fourth
analysis showing the water to be in
bad condition. OF words to that eff
feet. Mr.. Leach says it was not the
fourth, but the second unfavor-
able report received by the COM
pany. and has written the State
board Of health for an explanation,
but as yet has received none.
In the same letter of October %,
the State board of health gave the
water company explicit instructions
to notitv its consumers that the
water was not safe to use without
first boiling. Granting, therefore,
that the company was innocent of
neglect in not notifying the public of
the condition of the water on the first
two analyses because it was not mott
fed itself, passing over it's neglect
voluntarily to warn consumers when
the unfavorable report Of October
10 was received, still there can be no
excuse for disregarding the explicit
order of the board of health on Octo-
Der % to warn consumers. In event
of a death or deaths in Ellsworth
traceable to the public water, we be-
lieve the water company, by disre-
garding the order of the State board
of health, has laid itself liable to
heavy damages if not to criminal
prosecution.
In the news article previously re-
tered to, the conditions at the pump
ing station are explained, showing
lidL dI PiCoCiN thC SAFETY VI lhC pun
lie depends upon the knowledge and
exercise OF special care on the part
of one man. This is too narrow a
margin of safety for the public of
Ellsworth. The conditions must be
remedied, and the contamination of
bhe service water by river water
made impossible.
Several remedies are suggested,
The immediate repair of the pump
ing we'll is the first need, pending
permanent alterations. Dr.. Kendall
suggests chlorinating plant. The
general impression in Ellsworth is
that Branch pond water, if kept free
from contamination, is perfect
drinking water, The effect of chlorl-
mating it might destroy it's flavor.
That we do not know; it is ques-
ton to be answered by an expert.
The water company, it is under
stood. suggests disseminating the
pumping we'll and connecting the
pumps direct with the pipe across the
river. We think it would be dan
gerous experiment to apply suction
to a pipe across the river, for in case
of leak in it now or one developed
river water would. undoubtedly be
drawn into it, That, again, is mat
ter for an expert engineer.
We again urge the importance OF
the city, before any changes are
made, employing the services of an
engineer, possibly through the
State board of health or the public
utilities commission, in whichever
body the authority is vested.
When the work is done we want
no patching up that will be but tenn
porary. II must be done right, and
we want an engineer working in the
interest of the city and the public
health to say when it is done right