New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-24
COMPLAINING OF THE CROTOM.

THE CAUSES OF BAD DOORS AND UNPLEASANT
FLAvORs IN THE WATER.
"Give us no more water until you can give
us better WATER" said resident of Washington Heights
before the bill for the CroOn aqueduct was passed
by the Legislature. He spoke in public building
where politicians 90 every week to look after patronage
and he declared he expressed the feelings of many
residents who satisfied with the present system
OF water mains in the city There had been an epidemo
OF typhoid fever in his district and sanitary engineers
were examining the Croton water there to see they
could find any substance injurious TO health The
water had yellowish color, dsagreeaoIe
odor and fshy taste. 1t was decided
that the trouble was caused by the stagnatiou OF
the water dead ends Of the street service pipes
When number of hydrants had been opened at the
dead ends and the pipes blown off," the water became
clearer and pleasanter TO Since then number Oh
complaints have been made by persons who found eartn
worms their sinks and washoasins Other eitizens
have annoyed at finding the water-pipes ieadng
from the mains into their houses choked by ees
Others have astonshed at the sight OF small boys
chasing live fish along the cutters when hydrants were
opened TO flush the receiving basins OF the sewers IL IL
well known 10 the employees OF the Department OF
Public Works that fish swim In the large street
mains and that Of them become wedged In the ser
vice pipes and die there.
An officer tn one of the city departments. who has
given much attention this subject, said to TRIBUNE
reporter: "Changes needed in the present system
OF water pipes in order to the circulation
Water stagnaes when at rest or when IL Is kept moving
sluggshy through underground pipes 1t does not get
oxygen enough Water In mountain streams, which Is
thrown INTO spray as IL falls rom one eeyaton 10 an
other will purify itself quickly IL it is foules al It's
source, but in air light pipes will not become any
purer going long distance. AS il is impossible to
t With air enough TO it pure large filters might DO
used at different points. There should DC pc n4
| that the water would be kept constantly In motion:
by making filters for the large mains The Mater psssn n
| vegetable matter" ,.,. ,.,u, .h. ,na
CrOton water is unwholesome, however dsagreeaD9
its tasle smell may at times Their opinion BASEL
the conclusions reached by Dr. Elwyn Waller cheust
TO the Health Department, VINO mas maze
OF water taken from the Cr0t0n RVer rd IN cue Cena
every part OF the city An unpleasant and odor m
the Croton water described by most persons as nsny
and again in 1876 In the former year bright green
substance observed IN the water ard Ior1l scum
at the surface II consisted OF straight dlamenIs with
scattering spherical cells containing seedsmlcfoseOplo
conferya-iEe plants abonndlng IN volatile odoroos
principle Although the OdOr and taste OF the substance
very npeasant, the chemists did not DeleVe aS
| 1t communicated any nnwnoissome qualify 70 Tue
possible determine the cause or the 0glecuoDaDo
adors and taste which develop periodically in Croon
wafer They appear sometimes IN tue dead end. OF tue
distributing pipes while at other Zines the wafer IN sucu
ends is especially exempt The trouble is removed some
times by flushing mains, while on other occasions
! is aggravated. In some cases the bad taste and
| Odor appear in warm weather and walsh as
cooler weather on and in others they have begun
late the fail and continued all winter scmetlmes tne
offensive at the upper strata OF water IN tho
reservoir and at other at the bottom Reports re-
ports received by DR.. Waller indicate that the same
trouble experienced III the water service OF othet
The "dead fish" theory has been investigated aud us
credited by tue chemists OF several large cities, whero
the taste and odOr OF the public water are similar 20
those OF the CrotOn. -Four otOrs known as the sumo.
| odor and the "horse poud" door, are said by the
chemists be produced by plants OF the NOst0c fanny
Filtration through animal charcoal usually will remove
such odors any accompanying dlsaSreeabie taste
| from the water.
In summing up a recent report TO Sanitary superin-
teudent Day on the CrOtOn water, DR.. waller says:
"some OF phenomena of odurs aud taste In WAFER
supplies al probability due TO Tie presence OF Ger
tain forms of vegetation. but our knowedge OF the sue
ec il AZ present unsatisfactory that no means VI
ant cipaiug or preventing such phenomena can Us yes
tase though undoubtedly unpleasant have never, as
vet proved deleterl0s to the health OF any community
where they have occurred so lar rs any records 90
Grains IN U. :. Gallon
Of n en-