History of the Huddersfield Water Supplies
By T. W. Woodhead

ANALYSIS AND BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF WATER

POLLUTED WELLS AND CISTERNS

As shown above, the Waterworks Clauses Act of 1847 required Waterworks Authorities to provide a pure supply of water in the mains. The water from our high moors is unpolluted, the chief complaints being due to discolouration by peat. This, it was pointed out, while unpleasant in appearance, did no harm to the consumer, but with increased knowledge of bacteria, the significance of pollution, especially at lower levels, was more fully appreciated and closer attention was paid to the examination of supplies, but for some time no recognized method of examination was followed.

Owing to the lack of uniformity in the technique employed by different workers in the examination of water supplies, neither the actual data obtained nor their hygienic interpretations have been comparable. In consequence the Ministry of Health, in co-operation with the leading Analysts and Bacteriologists of the country, issued in March, 1934, a pamphlet, No. 71, on “The Bacteriological Examination of Water Supplies” in order to provide a description of technique, the adoption of which will ensure sufficient uniformity in the practice of bacteriological examination of water to permit of comparison of results obtained in different laboratories. In this they point out that the main object of the bacteriological examination of water is to find whether excretal pollution is present. It is not until several examinations, with satisfactory results, have been made at different times of the year, and especially after heavy rainfall, is it legitimate to conclude that the water is free from dangerous excretal pollution. The evidence generally south is (1) an estimate of the number of bacteria of all kinds capable of developing in suitable nutrient media – the greater the number, the greater in the water : and (2) the number of bacteria of faecal origin ; the more bacteria of species inhabiting normally the animal intestine, that are present in the water, the more likely is it that pathogenic intestinal species may gain access to it.

Following the lines laid down in this Memorandum, Mr. W. D. Scouller, M.Sc., A.I.C., and his staff at the Sewage Works Department, take samples quarterly from the reservoirs and make chemical and bacteriological analyses. Bacteriological analyses are also made of water taken from consumers’ taps, in various parts of the Borough, these are made fortnightly, always from different houses, and reports are supplied to the Waterworks Department. Examples of these analyses are given below.

SAMPLE OF DRINKING WATER MARKED BLACKMOORFOOT NORTH

The following are the results of the analysis of the above sample :

ANALYSIS EXPRESSED IN PARTS PER 100,000

BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF WATER SUPPLIES

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