The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-02
CR0T0N WATER SCARCE.
Is THERE DANGER or WATER
FAMINE IN THIS CITY?



what Commissioner Campbell has to say
The Unprcccdentcd Drought-No Rear "
the People Use the Water Economically.
The scarcity in the supply of the Croton
water stlll continues, and Commissioner Camp
bell Is daily deuged with complaints and nqui-
ries by people who are troubled by decrease in
their supply Of water. A SUN reporter called
upon the Commissioner Yesterday to ascertain
what the exact supply is, the reason OF the de-
crease, and what Is being done TO provide
against water famine. Mr.. Campbell said that
the aqueduct Is adequate to supply the city II
inexcusable waste can be avoided. The water
shed Of the CrotOn valley, he said, has an area
that, with proper storage Of Its drainage, aided
by additional conduits, is sufficient to meet the
demands for generations to come. But the rapid
growth OF New York will, he thinks soon call
for the construction Of new adueduct, the
maximum capacity OF the existing one having
been reached. taking the present consumption
as guide. This. he believes. would be much
better tnan resort to water metres, they being,
In his opinion, Objectionable In many respects.
The drought in the Ctoton Valley has been
unexampled for hfty years. Since the 22t OF
June last. with the exception OF a very few DAYS.
no water has run over the Croton ID im, and the
Croton river has dwindled to mere brook.
THIS has made II necessary to draw upon the artl-
ncial reservoirs at Boyd's Corner and the nat
urdl lakes OF Westchester county. Since that
water has been drawn from these storage basins.
The department IL constantly exerting itself to
procure additional supplies. Several lakes have
been purchased or leased. and their outlets cut
down. thus adding lirRely to the supply fur
nished by the Croton river. The rains OF Sep
TENDER were almost entirely absorbed bv the
parched earth, only one-fourth Of an inch Of II
being drained into the receiving basins.
The storage supply OF the completed reser-
voir and Of tho natural lakes possessed by the
city Is about i've billions Of gallons An addi-
tionai reservoir with a capacity OF four billions
a IL
county. 1t Will be completed In about fifteen
months. This, with the other reserves, viii
another season OF drought Yet sull another
reservoir snould be constructed at the sources
OF the CrotOn. Mr.. Campbell wants new
aqueduct. and says that next summer should
not pass without the necessary surveys and
plans being made. lie estimates the probable
cost, including the accessory works ~ reservoirs
and distributing pipes, at $2lOO.OO and the
time II would take 10 complete II ABOUT four
years. BY that time the city viii have 80 ia
creased In population that an additional supply
VIII be neCess nv. Hut new aQueduct II not
necessary as a relief for the present troubles.
which are due entirely to the scarcity Of water
In the river and lakes from whence the supply
Is procured.
this city at this season Is ABOUT lOO.uJOWO gal
ions. The supply AT THIS time Is but lOoOO.uN)
Hons, more than one nall OF which II urawn
from the reservoirs In Putnam and Westches or
counties. he department Ia ecOnOniZing In
the use Of the water. aud residents are sned -
aid them In every way IN their y iwer. 1t Is bet
ter for the people to suffer little Inconvenience
now than, by extravaganza, to urectpitaie a
water famine. The police authorii les are acting
In concert with the department to prevent the
waste Of water. The washing OF sidewalks with
hose, the extravJg mt use Of It In manufdc ores.
in hotels, barfoOms, livery stables. and Other
places Ia clOsely watched, ana whore eXtrdy4-
gince IL discovered all immediate ston Is put to
IL. OF course there Is muCn waste that Is not
seen bv the officials. Hence. the people are APP
pc led to, to avoid all waste. II every person
will near this in mind there Is no danger OF any
serious suffering for witer.
1t Is no fault II the distributing facilities that
the water does not rise as nieh as usual. IL Is
due to the lower level OF the city reservoir, con-
sequent upon the reduced supply from the
fountain heads. The only immedi tie relief that
can DC expected is la an abundant fall 81 rain.
This would tring tue supply ~ to its usual
stand I'd, and all immediate danger would 20
overcome.
Engineer Campbell agrees With the Commits
siOncr. He sai tha' they began drawing ITO N
the reserved storage water In June ltst. and that
since that time at least two -tuirus II the water
brought intO the city mad come fr that
source. over twO-thirIs uf tie reserve water
mad alreauy been used. In his opinion, II the
fun sIppiy Of lOO0n,UyO gallons daiiy had been
furnished To the cay In the last lev months,
New York city " uld to-day be Suffering from a
water famine. He Is nndeut. however. that
with reasonable economy all danger Will to
ayrrted. lie believes tnat there mas az yet
been no really serious Inconvenience In cpnse-
quence VI tue supply having Teen reduced.