HALIFAX WATER WORKS. — JOHXSTOX. Ill 



by spigots cast on the latter. When on the assumption of control 

 of the Avorks l>y the city, a general assessment was levied to 

 provide the funds necessary to maintai'a them, all citizens on the 

 line of pipes applied for sen-ice pipes to their properties. There 

 had been considerable doubt in the minds of the directors 

 of the water company as to tlie material to be used for service 

 pipes, and in 1846 they asked Mr. Jarvis for a report as to the 

 merits of tin-lined lead pipes for this pun^ose. He replied 

 that three-(|uarters of the service }>ipes used in Xew York at 

 that time were common lead pipes, and adds that there was 

 considerable discussion then going on as to the injurious eifects 

 of lead pipe on water. He had no doubt they injured a pure 

 water, but that the length is so short that no material influence 

 is produced. However, the water company, as before stated, 

 laid all service pipes of cast-iron. The commissioners of water- 

 supply decided to use lead pipes, and during their first year in 

 office they laid over (3^ miles of lead service pij^es to supply 

 water to 1,058 takers. A large number of these were renewals 

 as the old f inch iron pipes were found to be badly chtjked 

 and corroded. Since that time all services have been lead pipes. 

 While Halifax water is a very soft water, and as such, from 

 general obseiwation elsewhere, should be injuriously affected by 

 lead pij)es, such has 'not been the case, the experience being 

 that after a short time a film or layer of sedimentaiy deposit 

 forms over the surface of the pipe which prevents the water 

 coming in direct contact with it. No cases of lead poisoning 

 from using the water have been reported since the intro- 

 duction of lead pipes for services in 1861. Under the regu- 

 lations of the water department, each building- is entitled to 

 one 4 inch service pipe laid at the department's expense from 

 the main to the street line. In the event of a larger pipe being 

 required the difference in cost is paid for by the person desir- 

 ing the same. In the winter of 1882-3 a very large nimiber of 

 unch'rground leaks were discovered and were found to result 

 from the service pipes being severed at the connection with the 



