Examination of Spring Waters offered for Sale in Massachusetts. [From the Twenty-Third Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts for 1891.] Examination of Spring Waters offered for Sale in Massachusetts. [From the Twenty-Third Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts for 1891.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. There is a large quantity of spring water sold throughout the State, particularly in cities and towns where the regular water sup- ply is thought to be unsatisfactory, or where the water, as is not infrequently the case with surface water supplies in the summer time, has an unpleasant taste and odor. A considerable number of these spring waters were collected for examination during the summer of 1891, and at the same time a careful inspection of the surroundings of the springs was made, to discover possible sources of pollution. Not only is there a large sale of spring waters as such, but there is also a large amount con- sumed in bottled form, as soda water and other effervescing drinks. As the result of this investigation, it was found that some of the springs were situated in regions nearly or quite free from population, where the land was not under cultivation, and the chemical examina- tions of these waters showed them to be of the highest purity. Other springs were situated in populous districts, or had near them direct sources of pollution, and the water gave evidence, on chemi- cal analysis, that it had, in its course, received a large amount of drainage from sinks, cesspools, privies or stables. In most of the springs of this character which were examined the water showed, however, a high degree of purification by filtration through the ground. The results of the chemical and bacteriological examinations are given below. In accordance with the system of classifying waters adopted in the Report on the Water Supplies of the State (see Special Report on the Examination of Water Supplies, 1890, pages 679 to 716), these spring waters have been divided into three groups based on their chlorine contents. The first group includes the normal waters, and those in which the chlorine is not over 0.20 parts per 100,000 in excess of the normal; the second, those in which the excess of the chlorine is from 0.21 to 354 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc. 0.60 parts; the third group, those in which the excess of chlorine is over 0.60 parts. The first group contains the springs deriving their supply from water-sheds with little or no population ; the second group, those in a moderately populated area; and the third includes the springs which are located in regions with considerable popula- tion. Normal waters have been defined to be those which have not received any waste products of human life. They are, as a rule, con- fined to the water-sheds without population. Any excess of chlorine above the normal of the region in which the water is found is a measure of the amount of waste products, human and animal, that the water has taken up. But the evidence of contamination based on the chlorine alone does not tell us whether the source of pollu- tion is near by or remote. This information is obtained from the determination of the nitrogen, which, in freshly polluted water, is present in the form of organic matter (albuminoid ammonia) and free ammonia, while in water which has percolated under favorable conditions through porous ground the nitrogen is all oxidized and appears in the form of nitrates. In interpreting the analyses of the waters in the following classi- fication, it is necessary to take into consideration the degree of puri- fication which has taken place in those waters which are shown by their chlorine contents to have been at some time more or less con- taminated. It is easily possible for a spring water which has some- where in its course received a large amount of polluted drainage to be organically much purer than another in which the amount of con- tamination has been much less. The purifying power of porous ground, in which organic matter is exposed to bacterial action, with access of air, is sufficiently great, under favorable conditions, to con- vert completely organic into mineral matter, as far as chemical analysis can indicate. It will be seen in the accompanying analyses that some of the waters which have received a large amount of pollution, and which may be said to be to a considerable extent filtered sewage, have less organic matter remaining in them, as shown by the albu- minoid ammonia, than others in which the degree of contamination was originally much less. In the process of filtration through porous ground, whereby organic matter in water is oxidized, there may also be effected a purification as regards disease germs. This latter and most impor- tant purification may be due to the removal of the germs by the No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 355 mechanical straining of the water at an extremely slow rate through the ground, or to the death of the germs, owing to unfavorable con- ditions for their life in the filtering process. While we cannot always know in any particular case which of these processes may have been the principal factor in the purification of the water, we know that the •conditions of perfect mechanical filtration (whereby all suspended matters are removed from the water), and the conditions of perfect chemical purification, are those also most favorable for the complete removal of bacteria. Although water badly contaminated with sewage or the wastes of human life may be purified by thorough filtration so as to be free from organic matters and from bacteria, yet in cases of ground waters ■of this origin and character we seldom feel complete security that the conditions of perfect filtration will always exist. A long-continued rainfall, for instance, may result in more rapid filtration and con- sequently less perfect purification ; or the creation of new sources of contamination, nearer the spring, may result in its dangerous pollu- tion. It is for such reasons that a certain suspicion always attaches to ground waters which have at p.ny time in their history been seriously polluted. The use of ground waters, whether springs or wells, in built-up communities, should therefore be avoided, for we have no. control over the conditions of filtration, and have no means of know- ing (except by constant vigilance in the examination of the water) when a water hitherto well purified may become injuriously impure. The danger from the use of ground waters in populous regions in- creases with the increase of population, and with the nearness of the sources of pollution to the spring or well. No attempt was made to determine the species of bacteria in these spring waters, and the number of bacteria given in the tables are not, therefore, to be interpreted as expressing in any sense the relative fitness of the waters for drinking. In open wells, for instance, we may often find a large number of harmless bacteria which have come from the air or from dust, and which would not be found in the water if better protected. A favorable construction is, of course, to be put on the low numbers of bacteria, since they show that few bacteria of any kind are present, and that the conditions under which the water is filtered in the ground are favorable to its purification. 356 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc. Normal Spring Waters, and those in which the Chlorine is not more than 0.20 Parts per 100,000 in Excess of the Normal. Number. 1 Town. Name of Spring. Residue on Evaporation. Ammonia. 1 Excess of ' | Chlorine. | Nitrogen AS Oxygen Consumed. Hardness. : Bacteria per / Cubic Centimeter. | Free. Albuminoid. Nitrates. Nitrites. 7439 Arlington, . . Robbins 6.60 .0000 .0000 .00 .1250 .0000 .0110 i 69 26 7396 Belmont, . . Belmont Natural 9.00 .0000 .0000 .00 .0085 .0000 .0140 4.57 18 Mineral, 7436 Boston, . . . Allandale Mineral, 5.30 .0000 0022 .00 .0350 oooo - 1.82 1,728 9184 Framingham, . . Notscot Mountain, . , 3.55 ,0001 .0000 .00 .0300 .0000 - 1.80 7492 Holbrook, . . White Rock, . . . 3.90 .oooo .0084 .00 .0070 .0000 .4310 0.79 171 6331 Lawrence, . Cold .0040 0006 .00 .0010 .oooo .0000 - 6633 Lowell, . . . Sheeprock, . . . . 2.50 .0002 .0010 .00 .0070 .0000 .0200 0.32 5 7401 Medford, . . Fulton Natural, . . 4.40 .0000 .0000 .00 .0140 .0000 .0270 0.79 18 7395 Medford, . . Middlesex Mount'n, 6.30 .0000 .0018 .00 0090 .0 00 .0540 2.60 1,960 6519 Methuen, . . Otis - .0004 .0030 .00 .(070 .0000 .0100 - 2 7455 Milton, . . . Blue Hill Silver, . . 2.30 0002 .00021 .00 .0030 .0000 .0140 0.48 146 7406 Lynn, . . . Echo Grove Miner'l, 6.25 .0004 0024 .01 .0000 .0000 - 3-12 9 7397 Chelsea, . . . Mount Washington, 10.30 .0000 .0000 .05 .0500 .0000 .0100 4.29 50 7434 Stoneham, . . Cedar Park Miner'l, 4.90 .0000 .0012 .06 .0600 .0000 .0120 1.56 6; 7484 Lowell, . . . Mount Pleasant, . . 4.40 .0000 .0004 .07 .0300 .01'00 .0130 0.95 56 7471 Brockton, . . Indian, . . . • . 3.00 .0000 .0000 .08 .0220 .0000 .0150 0-63 8 7415 Lynn, . . . Electric 4 05 0000 .0002 .09 .0400 .0000 .0110 0.95 5 7544 W. Springfield, Massasoit, . . . . 5.50 .0000 .0000 .09 .0600 .0001 .0160 2-86 - 7488 Stoughton, . . Crystal, 3 00 .0000 0004 .14 0300 .0' 01 .0030 0.95 24 7491 Whitman, . . Goulding's, . . . . 3 90 .0000 .0000 .16 .1100 .00.0 .0080 1.11 15 7472 Brockton, . . Brockton Mineral, . 3.80 .0000 .0006 .17 .0120 .0000 .0190 1.43 973 7481 South Easton, Simpson's . . . . 3 70 .0000 .0008 .17 .0500 .0K0 .0130 1.27 1 7465 W. Abington, Highland, . . - . 5.60 UOOO .0020 .20 .0800 .0000 .0100 1.27 1 Spring Waters in which the Excess of Chlorine above the Normal is from 0.21 to 0.60 Parts per 100,000. Number. i TOWN. Name of Spring. Residue on Evaporation. Ammonia. Excess of ■ Chlorine. | Nitrogen AS 1 Oxygen Consumed, j Hardness. | Bacteria per 1 Cubic Centimeter. 1 Free. Albuminoid. Nitrates. Nitrites. 7441 Allston, . . . Harvard Crystal, 11.20 .0002 .0012 21 .3500 .0000 .0196 4 57 161 7442 Brighton, . . Undine, 5.60 .0002 .0014 .21 .2500 .0000 .< 230 2.99 259 6.582 Methuen, . . Crystal - .0000 .0012 .24 .1700 .0000 .0000 - 24 7466 Brockton, . . Granite Rock, . . . 8.03 .0000 .0026 .39 .2000 .0000 .0190 1.95 2 6614 Lowell, . . . Ilygeia - .0018 .0010 .39 .2500 .0000 ,01<0 - 12 7.548 Springfield, Ingersoll Grove, . . 8.70 .0000 .0008 .43 .5000 .0 02 .1 275 2.73 - 6.517 Methuen, . . Burnham - .0000 .0012 .44 .1900 .0000 .0000 - 2 6580 Lawrence, . . Stevens, - .0002 F044 .44 .2600 .0000 .<000 - 2' 6612 Dracut, . . . Thisselsia Mineral, 11.70 .0028 .0024 .44 .1600 .001 0 .0100 5.57 90 6516 Lawrence, . . Knowles Diamond, - .0002 .0016 52 .4100 .0000 .0000 - ft 7416 Lynn, . . . Lovers' Leap, . . . 8.55 .0000 .0004 .57 .3250 .0000 .0220 3.25 9 No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 357 Spring Waters in which the Excess of Chlorine above^the Normal is over 0.60 Parts per 100,000. Number. | TOWN. Name of Spring. Residue on Evaporation. Ammonia. Excess of 1 Chlorine. 1 Nitrogen AS Oxygen Consumed. Hardness. | Q a g Free. Albuminoid. Nitrates. Nitrites. Bacteria Cubic Centi 7435 Stoneham, . . Chapman's Cr. Min., 10.70 .0000 .0012 .61 .4500 .0000 .0090 2 86 15 7402 Lexington, Com'nwealth Min., 11 90 .0000 .0000 .61 .4200 .0000 .0130 3.90 2 6632 Lowell, . . . Leland Mineral, . . 12.90 .0008 ■0032 .64 .33' 0 0000 .0300 4 86 40 7467 Brockton, . . Union, 9.00 .0000 .0000 .75 .4500 .0001 .0150 2 73 18 7469 Brockton, . . Crystal 10.20 .0000 .0010 .88 .4000 .0 00 .0270 2.86 35 7394 Everett, . . . Partridge, . . . . 20.35 .0000 .0000 151 .9000 .0000 .0240 6.00 59 7393 Everett, . . . Everett Crystal, . . 20.25 .0000 .0018 1.57 1 0000 .0000 .0320 6 43 146 7420 Swampscott, . Swampscott Min., 23.00 .0002 .0032 1 65 .7200 .0001 .0210 8.00 81 7392 Everett, . . . Belmont Hill, . . . 23.55 .0000 .0008 2 IS 1.1500 .0001 .0250 8.86 85 7391 Everett, . . . Glendale, . . . . 16.30 .0000 .0006 2.28 .4000 .0000 .0230 5.71 35 7419 Swampscott, . Moose Hill, . . . . 24.9® .0002 .0008 2.65 .7000 .0001 .0270 9.43 20 Description of the Springs and their Surroundings. Arlington, Robbins Spring.- About two thousand feet south from the corner of Brattle and Main streets. Stoned and cemented reser- voir, five feet wide and six feet deep, covered by a small house. The water, which enters from below, from ledge, is three feet deep and a little lower than the surrounding ground ; it is said to overflow all the year round. Surface water is excluded. The spring is at the eastern base of a rocky hill covered with wild shrubs and trees. No pasture within four hundred and fifty feet above. The natural drain- age is east, towards Main Street. No buildings on drainage area. The grounds about the spring are resorted to considerably on holidays. Water is sold in Boston, Somerville, Arlington and Cambridge. Belmont, Belmont Natural Mineral Spring. - The spring is in a valley in a large grassed farm, with considerable underlying rock, covered by loam, about half a mile from Lexington, on J. H. Cotton's estate, and about twelve hundred feet east of his Winter Street buildings. The water rises nearly to the surface of the ground into a reservoir four feet wide and two and a half feet deep, hewn in solid rock, and covered by a stone arch. Surface water is excluded. Drainage from north and west chiefly. No dwelling houses on drainage area except possibly the Cotton buildings, five hundred feet west, considerably higher than the springs ; manure heaps under barn one hundred feet farther. But all the drainage from these buildings would probably flow south, away from the spring. No top-dressing on farm nearer than three hundred feet, and this is on the east side, 358 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc. where the drainage is probably away from the spring. Market gar- den, with exposed manure heaps, seven hundred and fifty feet north of spring, which also probably drains away from the spring. A few flower beds around the spring and a little higher, the nearest being forty-five feet, on which a little barn-yard manure is used. Pasture five hundred feet north of spring on drainage area. Water is sold in Boston, Waltham, Newton, Lexington, etc. Boston, Allandale Mineral Spring.- On Allandale Street several hundred feet south from Centre Street, Jamaica Plain. The water rises to within two feet of the surface, in a reservoir seven and a quarter feet in diameter and four and a half feet deep, with stoned and cemented sides and rock bottom. The reservoir is in a small house; surface water excluded ; iron pipe ; considerable overflow at time of collection. The formation around the spring is mainly gravel and conglomerate. The general direction of the ground water flow is south. The land north of the spring is covered with wild shrubs and trees to a distance of four hundred and fifty feet ; beyond are partly grassed fields and pasture land. No buildings on the drainage area within one thousand feet. There is a privy a few hundred feet south, and a little higher than the spring, but there is a dry run be- tween, a little lower than the spring, which would probably lead away any drainage. The grounds around the spring are sometimes used for picnics. The water is sold in Boston, Jamaica Plain, Brookline, etc. Framingham, Nobscot Mountain Spring.- Large spring at base of ledge east side of Nobscot Mountain. Cemented reservoir, five feet by nine feet and five feet deep ; covered by small house ; water flows by gravity through block-tin pipe to filling station fifty feet below. Water-shed heavily wooded except directly above spring, where two or three acres have been cleared; no houses on water- shed ; used for pasturage to a limited extent. Water is sold in Framingham and Boston. Lawrence, Cold Spring.- An open spring in sandy soil; no houses in the immediate vicinity, none on the slope back of the spring. A small brook runs between the spring and the houses in Lawrence. Lowell, Sheeprock Spring.- This is an artesian well near the top of a wooded ridge, about eighty feet deep through black granite ledge. All the water is pumped. Medford, Fulton Natural Spring.- About seventeen hundred feet north-east from corner of Valley and Paris Streets, Medford, in Mid- No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 359 diesex Fells. A bricked and cemented reservoir, six feet deep and four feet in diameter, in a small house. Water rises from rock at the bottom to within two feet of the surface and overflows; said to overflow all the year round. Drainage is toward the south-west. The spring lies at the base of a rocky hill, covered mainly with wild shrubs and trees. There are probably no buildings on the drainage area. Several houses a few hundred feet north-west drain appar- ently away from the spring. No cultivated land on the drainage area except a well-manured field of about an acre, three hundred and seventy-five feet north of the spring. Underground drainage from this may reach the spring, but probably most of it is carried away by a small brook. No pasture land above the spring. Water sold in Medford only. Medford, Middlesex Mountain Spring.- In Middlesex Fells, on the hill, a few hundred feet north of Valley Street quarry. The water collects in a gravel basin about twelve by fifteen feet and six feet deep, under a large spring house at the eastern base of the ledge. Most of the land above the spring is wild and uncultivated until the farmhouse, No. 15 Earl Avenue, is reached, two hundred feet above. Its surface drainage could not reach the spring. The privy is two hundred and forty-five feet from the spring; its vault rests on a rock, and has earth sides ; no exposure of contents. There are no other houses in the vicinity. The houses west of the spring are on the other side of the hill. Milton, Blue Hill Silver Spring.- Eighty-five feet north from Blue Hill Street, about half a mile east from Canton Avenue, at the southern base of a high, rocky hill, covered with wild shrubs and trees. A stoned and cemented reservoir, three and one-half feet in diameter and five feet deep : water stands two and one-half feet in well and about one and one-half feet below the surface of the ground. Over-flowing when collected. Plank cover; surface water excluded. Portable copper pump with iron pipe used for getting water for sale. Sold in Boston and Milton. West Lynn, Echo Grove Mineral Spring.- A few hundred feet south-west of house of John Raddin, near corner of Bell Avenue and Ashland Street, West Lynn. Well about thirty-two feet deep, the lower twenty-two feet in solid rock; about ten feet wide at bottom, upper ten feet smaller diameter. Stoned and cemented ; stones rest on iron rails ten feet from top. Water is ordinarily about sixteen feet deep, and touches the rails very seldom; it is never dry. 360 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc.. Covered by small house, surface water excluded. Drainage is towards the south-west. The well is on a rocky hillside covered with grass and a few trees; used part of the time as pasture. Only houses on drainage area are a few picnic buildings. The privy is eighty-five feet south-east from spring, and higher; contents rest on ground, and are almost completely protected from rain. Water sold in Lynn. Chelsea, Mt. Washington Spring.- In grassed valley, between Cook and Washington Avenues, about three hundred and fifty feet from corner of Fenno Street and Washington Avenue. Bricked reservoir, eight feet in diameter and six feet deep; water rises nearly or quite to the level of the ground. A slight ascent to the nearest privy, which is two hundred and seventy-five feet away, near the corner of Cook and Washington Avenues. Its vault is cemented all around. Sink-drain cesspool near by, but no water closet cess- pool anywhere in the vicinity. Several vaults within a few hundred feet more on Cook Avenue, also several vaults and sink cesspools on Washington Avenue, but not nearer than three hundred feet. They are higher than the spring, but a ditch one and one-half feet deep is between them. Lime sludge from soda-water factory is dumped forty-five feet from the spring but probably cannot affect it. Stoneham, Cceiar Park Mineral Spring, or Vishnu Mineral Spring.- About three hundred feet south-west from Chapman's Mineral Spring, several hundred feet north from A. Alden's house on Spring Street. Cemented curb two and one-half feet in diameter and six feet deep, in house. Water enters through sand at the bottom, and rises nearly or quite to the level of the ground ; said to overflow all the year round ; surface water excluded. The well is in a marshy, grassed meadow, containing many ditches; one ditch is within fifteen feet of the well on the side farthest from the ridge on the south and west, whence comes the ground water. Nearest pasture land one hundred and seventy-five feet above. Nearest considerable sources of contamination are the houses and stables on Spring Street, from five hundred to eight hundred feet away. Water sold in Boston, Melrose, Stoneham, Wakefield, etc. Lowell, Mt. Pleasant Spring.- A few hundred feet south-east from the corner of Stedman and Westford streets. Stoned and cemented reservoir, nine and one-half feet deep; depth of water three and one-half feet; covered by small house; surface water ex- cluded; no pump; said to overflow all the year round. At the- No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 361 northerly base of a high, sandy hill, covered by pines for a few hundred feet; beyond the pines is wild shubbery. No pasture land near. Water sold in Lowell. Brockton, Indian Spring.- About half a mile north from corner of Quincy and Ashland streets; open, stoned reservoir, three by five feet, and three feet deep ; depth of water two feet, rises nearly to level of the ground. No covering; surface water partly excluded ;. considerable overflow at 'he time of collection. Ground water flows from east and south. Considerable amount of leather chips and a little manure on the road leading to the spring from the east, but most or all of the surface flow from the road is carried beyond the spring. No buildings on the drainage area, which is covered by wild shrubs and trees. No pasture land near the spring. Water sold in Brockton. West Lynn, Electric Spring.- At southerly corner of Cliff and Linwood streets. Bricked well, four feet diameter at bottom, taper- ing to top; thirteen feet deep; water rises nearly to level of the ground ; overflow all the year round. Covered by house; surface water excluded. In clay and hard blue gravel, at westerly base of a rocky hill covered with shrubbery. Drainage is from north-west and west. Nearest privy is one hundred and fifty feet north-west, on side hill, much above the spring; a shallow vault dug in the earth; contents are slightly exposed. A small garden below the privy, eighty feet west from the well. A stable one hundred and fifty feet north from the well, on higher ground ; considerable manure scat- tered out doors, one hundred and forty feet from the well. But most of the spring water comes from the main hill, farther west. The above are probably the only buildings on the drainage area. Water sold in Lynn only, mainly in summer. West Springfield, Massasoit Spring.- On the Bear Hole Farm, in mountainous region between Westfield and West Springfield, one or two miles north from the Westfield River. Fflows from westerly base of a sandy hill, thirty or forty feet high, into a stoned reservoir., six feet deep, having one hundred square feet of surface ; covered by house. Drainage area largely grassed, not ploughed, top-dressed or planted at present. Probably no buildings on drainage area. Grounds west of spring largely used for picnics. Water sold in Springfield. Stoughton, Crystal Spring.- Several hundred feet easterly from West Stoughton station on the Old Colony Railroad, near Canton 362 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc. Street, on Chas. Porter's farm. Spring boils up at the bottom of a small reservoir, consisting of a brick tile pipe two and one-half feet in diameter and two and one-half feet deep. No covering ; surface water not excluded; no pump; said to overflow all the year round. In grassed meadow ; drainage from north-west and north-east. Soil about the spring black and peaty near the surface ; low, gravelly hills about. Large gardens one hundred and forty feet north ; large hen yards two hundred and fifty feet north-east and three hundred feet east. Earth-bottomed barn cellar, containing manure, four hun- dred and sixty feet east; no out-door manure heap. No houses on drainage area nearer than this barn, and but few beyond. Water sold in Stoughton. Whitman, Gouldings Spring.- About six hundred to eight hun- dred feet south-west from corner of High and Temple streets. Cemented curve, two and onq-half feet in diameter, four and one- half feet deep ; depth of water, three feet; covered by small house ; surface water excluded ; block tin pipe. Said to overflow all the year round. General direction of ground flow is easterly. Drain- age area mainly covered by a wild growth ; soil gravelly below, peaty above. Privy about one hundred and fifty feet north-east, and several others within a few hundred feet more in same direction. It is not certain that the drainage from these would reach the spring. Very little direct sale of the water, which is mainly sold bottled. Brockton, Brockton Mineral Spring.- About a quarter of a mile north north-east from the corner of Quincy and Ashland streets. Stoned reservoir, four feet square and six feet deep ; three and one- half feet of water; covered by house ; surface water excluded almost entirely ; no pump ; said to overflow all the year round. Part of the reservoir wall is natural ledge. Ground water flows from the south- east ; no buildings in that direction for a quarter of a mile at least. Drainage area covered by wild growth. A little pasture land about the spring. Water sold in Brockton. South Easton, Simpson s Spring.- About a quarter of a mile south-west from South Easton station on the Old Colony Railroad. Cemented reservoir, two feet in diameter and four feet deep. Water enters at the bottom, and nearly fills the reservoir; said to overflow all the year round ; covered by house ; surface water excluded. Spring is on the northerly edge of a meadow in the woods ; ground rises to the north and east. Drainage area covered almost entirely by wild growth. No houses nor cultivated land nearer than a small No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 363 house eight hundred feet north of spring. No other houses near. A few cows are pastured about the spring. Water sold in Brockton, Easton, Bridgewater, etc., also bottled to a large extent. West Abington, Highland Spring.- About four hundred feet east from house of John Harris, and one thousand to fifteen hundred feet east from Quincy Street, near Brockton line. Stoned reservoir, four feet in diameter, water one and one-half feet deep, nearly at level of the ground ; said to overflow all the year round. Planked over ; surface water not completely excluded. Gravelly soil; ground water flows from west or south-west. One house, with privy, farm buildings and hen houses, three hundred and sixty feet west south- west from spring, but the ground drainage from these flows probably north-west from spring; the surface flow could not reach the spring. No other buildings on or near the drainage area. The fields on the drainage area are grassed ; no pasture land. Water sold in Brockton and Campello. Allston, Harvard Crystal Spring.- About two hundred feet north from Commonwealth Avenue and five hundred feet west from Harvard Avenue. Stoned and cemented well, five feet in diameter and twelve feet deep; depth of water six feet; said to overflow all the year round. Planked over, and covered by a smalljhouse ; surface water excluded. Soil gravelly ; ground water flows from south-west. Full privy vault, bricked and poorly cemented, one hundred and five feet west, but its drainage is probably away from the well. Another privy vault three hundred and thirty feet south-west from spring ; several others beyond. The fields south and west from the spring are gravelly and partly grass-covered. Water sold in Boston, Brighton, Allston, etc. Brighton, Undine Spring.- About three hundred and fifty feet north from Appleton Road and six hundred feet west from Lake Street. Stoned and cemented reservoir, with plank top about eight by five feet ; water three feet deep, and rises nearly or quite to the level of the ground; surface water excluded; said to overflow all the year round. Hard, gravelly soil. Ground water flows north. The spring is near the northerly base of a grass-covered hill, not used as a pasture. House with stable, hen yards, pig-pen, and well- manured garden, two hundred and twenty-five feet south-west from spring or hill side. Exposed privy vault three hundred feet south south-west. A few other houses across Appleton Road. Water sold in Boston. 364 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc. Methuen, Crystal Spring.- In gravelly soil, bricked up to exclude surface water. House and barn three hundred feet distant, and ten to fifteen feet higher than the spring. Two other houses six hundred to nine hundred feet distant. Brockton, Granite Rock Spring.- On west slope of Carey Hill. Stoned and cemented reservoir, eight by nine feet and five feet deep. Water enters below, through granite ledge ; said to overflow all the year round; covered by house; surface water excluded. Gravelly soil; drainage from east. Fields grassed or covered with wild growth. House with vault and hen house one hundred and seventy-five feet up the slope, south-east. Other houses, with barn and manure heap, five hundred to six hundred feet distant, towards the east. Water sold in Brockton and Campello. Lowell, Hygeia Spring.- In gravelly soil, near foot of wooded ridge. There is some cultivated ground within four hundred to five hundred feet, but the slope is not toward the spring. No houses in the vicinity. Springfield, Ingersoll Grove Spring.- Flows from east end of a shallow run one hundred feet south from Dartmouth Terrace, several hundred feet west from St. James Avenue. Water is said to collect in a small reservoir concealed in the side of the hill. Overflows through iron pipe. Drainage area is grassed to the streets, eighty to one hundred and twenty feet on north, east and south sides. Sewer in Dartmouth Terrace, about one hundred feet north. Barn one hundred and eighty feet south-east. General direction of drainage is west. It is said there are no cesspools near. Sold largely in Springfield. Methuen, Burnham Spring.- Just over the Lawrence line. House and stable two hundred to three hundred feet away, and higher. Other houses one thousand feet away, and higher, on the other side of a sand ridge. Land partly under cultivation and partly in grass. Water sold in Lawrence. Lawrence, Stevens Spring.- On northerly side of Wendell Street• is dug out through the black soil of the meadow to sand, and sheet piling put in around it. The spring is in a low, vacant lot, with no houses within eighty or one hundred feet ; but the land outside of the lot is thickly built up in all directions. One house, one hundred feet distant, on the opposite side of the street, and one house, one hundred feet distant on the same side. The street is four or five feet higher than the spring. Houses on Archer Street, two hundred No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 365 feet northerly, are a little lower than the spring. Cemeteries on the hill to the west, over six hundred feet away. Dracut, Thisselsia Mineral Spring.- About a quarter of a mile north from the corner of Hildreth and Pleasant Streets. Stoned reservoir, four feet in diameter and ten feet deep ; depth of water five feet, which comes up through sandy bottom ; said to overflow all the year round; covered by small house; surface water excluded. Ground water flows south-west. The spring is in a grass field; no top-dressing used for several years. One cow is pastured in the field. A cluster of six or eight houses, four hundred to five hun- dred feet away, and twenty to twenty-five feet higher. Water sold in Lowell. Lawrence, Knowles Crystal {Diamond} Spring.- In a sandy gravel bank, stoned up. House and stable about one hundred and fifty feet distant, and thirty feet higher. Water sold in Lawrence. West Lynn, Lovers' Leap Spring.- Under sidewalk of Lovers' Leap Avenue, about one hundred and twenty feet above Forest Street. A bricked and cemented basin, six feet under highway, and a few feet in depth. Water enters at bottom and is carried one hundred and ten feet in an iron pipe to bottling house, corner of Lovers' Leap Avenue and Forest Street. General direction of drainage is east, toward Forest Street. Ledges or low hills on all sides except east. Nearest privy is one hundred and sixty-five feet north-east, stoned sides, earth bottom. Exposed manure heap one hundred feet north. The hillside on the north is occupied by farm buildings. Several more privies on hillside above, within one thou- sand feet of spring, north-west to south-west. Sold in Lynn; also bottled. Stoneham, Chapman Crystal Mineral Spring.- About five hun- dred feet north from R. B. Chapman's house on Spring Street. A cemented well, two feet eight inches wide and seven and one-half feet deep; water is three feet below surface of the ground, and is said to overflow all the year around. Covered by a small house ; sur- face water excluded. Drainage is from the south-east, south and south-west. The well is at the north base of a gravelly hill; pastur- ing near the spring. Fields on summit of the hill are grassed and used for pasture to a slight extent. Nearest considerable source of con- tamination are very large hen yards and stable two hundred and seventy-five feet south from spring on the hill; manure heap three hundred and fifty feet south. A few other hen yards and manure 366 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc. heaps near these. Water sold in Malden, Melrose, Medford, Boston, etc. Lexington, Commonwealth Mineral Spring.- On the estate of A. Jameson, about two thousand feet north-east from corner of Woburn and North streets. Reservoir with stone sides, five feet in diameter and seven feet deep. Water rises through gravel bot- tom and stands three feet deep in reservoir, nearly to the level of the surrounding ground ; said to overflow all the year round. Covered by house; surface water excluded. Glass and block-tin pipe to iron pump. The spring is in a grassed meadow basin, among low hills. The soil is black and peaty on top, gravelly below. Drainage is south-east, into Clematis Brook, whose head waters are said to rise in this basin. No top-dressing on drainage area within six hundred feet for several years. Lime sludge from bottling establishment is dumped thirty-five feet east and slightly higher than the spring. Swamp one hundred and seventy-five feet north, just beyond a ditch whose surface is about on a level with the spring overflow. Nearest house is that of the proprietor, nine hun- dred to one thousand feet south-west. All manure of every kind goes into a barn cellar ten feet deep, with earth bottom. This is on the drainage area. A few other farms on the drainage area between one thousand and two thousand feet from the spring. Water sold in Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, etc.; also used in bottling. Lowell, Leland Mineral Spring.- A few hundred feet north-east from the corner of Beech and Sixth streets, a few feet below F're- mont Street, Centralville, Lowell. Dug well, thirty-five feet deep, covered by small house ; surface water excluded. Said to be never dry. Ground water flows west. Several houses and a few gardens on the long hill above the spring, within a few hundred feet. The houses just across Fremont Street are connected with an iron sewer in that street. The city low-service distributing reservoir is about five hundred feet above the spring. This is the old Lowell Water-cure Spring. Water sold in Lowell. Brockton, Union Spring.- About five hundred feet south-east from Howard Street and a few feet north-east from Montello Street. Reservoir with planked sides, five by six feet and four feet deep. Water, two feet deep, rises nearly to level of the ground ; said to over- flow all the year round. Covered by a small house ; surface water not completely excluded ; a little road wash might enter. Gravelly soil. Well is near the north-east base of a low hill, grass-covered. Near- No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 367 est source of contamination a cesspool, three hundred and ten feet south-west from spring, on the hillside directly above it. Several more sources of contamination on drainage area within a few hundred feet more. Water sold in Boston and Campello. Brockton, Crystal Spring.- Four hundred feet south-west from house of Martin Packard, Pleasant Street, near corner of Pearl Street, Brockton Heights. Stoned and cemented reservoir five by seven feet and four feet deep. Depth of water three feet ; said to overflow all the year round. Covered by plank staging; surface water excluded. Water rises in bottom of well through underlying rock. Ground water flows from north-east and east. Drainage area is covered by wild shrubs and trees for two hundred and fifty feet about the spring. Nearest source of contamination is a manure heap, three hundred and seventy-five feet east. Two houses with privy vaults and barns five hundred to eight hundred feet distant from spring. Water sold in Brockton. Everett, Partridge Spring.- A few hundred feet north-west of the corner of Chelsea and Ferry streets, about one hundred and thirty feet above Chelsea Street. Well is seventeen feet deep in grassed orchard, in a small wooden building. Drainage is south, toward low meadows. Cemented wooden privy vault thirty-six feet west; sink cesspool, ten feet deep, sixty feet south-east; covered manure heap seventy-five feet north-west; water-closet cess-pool at next house, about one hundred and fifty feet south-west; several others west to north-east, within six hundred feet. Everett, Everett Crystal Spring.- At north-west corner of Chelsea and Ferry streets, close to Chelsea Street side-walk. Well twelve feet in diameter and twenty feet deep, in frame house. Overflow into low meadows south of Chelsea Street. Drainage is south towards these meadows. Several wells north on Cottage Street were lowered when this well was dug, eight or ten years ago. The well at one house on Cottage Street, about thirty feet deep and two hundred and eighty-five feet north of the spring, was changed into a cesspool several years ago. Grassed field between the spring and nearest water-closet cesspool. The latter is two hundred and fifty feet north of the spring well, and is not cemented. Several others on Cottage Street near by. Swampscott, Swampscott Mineral Spring.- One hundred and fifty feet from Essex Street, and about one thousand feet east from corner of Essex Street and Beach Avenue; about six hundred feet 368 STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. [Pub. Doc. north from Moose Hill Spring. The water comes from a driven well sixty feet deep, and runs continually from this through several feet of iron pipe into the spring house south-west. There it runs into a reservoir about five by nine feet, with two and one-half feet depth of water. This reservoir has plank sides and cement bottom ; surface water excluded. Considerable dirt and a little green growth on the bottom of the reservoir. Water rises in the well to nearly the level of the surrounding ground, and overflows all the year round. The lower end of the well pipe is in clay. The ground water comes chiefly from the north or north-east. There is a low hill west, separated from the well by a small meadow and a ditch. The well is in a grassed field. The nearest source of contamination is a stable with a manure heap, fifty feet north-east. There is another about the same distance north-west. There are many houses on the drainage area within a few hundred feet. Water sold only in Lynn. Everett, Belmont Hill Spring.- About one hundred and twenty feet north-west of Bradford Street, Everett, and about six hundred feet west of corner of Hancock. The water rises nearly to the level of the surrounding land in two wells, eight feet in diameter and four feet deep ; gravel bottom and stone sides; surface water excluded. The spring is in cultivated land. The nearest cesspool is about one hundred and fifty feet up the hill, i. e., towards Hancock Street; there are several more within a few hundred feet. Several exposed manure heaps west of the spring, but no opportunity for their surface drainage to enter. Everett, Glendale Spring.- On Spring Street, about five hundred feet from Ferry Street. Spring rises to level of ground, in cemented enclosure five feet square and three feet deep, and is covered. Overflows several thousand gallons a day. The spring is in Mills' meadows, part pasture and part cultivated. Nearest cesspool is about four hundred feet away, and above, i. e., nearer Ferry Street. This cesspool is cemented all around, and overflows through a pipe into a ditch two hundred and twenty-five feet from the spring at nearest point. Several other cesspools within a thousand feet, run into this ditch, which is not higher than the spring. A few houses on the other side of Ferry Street have cesspools which overflow on the ground. Large manure heap two hundred and thirty feet from spring, toward Ferry Street. No. 34.] EXAMINATION OF SPRING WATERS. 369 Swampscott, Moose Hill Spring.- About one hundred and fifty- feet north from corner of Columbia Avenue and Beach Avenue. Bricked and cemented well in large bottling house. The water flows through a crevice in ledge, and rises nearly to the level of the ground in an oblong stone basin, about five feet long, two feet wide and three feet deep ; surface water excluded; spring said to overflow the year round. The soil in the neighborhood is chiefly gravel with boulders, with underlying ledge. The drainage is from the south- west and west. The spring house is in a grassed lot. There is a cesspool ninety feet south-west on the hillside, and more cesspools and privies on the hill within three hundred feet. There is a stable fifty feet north-west of the spring. Water sold chiefly in Lynn and Swampscott.