The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-06
WATER, BUT NO AQUEDUCT.
A ToLERABLE CERTAINTY OF $4,000
600 GALLONS PER DAH

bot Not Another Pint Until the New
Aaueduot IL Rendy-GenernI wnrtage
ResponaihIe for the Present scarcity.
The warnings OF the Department OF Public
Works do not. as yet seem TO have had any
effect in decreasing the consumption Of water
in New York, and the clty's gigantic thirst is
still gaining on the huge pipes that pour the
water Of the Croton valley into New York res
ervoirs. Tho water In the Central Park reser-
voir fell two inches on Wednesday ard as
much more yesterday Unless there is an I'm
mediate and general economy in tho use OF
water. this steady reduction In the water re-
reserve will be accelerated. rather than dimln-
ished. every day for the reservoir grows
smaller toward tho bottom, and the same eX-
cess Of consumption over supply will decrease
the depth Of the water tri1e moro each day
The present scarcity OF water is not In any way
due to the weather. except as the heat has In
creased the consumption OF water. Rain won't
help the difficulty particle, except as II makes
people use less water. The trouble Ia not in an
insufl cheney OF water supply, but in a lack OF
facilities for bringing 1t TO the city ~ fast rs
people drink 1t ur
New York people have been using all the
water they could get" said Chief Engineer
Birdsall savagoy yesterday. for years back,
and now they are using moro than they can
100000 gallons daily TO the city. and yet the
people are not satisfied. OF course. II they
keep on using 1t and wasting 1t the way tn ey do
now. there'l DO famine before the new nque-
duct is ready. There would be no trouble IL
people would exercise reasonable economy
Commissioner Gilroy and others OF his assis-
tants In tho department take,a less despairing
chief responsibility Tor the scarcity is with the
public. lnasmnch. however, ~ there IL plenty
OF water in the Croton VALLEY. NE d9ily supply
Of the nIueducts. Ia practically assured. and tho
fall of tho water In the reservoir Is serious only
~ It reduces the pressure on the mains and
makes water harder to get In high parts Of the
city and In upper stories OF buildings New
6ork can worry along on lap sh gallons s,
much lower than Il Ia. 50 long a. the big
nuueduct holds ont this daily supply is assured
arc no present apprehensions OF any great
break In the Ruuoduct. The old adueduct has
Tor years been sarSinG an enSrm h; an OF
II has been strengthened IN every possible way:
and is constantly watched along every foot OF
have given way and New Iorks water supply
have been, cut of entirely eXcept for the ~
Bronx liver soueInct. As il has stood this
strain for SO many years 1t Is expected 10 last
all right for three or four weeks more. until the
mnde yesterday with the contractors.
Water was as scarce as usual about the low
eT part OF the city SeSteluHy, DuL beople were
more used to it, and when they could get IL
stored IT up against times when they couldn't.
which saved some Inconvenience. Superin-
tendent Murray notified Commissioner Iiroy
that the police force had boon ordered TO pay
special attention TO preventing violations OF
the regulations against the wasting OF water.
Residents in the upper part Of the city are
not suffering nNticeabIy from the scarcity Of
water. Most o! them do not get their supply
from the reservoir in the Park but directly
from tho sIueduct. They therefore have first
chance at the supply. and It il what they leave
that goes on into the reservoir and 10 con-
sumers below Fityninth street.
The Fire Department has not yet suffered
any serious Inconvenience from the reduced
pressure OF water in the mains. but q large fire
down town in the middle OF the day would. in
the opinion OF the chiefs. develop a very dan
Gerous state OF affairs in the lack OF sufficient
water to supply more than few engines.