Quarterly Report of the Secretary
Chas. A. Hodgetts, M.D., pg. 4 of 1906 annual report
The Pollution of Water Courses
For many years past this Board has approved of the installation of sewerage systems in which, in most instances, there was no provision for the treatment of the sewage, but the raw effluent was permitted to be run into a river or lake. As a consequence we find after the lapse of several years the conditions in many parts of the Province are not satisfactory, either the offending municipality is inconvenienced or is suffering, or those adjacent to on the same body of water or farther down on the same river are drinking diluted sewage, the emanation from the offending places.
The degree of dilution which occurred at the time of the installation of a particular system does not remain constant, the number of house connections increase, factory and trade wastes multiply, while the solid portions carried down the sewers accumulate and spread beyond an area at first contemplated. Thus the limit of safe dilution of water when it passes from a potable to a non-potable article is passed without those in control of a particular water supply becoming aware of the fact, only is their attention drawn to the matter by reason of an outbreak of dysentery or perhaps the more serious “Enteric.” It is at this point they awake from their lethargy and institute systematic enquiries to find a condition of affairs which is the result of municipal carelessness or indifference. Possibly a private or common sewer has been constructed without appeal either to the local Board of Health or in the later instance to the Provincial Board of Health, or as ,is too often the case a manufacturing concern assuming powers, which it does not possess, has been for some time discharging its sewage at a point dangerously near the water intake, at first without any appreciable pollution, but by reason of increase in business there has followed an increased sewage
effluent, which has resulted in pollution of the municipality’s hitherto potable water supply.
In addition to pollutions of this kind we have to consider the pollutions from a large number of factories scattered over the Province which often unhindered, are polluting many of our rivers and lakes. The thousands of farms with their tens of thousands of cattle are adding their quota which is ever increasing in quantity, not to speak of the many houses the owners of which very conveniently run their sewer pipes into the nearby body of water, and thus cheaply get rid of material which should have been disposed of in a different manner.
This is but an outline of the condition of affairs in this Province and with its development along industrial and agricultural lines, and an ever increasing population — these unsanitary conditions will increase, and I cannot too strongly urge upon the Board the need which exists for some power being granted this Board to have a more direct oversight and control of all water systems, together with the streams, lakes and rivers from which the supplies are taken. This power should be such as to permit this Board to direct the prosecution of those offending by polluting the pure waters of our lakes and rivers, be they either corporations, municipalities or individuals, and at the same time the inspection should be periodical of every system — samples being examined by the laboratory whenever deemed necessary, and when a supply is in the opinion of this Board, not safe guarded as it should be, the corporation or owners of the particular system should be required under heavy penalties to make provisions for the protection or purification of the water.