The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-31
JERSEY CTTY's BAD WATT
When Faucets Are First TurueA On II 10
Thick and Hack.

People In every part OF Jersey City are com.
planning about the condition OF the water. 1t
10 common occurrence whom faucets arc
turned on the first time In the morning for a
black. thick. ill.smelllnC LIQUID to ran ont It
mas tho appearanco OF Ink and smells like
sewage. After the stream has been running
Tor y few moments II becomes clearer. but tho
odor remains. Thcrs Is also black. noxious
sediment which settles in tho basins and
emits disgusting odor. The smell resembles
somewhat the smell OF putrid fish. This con-
dition OF tho wator has existed FOR several
weeks and Is gradually growing worse. Many
persons In the city do not drink tho water
until 1t has been boiled. Everybody that
can filters 1t. but filtration makes but
slight Improvement Tho nlter catches
all the impurities that nre held In
SUSPENSION. but 1t does not abate tho bad
odor. Jersey Citys drinking water was never
In such condition before. and 1t seems to BIO
growing worse every day, Some improvement
might be made by blowing or the hydrants.
but that cannot be done because the quantity Of
that blowing on tho hydrants would seriously
interfere with tue supply. Tho Street and
are receiAing numerous complaints every dry.
Tho pollution q the water is IT rlbuted to
Wis Just Above NSWarE bsiois II: Watsr
reaches that point It is mixed with sewage
from l'RersOn and IRssnic and the refuse
from mills all along tile river and its tributa-
ries. In his weekly report In.pector Lenke,
whose duty 1t Is to prevent as far as possible
the pcl!uton OF the river. reports that he ilnds
q number q: dead dogs. cats. horses. and
poultry. In addition 10 this the sewage from
Newark backs up with tho tide be yund Tho In
take at 1lsileyille. A number OF people living
on the Heights have begun sinking driven
wells. expecting to get supply OF pure water.
This plan is not approved OF BY some physi-
clans however. who allege that In every part
Of the city whore there nre sewers and out
houses. their contents permsate the earth and
necessarily affect the water. Some physicians
fear that there NAV be an epide annie OF typhoid
ievor rs there ID In Newark. but the disease
has not shown itself to any great extent yet.
A SUN rerorter called yesterday ON {. ].
Rooney. Clerk Of the County Board OF Health.
He looked over his records and found eleven
deaths from typhoid fever reported this month.
Ten Of those were In Jersey City. From tho
lst to the 18th OF August there were four cnses
The greatest number reported In ono day was
three cases on tho 25th inst They were chill
dren. tho oldest II years aud the youngest9.
There were ten deaths in July aud thirteen In
June.
Even II there is no epidemic the water at .
present is unfit TO use for any purpose 1t
looks bad. smells bal. and IL not even ada pied
for washing purposes. The Street md Water
heleve that the vile odor Is
caused BY the sewage which emptes into tho
river and by decnyed vegetable matter. They
BAY that blowing of" tho MIGRANTS will
clarity the water. but will not purify 1t, and
would be waste OF water to little purpose.