New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-09
THE WATER IMPURITIES
Mr. DE VARONA SAYS THE TROUBLE Is
NOT AT THE PONDS

ErABLE MATTER DEPUTY PURvEYoR
DECKER SAYS THAT THE TROUBLE Is
LARGELY DUE TO THE EXTREME
HEAT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.
Health Commissioner Emery held another con-
ference yesterday with Chief Chemist Gustave
J. Volckening and Dr. +. H. Wilson. the bacte-
biologist, concerning the trouble with the Brook
lyn water supply. 1t is expected that the Com
missioner will receive the report of the chemists
who are examining the city sources Of supply to-
day. and he will then give ii out for publication.
Engineer J. NJ De Narona yesterday made the
following statement with regard to the charges
that the trouble arises through decaying vege
table matter in the ponds used to supply water:
THE complaints received here specified that
the water at the places mentioned was brownish,
smeed badly. and tasted worse. and have
serted that We were furnishing no such water
al the reservoirs. and that the evils complained
of must arise from causes which operated the
water after it left reservoirs and entered the
distribution system. That this assertion true
is cOncusively shown at visit Of inspection.
| do not want, however to have the results Of
this visit prove too much. Coloress. odorless
and tasteess water may be injurious to health,
and brown-loOking. bad-smeing, and bad -tast-
ing water may be harmless. although decidedly
Objectionable Whether or not Rdgewood
water is in any way injurious can only be de-
termined after the proper tests. now being made
by Professor Leeds. are completed.
The evils complained of arise from causes
which operate after the water enters the distri
button system. 1t is possible. therefore, that the
colorless. odorless and tasteess water at our
reservoir, unobjectionable there may contain the
cause which later operates in the distribution
pipes to produce the evils complained Of vent
ure, however, to add that the brown-looking and
ill-tasting water, smelling of rotten eggs, of
which have heard, is not furnished in that
condition, anything like it. by a single one OF
our supply ponds. | will further more readily
agree 10 pay a visit to the Springfield supply
pond. to show that the water therefrom pos
sesseS none of the characteristics complained Of.
| select this pond because it has been the one
particularly singled out for condemnation, and
because the stream supplying it, from causes
beyond control. is not kept as clean as we
should like to have it, This is the smallest but
Of sources of supply. but in Difference to
the suggestion Of the Board Of Health. pending
their report. 1t has been shut off. We always
keep the streams and ponds in as good condition
as we possibly At Springfield there are
few owners who will not allow US to enter their
lands to clean the stream. AT Hempstead when
is really the weak point Of our gravity supply as
far its gravity goes we have long ago com
pleted plans to remove the evil ana IN the
Council we have asked the necessary appropra-
ton do the work" $50
Deputy Purveyor Decker. however, takes diff
ferent view of the matter. He declared yester-
day that the bad flavor Of the water was due to
vegetation in the ponds. He did not think now
ever that this necessarily made the water UNI
wholesome Engineer De Varona has suggested
TO the Purveyor's office that the mains De
flushed and. commenting on this, Mr.. Decker
said 1T. ,r
I'VE have been flushing the mains right along,
hut moi AT the suggestion Of Mr.. De Narona or
ANYBODY else We always flush the mains bu.
the only way the mains could be source OF Dan
Ger would he by the existence OF vegetable mat
go In tbenn and that must come TO them from
the sources of supply To-day drank some 9iItr OF
90 ,ba fire. time in several days, and found II
had a mouldy flavor, which is due TO Vegetallv ,
hut regarded II as wholesome attr lou 49, .,,o
heat we had few weeks ago. Such IL, no, a.
causes the vegetation in the sources OF sappi ~
decav ouickly. and the bad taste ana tne pau
dor ara tho results With cooler weather. now
avon the water will vsibly improve