12 METHOD OF DESTROYING ALG^E IN WATER SUPPLIES. 



MINNESOTA : 



Water at times a fishy odor or taste due to decomposed vegetable matter. 

 Experts claim it is entirely harmless. 

 NEW JERSEY: 



Dark green gelatinous substance in water, causing a stench almost unbearable. 



Have seen Uroglena so abundant that an odor could be plainly detected one- 

 third of a mile away. 

 NEW YORK: 



Water had a very fishy taste and smell. 



So very offensive as to alarm all water takers. 



It caused such a prejudice that the supply was rejected, although the pollution 

 was of short duration. 



Strong fishy odor and taste; also odor of "smartweed." Popular complaint 

 was dead fish in water mains. 



Odor and taste were fishy, popularly attributed to dead fish; but this is absurd, 

 as the Odor is that of live fish. 



Odor pondy and fishy; bad water; publicly condemned. Board of health 

 interfered, yet analysis showed that water was notunhealthful. 



Very rank, water smelled bad, particularly when warmed. Tasted bad, but 

 not injurious to health. Looked better than tasted or smelled. 



Water became unfit for use, musty or cucumber taste and smell, odor very 

 strong in hot \vater; water became slimy, making it exceedingly hard to filter. 

 Odor and taste at times decidedly fishy. A bright green powder seemed to 

 have been sprinkled on surface. 



I am much interested to know that you are taking up an investigation of algae 

 and organisms, and I very much hope you will favor me with all circulars and 

 information which you may issue relating to the same. I have not attempted 

 to fill out the circular on the back of your letter, but so many cases of trouble of 

 this kind have come to my attention that any listing of them would be very 

 difficult. 



I am devoutly thankful that science in this particular instance has got beyond 

 the pursuit of science for recreation's sake and is doing good and endeavoring 

 again directly to be of much use to mankind. 1 believe your work is the first 

 done in line of either cure or prevention from algye conducted in a rational man- 

 ner, or so far as I know even attempted, and I have been connected with or well 

 informed on public water supplies and their management all my professional 

 life of some thirty-five years. The worst case I know of is at the reservoir. 

 A special commission is at this moment charged with the duty of advising 

 whether or not property worth some two million dollars is to be abandoned on 

 account of annual trouble from algse. 

 OHIO: 



Complaint from customers of a fishy taste in water like the slime from fresh- 

 water fish. 



Water had a fishy taste, causing a general kick; consumers laid it to the fish 

 in the reservoir. 



All water drawn from house bibbs had an objectionable and strong odor, the 

 popular idea being that it was due to dead fish. 



The towns A and B both have vile water, A all the year round, B for 

 six or eight weeks in the hottest part of the summer. A 's water has a vile 

 odor, offensively musty. All vegetables, cereals, coffee, and such edibles and 

 drinks made with the water are scarcely endurable to the visitor. 

 PENNSYLVANIA: 



Water had a disagreeable fishy odor. 



Water smelled and tasted as if dead fish were in it. 



