ADULTERATION OF FOOD, &c. 
PART II 
or THE 
THIRD SUPPLEMENT 
TO THE 
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND REVENUE 
1881. 
AN A L Y S|I&'d 5WTER~ 
grjntyd bg Order ojf 
OTTAWA: 
PRINTED BY MACLEAN, ROGER & CO., WELLINGTON STREET. 
1882. To the Hon. J. C. Aikins, 
Minister of Inland Revenue. 
Sir,-I have honor to submit herewith the Report of the Analyst, who, on the 
suggestion of Dr. Bergin, M.P., was directed to analyze certain samples of water 
taken at Cornwall under that gentleman's direction. 
The Reports of the Toronto Analyst on the Toronto water, as well as other 
documents on the same subject, which may bo of use in dealing with the question, 
are added. 
As these papers may be found useful during the present session, they have been 
printed as an addenda to the Annual Report on the Adulteration of Food, already 
submitted to Parliament. 
I have the honor to be 
Your obedient servant, 
A. BRUNEL, 
Commissioner. 
Inland Revenue Department, 
14th February, 1882. Toronto, 7th November, 1881. 
Sir,-In accordance with instructions received from Mr. Stratton, the Collector 
of Inland Revenue for Toronto, I have made a series of analyses of the water sup- 
plied to the City of Toronto. 
The samples were taken from Hanlan's Point, from both inside and outside the 
crib, which is the present source of supply, from the well on the engine-house wharf 
from the pumping well and from the tap in the School of Science. 
In order to furnish standards for comparison samples were also taken for 
analysis from the Lake and from the Bay at the foot of Yonge street. 
As the result of a number of analyses extending over the month of October, I 
submit the following table as the average composition of the water in question :- 
All constituents are expressed in grains per gallon of 70,000 grains. 
Description 
of 
Sample. 
Free 
Ammonia. 
Albumenoid 
Ammonia. 
Chlorine 
in 
Chlorides. 
Solids. 
Hardness. 
Lake 
•001 
•008 
•20 
9-5 
6'5 
Hanlan's Point 
•002 
•01 
•21 
9'5 
6'5 
Inlet Crib 
•003 
•01 
■21 
9'5 
6'5 
Wharf Well 
■004 
•01 
•21 
95 
6'5 
Pumping Well 
■004 
•01 
•21 
95 
6-5 
Tap 
•003 
•01 
•21 
9'5 
6'5 
Bay 
•020 
•015 
•34 
9'5 
6'5 
It appears from the above table that the water as supplied to the city has 
practically the same composition as that of the Inlet Crib, and except for a trifling 
increase in the free ammonia is identical with that at Hanlan's Point. There is a 
still further increase in the free ammonia in the water of the Pumping Well. The 
cause of this increase, I am not prepared to explain. Further observations are 
required to show whether it is a temporary and more or less accidental phenomenon 
or not. 
» 
The full analysis of stho water as supplied to the consumers is as follows :- 
Colour Pale yellow. 
Smell at 100° F Somewjiat peaty. 
Chlorine in Chlorides -21 grains per gallon. 
Nitrogen in Nitrates *015 do 
Ammonia *003 do 
Albumenoid Ammonia '010 do 
Oxygon absorbed in 15 minutes '0075 do 
do 4 hours -014 do 
Hardness before boiling (Clark's scale) 6 • 5° 
do after do 2*0° 
Total solid matter dried at 220° F 9-5 do 
This may bo taken as the average composition of the Toronto water supply 
during the month of October last, and except that the albumenoid ammonia is very 
high it is taken by itself satisfactory. 
In certain conditions of the wind, however, the water is not so good. Thus on 
the 17th, with a strong east wind blowing the water was quited turbid. 6 
On comparing the composition of the public water supply, with that of the 
Lake on the one hand and that of the Bay on the other, it appears that the city 
water while approaching much more closly to the former than to the latter occupies, 
nevertheless, an intermediate position between them. 
These considerations render it evident that the necessity of abandoning the 
present source of supply at the earliest possible moment cannot be too strongly 
insisted on. 
I have the honor to bo, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
• W. II. ELLIS, 
Public Analyst. 
The Commissioner of Inland Revenue. 
REPORT ON THE CORNWALL WATERS. 
4 th February, 1882. 
Sib,-I have the honor to report that on the 17th December last, I received 
from the Collector at Cornwall, four additional samples of water, making the total 
number of samples 22. The results of my analysis I have already handed in upon 
the usual certificates, the method of analysis employed and the valuation of results 
being in accordance with the British method recently adopted by English Public 
Analysts, and published in The Analyst. 
As a summary of these results may be useful, I beg to explain that, in the 
standard adopted, Pure Distilled Water is taken as the standard of absolute purity 
and ranks 0; any water which on the ±2 special counts for impurity does not exceed 
15 points on the scale laid down, is reckoned as " water of exceptional purity." 
Water ranking above 15 and under 40, 1st class. 
do 40 do 65, 2nd class. 
do 65 do 90, 3rd class, 
do 100 condemned as unfit for use. 
On this basis of valuation I find waters of 
exceptional purity 2 (Nos. 11 & 21.) 
Water of 1st class 1 (No. 5.) 
do 2nd class 4 (Nos. 4, 13, 17 & 22.) 
do 3rd class 2 (Nos. 16 & 19.) 
Waters condemned as unfit for use..., 13 
Total 22 
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18 & 20. 
The latter waters are all contaminated with sewage as well as soil drainage. 
I have the honor to be, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
J. BAKER EDWARDS, Pn.D., F.C.S. 
To the Commissioner of Inland Revenue. 7 
No. of Analyst's I 
Report. 
Vendor. 
| Colour. 
| Odour. 
| Chlorine. 
| Phosphates. 
| Nitrates, &c. 
| Ammonia. 
| Albumenoid. 
Oxygen at 80° 15 M. 
Hardness, by Clark. 
Solids in Solution. 
1 Solids in Suspen- 
sion. 
Microscopical Ex- 
aminations. 
Rank of Impurity. 
Total Solids per Im- 
perial Gallon. 
Class 
of Potable 
Water. 
Results of Analysis, and Remarks by Analyst. 
Grs. 
77'2 
5068 
N. of 2nd St., A. II 
2- 
4 
19 
4 
10 
70 
20 
10 
2 
21 
1 
6 
169 
Condem'd 
Contaminated with surface water and sewage, and unfit 
for human consumption. 
5069 
S. do O. II 
2- 
4 
31 
4 
10 
50 
20 
40 
1 
56 
4 
4 
226 
161-5 
do 
do do do 
5670 
S. of 1st St., C. H 
D. Carpenter 
2- 
4 
17 
4 
6 
40 
25 
20 
1 
47 
2 
6 
174 
uro 
do 
do do do 
5071 
1- 
15 
6 
2 
5 
2 
3 
33 
2 
4 
73 
108'5 
2nd Class. 
Potable water of 2nd Class, approaching 3rd Class quality. 
5072 
D. McRae 
4 
1 
2 
2 
6 
4 
25 
31-5 
1st do . 
Wholesome water, 1st Class. 
- 5073 
D. McDonell 
2 * 
1 
19 
4 
6 
5 
10 
5 
19 
26 
6 
6 
109 
73-5 
Condem'd 
Contaminated with sewage and unfit for domestic use. 
5074 
Plomondin 
2- 
4 
19 
4 
10 
50 
14 
10 
12 
22 
6- 
10 
163 
81-5 
do 
do do do 
5075 
Danao 
4- 
4 
25 
4 
10 
40 
10 
40 
12 
34- 
6- 
6- 
195 
114-5 
do 
do do do 
5076 
J Kilgour 
4- 
2 
29 
4 
10 
5 
5 
10 
8 
19- 
6 
4 
106 
do 
do do do 
5077 
N. Hurteau 
4- 
4 
33 
8 
12 
20 
40 
40 
8 
42' 
6 
10 
227 
129-5 
do 
do do do 
5078 
Raceway 
2 
4 
2 
3 
...... 
11 
14- 
A 1 
Wholesome water of exceptional purity. 
5079 
C. Wooil 
2 
20 
4 
10 
40 
20 
20 
7 
19 
4 
4 
152 
73-5 
Condem 'd 
Contaminated with sewage and unfit for human con- 
sumption. 
5080 
La Clere 
1 
2 
4 
15 
10 
10 
4 
8 
2 
2 
58 
38-5 
2nd Class. 
Contaminated with surface drainage, but not with sewage. 
5081 
D. G. McDonell 
1 
2 
12 
4 
8 
12 
10 
4 
6 
11 
4 
4 
78 
52-5 
Condem'd 
do . sewage and unfit for use. 
5082 
Dunkin 
1 
2 
20 
4 
8 
10 
8 
10 
5 
16 
4 
4 
92 
66'5 
do 
do do 
5083 
Phelan 
1 
4 
6 
6 
10 
9 
10 
6 
10 
2 
2 
66 
49- 
3rd Class. 
Contains no sewage and is a potable water of the 3rd Class. 
5084 
Blondin 
1 
6 
2 
4 
2 
10 
8 
12 
1 
1 
47 
56- 
2nd do . 
Potable water of the 2nd Class. 
5085 
Eastman 
2 
4 
25 
4 
10 
10 
12 
12 
6 
20 
3 
4 
112 
87-5 
Condem'd 
Contaminated with sewage and unfit for human consump- 
tion. 
Contaminated with surface drainage, but not with sewage 
5086 
J. T. Kirkpatrick 
2 
10 
6 
6 
4 
8 
8 
18 
2 
2 
66 
70 
3rd Class. 
water of the 3rd Class 
5087 
Dr. Bergin 
2 
2 
10 
1 
6 
8 
6 
10 
12 
29 
2 
2 
90 
98 
do 
Contaminated with surface drainage and a slight trace of 
sewage. On the latter ground, I should condemn it 
5088 
River St. Lawrence op- 
17-5 
although the rank of impurity is only bad 3rd Class. 
posite Cornwall 
1 
2 
1 
2 
1 
4 
1 
12 
Al 
Water of excellent quality and of exceptional purity on 
the British scale. 
5089 
O. Gillespie 
2 
1 
4 
... 
2 
4 
8 
8 
10 
1 
1 
41 
42- 
2nd Class- 
Potable water of 2nd Class. 
tabulated Statement of Analysis of Cornwall Water made by Dr. J. Baker Edwards, Public Analyst, Montreal. 8 
RESUME ON WATER ANALYSIS: NEW METHODS AND RECENT 
RESULTS. 
By J. Baker Edwards, Ph.D., F.C.S., Public Analyst, Montreal. 
Considering the many discrepancies of water analysis, the Society of Public 
Analysts of Great Britain have done good service to social science by co-operating 
with Mr. G. W. Wigner, one of its Secretaries, and one of the editors of its organ, 
" The Analyst," in discussing during the present year : 
1. The Methods of Water Analysis. 
2. Mode of Statement of Results. 
3. Their Comparative Valuation. 
Moreover, by the publication of monthly analyses of the "Public Water Supplies of 
Great Britain," they have conferred a benefit on the public. Mr. Wigner has long been 
a laborious " Water Analyst," and from his great experience on " Sea Side Waters," 
his opinion is entitled to considerable weight. As a result of his labours a Committee 
has been appointed by the Society of Public Analysts, which has drawn up and pub- 
lished a code of "Instructions for Water Analysis," in order to enable analysts 
generally to co-operate, by adopting an uniform method of analysis, and of the mode 
in which results shall be stated. It has still under consideration the mode of valua- 
tion of the relative impurities in potable waters submitted to the Society by Mr. 
Wigner in June last, which has subsequently been very generally approved. Com- 
parative results having been thus rendered possible, a large number of English 
chemists have accepted the task of monthly water analysis in various districts, and 
these have been grouped together by Mr. Wigner in the recent September and Octo- 
ber numbers of " The Analyst," showing the average values of the impurities from 
January to June of the present year, and the valuations for July, August, and Sept- 
ember, severally, of 65 different water supplies in Great Britain, representing an 
enormous amount of exact and laborious work, which is much enhanced in value by 
this mode of bringing into comparative review differences which, without uniformity 
of method, statement, and of valuation, would have no scientific interest whatever. 
Although the methods of research are numerous and critical, the Analysts of the Con- 
tinent will, I feel sure, welcome anything like agreement on so vexed a question as 
water analysis, and will welcome those tabulated results, oven if subsequent experi- 
ence should lead to slight modifications of either the methods or the valuations. 
Having lately had occasion to analyse for the Department of Public Works 
several samples of Ottawa water, I have carefully followed those methods and valua- 
tions, and I find much satisfaction in being thus enabled to classify them with British 
results so recently published, and from my own experience recommend to brother 
analysts in Canada and the United States the adoption of this general method, so that 
future tabulations of comparative values may include the whole of the waters of this 
Continent. 
The following statement of results in the case of the Ottawa water supply will 
indicate the general method of analysis and mode of statement. For details the 
reader is referred to the elaborate " Code of Instructions " published in the June, July 
and August numbers of "The Analyst," and also subsequently published in pamphlet 
form by the Society of Public Analysts. 
Result of analysis of Ottawa water supply, taken Sept, *ith, 1S81, 
by Messrs. Keefer, Lesage and Arnoldi. 
1. Color in 2 feet column, light yellow. 
2. Odor at 100 F. ° slightly peaty. 
* 3. Chlorine as Chlorides '4 
• Quantities expressed in grains for Imperial gallon of 70,000 grs. 9 
4. Phosphoric acid none. 
5. Nitrates and nitrites none. 
6. Ammonia free '0050 
7. Albumenoid Ammonia -0010 
8. Oxygen absorbed at 80 F. in 15 minutes... -0040 
9. Hardness by Clarke's test 3-5 ° . 
f 10. Solids in solution 4'8 
j 11. Solids in suspension 4-2 
§ 12. Microcosms chiefly vegetable. 
The first mode of calculating the valuation of results is by fixing values to each 
of these impurities. Pure distilled water is taken as the standard of absolute purity 
-not taken for granted but ascertained by experiment. Variations from purity are 
assessed according to the following plan : 
1. Appearance, blue clear 0 ; pale brown 1; pale yellow and 
green 2; dark yellow and dark green 4. 
2. Suspended matters, traces 1; heavy traces 2 ; turbidity 4. 
3. For odor, vegetable 1-2 ; animal 4. 
4. Chlorine -5 gr. per gallon 1. 
5. Phosphoric acid, traces 2 ; heavy traces 4 to 8. 
6. Nitrogen as Nitrates, &c *100 gr. per gal. = I 
7. Ammonia , '005 " =1 
8. Albumenoid '001 " - 1 
9. Oxygen absorbed in 15 minutes -002 " - 1 
10. " " in 4 hours *010 " - 1 
11. Hardness before and after boiling -5° - 1 
12. Total solid matter 5 grs. per gal. 1 
13. Heavy metals, traces = 6 
" heavy traces - 12 
14. Vegetable debris = 4 to 8 
15. Diatomsand Bacteria ] - 6 to 12 
16. Hairs and animal debris = 10 to 20 
This scale of valuation allows a considerable latitude for the exercise of judgment 
on the part of the analyst and of allowance for exceptional cases. On this scale TO 
is assumed to be the maximum for any one of these impurities, and if any single im- 
purity exceeds 10 the excess is doubled and included in the addition. The classifica- 
tion of waters as more or less pure, after such valuation, is more difficult to agree 
upon, and will not be accepted without considerable discussion and probably some 
difference of opinion. Still the valuation of the results already obtained are of the 
utmost value, and will be increased by the continued publication of monthly returns 
to the year's end. 
At present Mr. Wigner recommended the following grouping of waters : 
Waters showing 15 or under are of exceptional purity. 
" above i5 and under 40 1st class. 
" "40 " 65 2nd class. 
" " 65 " 90 3rd class. 
" " 100......condemned as unfit for use. 
t Containing Alkaline Silicates. 
j Chiefly Siliceous fragments. 
§ Chiefly Diatoms and Sponge spicules and Algae. 10 
Taking now tl e results obtained from the analysis of the Ottawa water, I value 
as follows :- • \ 
1. Color ; 1-0 
2. Odor -5 
3. Qhlorine 10 
4. Phosphates none 
5. Nitrates none 
6. Ammonia -5 
*7. Albumenoid 1-0 
8. Oxygen absorbed 2-0 
9. Hardness 10 
10. Solids in solution; 1-0 
11 Solids in suspension TO 
12. Microcosms TO 
10-0 
This water, therefore, stands very high on the British scale of purity. Some 
other examples of Ottawa water ranged as high as 12 for impurity, but 11 may be 
taken as the mean value. 
Now by the publication of these monthly returns based upon the same methods, 
lam enabled to give a comparative view of a series of English water supplies ex- 
amined in the same month of September last. Thus-all exceptionally pure: 
Rochdale valuation - 9 
Warwick - 10 
Canterbury = 12 
Swansea and Wolverhampton - 15 
First class : 
Bolton = 17 
Shrewsbury - 19 
Brighton and Salford = 21 
Exeter and Leicester - 23 
Bury and Edinboro' - 24 
Portsmouth = 27 ' 
Plymouth.... = 28 
Birmingham = 29 
Bristol and Whitehaven - 30 
London supplies 21 to 39 
Second class: 
Rugby = 46 
Liverpool - 47 
Darlington - 50 
Newcastle-on-Tyne - 68 
Kings and Lynn -J 10 (condemned) 
Ottawa supply 10 to 12. 
It would thus appear that Ottawa water ranks very high in purity as compared 
with the average water supplies of Great Britain even after filtration, and that, while 
this mode of additional precaution is open to the private consumer, and of the most 
serious importance in the prevention of disease, it is an open question as to how this 
can be best conducted in this country so as to be of general advantage, and it appears 
to me that (considering the exigencies in case of fire, the variability of climate, the 
severity of winter, and other considerations incidental to this country), for the water 
impurities, present filtration is the only remedy, and household filtration the only 
practical remedy. I have, therefore, to recommend a plan of general household fil- 11 
tratiori which should be generally adopted and made compulsory on all water com- 
panies, in which water* should be filtered from the main supply into houses or tene- 
ments or streets, and that taxes should be imposed for the use of filters as for the use 
of gas meters, added to the consumer's account on a pro rdta basis. This project, I 
think, would prove effectual, and I hope may be found practical, and thus remove 
one of the many public grievances from the municipal shoulders of the corporate 
bodies of Canada. 
On referring to the water analyses which I reported on the Montreal supply in 
18*79, a nd applying to these results the table of valuation, I find that notwithstanding 
the including of matters in suspension, Montreal water stands high by comparison. 
Thus: 
March 1st, standard ofimpurity 11'5 
April 21st " " ? 16-5 
July 30th " " 15.5 
Montreal water would, therefore, be exceptionally pure under such a system of 
filtration as I have suggested. That this is not utopian is, I think, proved by the 
fact that several modes of filtration have been patented which have considerable 
merit, and one or other of which might be adapted to larger or small rates of filtra- 
tion with satisfactory results. 
That a simple flannel ba<?- or felt filter is capable of removing a large quantity 
of the most objectionable kind of floating animal and vegetable matter is shown by 
the quantity removed in the flannel bag now exhibited, which has been in use for 
two days only over the supply pipe of the Parliament buildings at Ottawa, and which 
has removed upwards of four oz. of debris, river mud and vegetable matter, more 
than a score of snails, besides water beetles, worms and other not very minute 
animals. This is, of course, a very partial filtration, but it is simple and within the 
reach of all. The models of filters on a large scale capable of effectually filtering 
very large supplies, are as follows:- 
No. 1. Howell's Patent-filters by capillary attraction through hempen cloths ; 
it is built in sections, so that it can be easily taken asunder and cleansed. As a 
water-filter animal charcoal is placed between the sections, and such a filter would 
only require cleansing once a year or so. 
No. 2. Foley's Patent, is manufactured by .Robert Mitchell & Co. of this city. It 
contains sand and animal charcoal and is exceedingly effective. Under the ordinary 
pressure it filters the whole water supply of a house or public building, and is easily 
cleansed by reversing the currents of water, without disturbing the packing. 
No. 3. Crocket's Patent, is designed for large quantities, such as district sup- 
plies, or " Station Filters." It is also cleansed by reversing the supply, and is an 
effective filter, applicable to public purposes and large volumes of water. 
These designs show that there exist no insuperable difficulties in the filtration of 
water on the large scale in Canada; and such filtration would remove one-half of the 
solid matter, and therefore would render the water supply twice as pure as it is at 
present. 
Montreal, November, 1881.