DIVISION II 



MICROBIOLOGY OF WATER AND SEWAGE 



CHAPTER I* 



MICROORGANISMS IN WATERf 



Water is necessary in the life of man. Besides its use as a beverage, 

 for cooking, and all domestic purposes, it is largely used in many manu- 

 facturing industries; therefore, the study of its chemical and biological 

 content is one of the most important features of modern hygiene. All 

 natural waters contain microorganisms, which gain entrance from many 

 sources. 



Under the influence of the sun, sea water evaporates and forms a 

 water vapor, which we call clouds; and these, driven by the wind over 

 the land, are precipitated as rain and in the form of snow or hail. 



Most of this water collects from vast areas into brooks, creeks, 

 rivers, lakes, or in subterranean streams, and finally reaches the sea 

 whence it came. 



The water vapor arising from the sea or land contains no organisms ; 

 but as soon as the vapor is precipitated microorganisms find their way 

 into it. These come from the air and from the soil. Some of them find 

 in water sufficient nutriment for their life and growth; and, because of 

 their constant presence and evident ability to thrive in water, they are 

 sometimes spoken of as belonging to the "wafer flora" Others, such as 



* Prepared by F. C. Harrison. 



fFor specific details regarding methods of analysis and a fuller presentation of the subject, 

 readers may consult any of the following excellent books: 



1. Savage, W. G.: The Bacteriological Examination of Water Supplies, London, H. K. 

 Lewis, 1906. 



2. Horrocks, W. H.: An Introduction to the Bacteriological Examination of Water, London, 

 J. and H. Churchill, 1901. 



3. Prescott and Winslow: Elements of Water Bacteriology, 26. Ed., New York, Wiley & 

 Sons, 1913. 



310 



