1892.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 303 



The analyses have been made according to Wancklyn's 

 process, familiar to chemists, and are directed towards the 

 indication of the presence of chlorine, free and albuminoid 

 ammonia, and the poisonous metals, lead in particular. 

 (For a more detailed description of this method, see " Water 

 Analyses," by J. A. Wancklyn and E. T. Chapman.) 



Mr. Wancklyn's interpretation of the results of his mode 

 of investigation is as follows : — 



1. Chlorine alone does not necessarily indicate the 

 presence of filthy water. 



2. Free and albuminoid ammonia in water, without 

 chlorine, indicates a vegetable source of contamination. 



3. More than five grains per gallon* of chlorine (=71.4 

 parts per million), accompanied by more than .08 parts per 

 million of free ammonia and more than .10 parts per million 

 of albuminoid ammonia, is a clear indication that the water 

 is contaminated with sewage, decaying animal matter, urine, 

 etc., and should be condemned. 



4. Eight-hundredths parts per million of free ammonia 

 and one-tenth part per million of albuminoid ammonia 

 render a water very suspicious, even without much chlorine. 



5. Albuminoid ammonia, over .15 parts per million, 

 ought to absolutely condemn a water which contains it. 



6. The total solids found in the water should not exceed 

 forty grains per gallon (571.4 parts per million). 



An examination of the previously stated analyses indicates 

 that Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 29, 

 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 49, 50, 54, 55, 56, 60, 66, 67 and 

 68 ought to be condemned as unfit for family use ; while 

 Nos. 6, 9, 12, 16, 17, 22, 36, 41, 44 and 64 must be con- 

 sidered suspicious. From this record it will be seen that 

 over two-fifths of the entire number of well waters tried 

 proved unfit for drinking. Heating waters to the boiling 

 point removes not unfrequently immediate danger. 



Parties sending on water for analysis ought to be very 

 careful to use clean vessels, clean stoppers, etc. The 

 samples should be sent on without delay after collecting. 

 One gallon is desirable for the analysis. 



* One gallon equals 70,000 grains. 



