Report. [1918]

194
spring. The water system in the municipalities of Balingasag
and Cagayan are yet under construction. Jolo and Siasi, Province of Sulu, are well supplied with potable water from good
springs brought to the people by gravity. The municipality of
Maluco and the barrio of Dalirig, Province of Bukidnon, are also
provided with water by gra/ity; in Malaybalay, the capital, a
system is under construction and will be inaugurated in the near
future. The necessary appropriations have already been provided for the construction of water systems in the municipalities
of Placer, Bacuag and Lianga, Province of Surigao. The systems are now under construction. The waterworks plan for Surigao, the capital, is now under construction. The municipality
of Zamboanga and adjoining barrios are supplied with potable
water piped from the Pasonanca reservoir. The following is a
report of the water examinations from March to December 1918,
inclusive, of the Pasonanca water. There were 28 examinations.
[From Zamboanga Laboratory.]
Number Negaof Positives. NegaIsamples. tives.
Presumptive test ---------------------------.. ------------------- - 28 3 25
Bacillus coli --------------------------- ------------------------------- 228 28
Amcebae --------- ---------— _ --- —-- ---- ------------ ---- -.-.- 28 1 27
Ciliates.. ---.. --- —-- -------------------------- 28 13 15
Flagelletes -----------.. --- —--—... ------—. -----... ---! 28 25 3
Number of colonies per cc --- —----------------------------------------- - From 30.
to 1, 600
Cholera vibrio _ ------------------------ ------------— 2.. ---..|- 2..... 28 - ---- 28
Where the sources above-mentioned are not available, the inhabitants, mostly of the barrios and remote districts, depend on
well and river water which is easily contaminated.
As a matter of curiousity this office has requested the district
health officers to include in the annual report an answer to the
following question: "What is the one thing you will recommend
that in your opinion will render the best service in the interest
of public health in your district for the year 1919?" Of the eight
answers received, Lanao, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Sulu, Davao,
and Surigao recomemnded good water supply.
X.
DISPOSAL OF EXCRETA.
There are at present three approved ways of disposal of excreta
in practice in the division, namely: (1) The septic tank, (2) the
"Antipolo" and (3) the pail systems. Emphasis has been and is
being laid on the safe disposal of human waste as one of the