220 Report on the Water Supply of Albany. 



towards the middle or end of the season, the lake water 

 overflows its shores, covering a land vegetation, which is 

 thus destroyed and gradually decomposed, and added to 

 the amount of organic matter previously in the water. 



It is a well established principle in chemistry, that the 

 highej the temperature the greater the quantity of organic 

 matter which will be dissolved ; and when in spring and 

 summer we find the water along the meandering shores of 

 the lake at a temperature equal to, or above blood heat, it 

 is no wonder that the water should become surcharged 

 with organic matter. It seems very clear that no supply 

 of water, however adequate in quantity, will ever prove 

 satisfactory in quality, while distributed from open reser- 

 voirs, especially when so large a surface is exposed, and 

 with such an extent of shallow water as we have in this 

 lake. Certainly, no time should be lost before deepening 

 and walling, if need be, the present sloping shores of 

 Rensselaer lake. 



The length of this sloping shore line, counting the ac- 

 cessory areas or lagoons which communicate with the lake 

 and along which the water is everywhere shallow, (as 

 measured from the map) is about two miles. 



The present impure condition of the water causes great 

 loss, for, in order not to use, for drinking or bathing, a 

 fluid so offensive to the senses, much water on this account 

 is often allowed to run to waste. 



It has been suggested that if the present supply were 

 carefully economized and properly distributed, there would 

 be sufficient water for the inhabitants of the city. It seems 

 probable from all the facts known, that the present supply 

 with a moderate addition, would suffice for the present, or 

 perhaps for some years to come. We believe that the 

 water supplied to Albany is delivered in a more filthy 

 condition, and is more unequally distributed than in 

 any other city in the United States. It is no uncommon 



