Report of the State board of health of Massachusetts on water-supply and sewerage : under the provisions of chapter 274, of the acts of 1886.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Date:: 1888

Credit: Report of the State board of health of Massachusetts on water-supply and sewerage : under the provisions of chapter 274, of the acts of 1886. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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$of Boston, Chelsea, Somerville and Everett with 72.8 gallons per inhabitant until li)12, and will supply tlie estimated population of the present territory of the city of Boston with 80 gallons per day per inhabitant until 192.5. Having reached these results from a careful consideration of the actual existing conditions, this Board is constrained to advise that the most appropriate source of supply for a term of years for the district which you rejiresent is the territory already under the control of the city of Boston in the Cochituate and Sudbury River areas. If these, our conclusions, are borne out by the experience of Boston, Chelsea, Somerville and Everett, although the ^fystic be abandoned, the city of Boston can from the other sources under its control supply these commu- nities, and need not, for quantity of water, seek a new source for fifteen years at least, and then there will be ten years for coustnictiou of works before the additional quantity will be needed. We would add that, from such examination as we liave been al)le to make, pecuniary considerations are in the opinion of the Board largely in favor of the development of the Cochituate and Sudbury Iviver sources to their full extent before introducing a new source. By order of the Board, Samuel W. Abbott, Secretary. Bradford.—The selectmen of Bradford, by letter dated Feb. 2, 1887, asked the advice of this Board with reference to two ponds which they thought might l)e suitable as a source of Avater supply. These were Johnson's Pond in the towns of Groveland and Boxford, and Mitchell's, or Hovey's Pond, in the latter town. The ponds Avere examined by our engineer and samples of their waters were taken for analysis ; but the time of taking the samples being that of higli Avater from spring rains they were not regarded as conclusive. The Board replied on ]\Iarch 2 that — While no evidence is presented by such examinations that the qualit}^ of the water, either of Johnson's or of Mitchell's ponds, is at this time objectionable, the Board is unable without further examination, which would extend until after your March town meeting, to give a definite judgment as to the appropriateness of these ponds for your water supply. Raxdolph axd Holbrook. — The joint boards of Water Commissioners of these towns, on the 23d of February, sub-$