Impure Water in Dunedin.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 230, 7 April 1874, Page 6

Impure Water in Dunedin.

At the last meeting of the Dunedin City Council, the following letter was read, in reference to the above subject'. After some discussion upon it, the letter was referred to the Waterworks Committee, with power to act:— Moray Place, Dunedin, March 28th, 1874. To His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin. Sir,—l beg to draw your Worship's attention, and that of the Town Council, to the fluid which is being distributed to the inhabitants of Dunedin by the Waterworks Company. , I was induced to make an examination of this fluid in consequence of the occurrence of severe, and in some instances fatal, cases of dysenteric diarrhoea, —a disease which has prevailed in Dunedin, and which experience has shown to be almost always associated with impure drinking water. I therefore obtained a bottle of water from a tap on some premises I rent, and first made an examination with the naked eye. The water was received into a white glass-stoppered bottle, which was quite clean, but which I carefully washed out several times with the water under examination. The water was taken the day after a rainfall. It was extremely turbid, and of a light brownish colour when a sheet of : White paper was placed behind it. I cannot say anything as to its taste, for I did not consider it justifiable to drink a fluid so evidently loaded with impurities. The bottle was allowed to stand for twentyfour hours, wnen it was found that a considerable sediment was deposited, but the fluid was still turbid. After waiting two or three days, the turbidity still remained, showing that it was owing in part at least to living beings moving about in the water, as any merely mechanical impurities would in that time'have either floated to the top, or settled down' at the bottom. On examining the fluid under the microscope, this proved to be the case. Numerous animalcules, and animal and vegetable cells, were found in a single drop. . The sediment was of a brown colour, and consisted of decaying animal and vegetable matter —many living animalcules new to me, but belonging to the Rotifera— numerous very beautiful specimens of Desmldacea and Jbidtomacea, and a variety of other organic bodies, the nature of which it Would require a prolonged examination' to determine. The whole sediment,-.however, with its living inhabitants, was so characteristic of water contaminated by the excreta of animals, and resembled so strikingly other waters'which I had examined at home and in the West Indies, and which were known to be thus contaminated, that I determined to make an examination of the Beservoir and the source of its supply. On Tuesday, the 24th inst., I proceeded to the Reservoir, which 1 found exceedingly clean and in good order. It was evident, however, that no provision existed for filtering the water, —a provision absolutely necessary, uuless the source of supply is either from artesian wells, or • from such an exceptionally pure source as Loch Katrine, from which the water distributed to Glasgow is derived. The sides of the Reservoir I found were in part the natural soil of the locality, and I could see in the water decayed and decaying vegetable matter in abundance. On going to the upper end, I found that the Reservoir is supplied from a send-stagnant pool into which a small rivulet flows. This pond was full of weeds ; blanket weed, among others, which cannot grow in rapidly flowing water. The water was turbid, aud, like that of the reservoir, of a brownish tinge. The banks of this pond and of the rivulet that supplies it were covered with English grass, and formed a grazing ground for cattle. The droppings of these animals were extremely abundant on the grass, and as the land slopes down to the rivulet on each side, it is quite certain that every shower of rain must bring the excreta of cows and horses, or, in plain language, their dung and urine, into the reservoir of water drunk by the people of Dunedin. Moreover, the road slopes down to the point where it crosses the river, and I could trace the drainage from the road into it. On following the river a little way, I passed over some enclosed land, and found the carcase of a recently killed pig hanging by the river side. The washings from this pig, consisting of soapy water containing bristles, Ac, ran into the river. Near the pit; Was a fireplace set into the banks in which was a quantity of ashes; near it were two washing tubs, and evidences of soap water having been habitually thrown on the bank, close to the river. We, therefore, it is evident, have the pleasure of drinking the diluted soapsuds from a family washing place. I think the facts I have stated are sufficient to demand further enquiry. If the Town Council will appoint a Committee, I shall be happy to bring my miscroscope and show them the nature of the sediment in the water, and at the same time shew them how exactly it resembles the sediments of London water, figured in the report on cholera to the General Board of Health. This water was condemned as one of the causes of cholera, and the Companies were compelled to seek a purer source of supply, and to filter their water. Since then it is well known that cholera has hardly attacked London, and the only cases were in the East End, and in houses supplied by a Company whose water supply was accidentally contaminated by sewage. A single case of typhoid fever in any of tho houses near the river, and allowing their drainage to go into it, would produce an epidemic. I have seen an epidemic produced by such a cause. Begging you to bring, this letter under the notice of the Council,—! havo, &c, R. H. Bakewell, M.D.