New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-14
WATER CONSUMERS EcoyoMrzE.
CAMDEN STOPS WASTE AND THUS SOLVES
SERIOUS PROBLEM

Camden. April IL tSpeciaD. Just the people OF
Camden began to fear that the solution Of tho
water problem long way off and fettered
with tedious litigation the problem solved itself.
and an abundance of the purest. sweetest.
clearest water is flowing through the city mains.
The lesson is perhaps. Of considerable value to
other commnnites In New-Jerssy where many OF
the Ills of life the result OF polluted water
supply.
Ever since Camden set about systematically to
stop the waste OF water. In order that the new
artesian plant might supply sufficient quantity TO
there has been daily decrease in the total pump.
age Al the time the city formally seized the plant
ments Of twenty million gallons day, the amount
pumped daily was about sixteen million gallons.
lack OF pressure above the first floors OF buildings
As result the pumps a, the old Pavonla station
turned into the mains. and scores OF persons were
Attacked rh,s with typhoid fever
9a nd t fr9m the pronls that The board Of
ell were stirred to decisive action. Steps
taken TO stop the waste Of water. Inspectors were
leaks and sources Of waste. and in an incredibly
brief period they discovered the causes OF tho
waste Of thousands Of gallons OF water every day
Along the streets in front OF various saloons they
found streams of water running into horse-roughs
Of unoccupied houses they discovered many by
drants leaking. each at the rate Of hundreds OF
gallons OF water day. They found IN hundreds
of small dwelling houses species of "hopper'
closets without automatic check,valves. the water
flowing continuously from one-inch pipes. They dis
covered mills and factories and shops where the
waste was enormous. As result OF the discover
les. the Board of Health and the Water Commit
tee took steps to husband the pure water They
sent notices to every householder and factory
owner to observe the ordinances which provide
against waste OF water. They decided TO prohibit
all further use Of hopper closets and 10 compel
the Introduction Of automatic valves They caused
the inspectors TO have all discoverable leaks
stopped and TO impress upon the people that every
precaution must be taken against waste.
The results were more gratifying than any one
had believed possible. As the people fully
grasped the situation and learned that the typhoid
epidemic could not he stamped out 30 long as water
was pumped from the Delaware. and that this must
necessarily continue unless degree OF economy
was observed with the artesan supply. they took
hold in earnest and gave the authorities all posi-
bic assistance. In a very little while the pumpage
at the plant began 10 show decline and every
day since IL has continued to fall TIL IL has now
reached less than fourteen million gallons day.
and City Engineer Farnham f. confident that II
will drop considerably lower.
For the purposes Of still further economy, the
City Council has decided to introduce water meters
in order 10 Ak graduated scale OF rentals II rs
believed that the use OF meters will add materially
10 the ciy's income. while at the same time re-
ducing the daily pumpage
The most gratifying feature OF the new order az
things is the marked falling on In the number OF
typhoid fever cases In the two weeks preceding
the turning OF pure water total or loi cases
reported to the Board of Health. an average
OF u day while for the last two weeks the total
has been only 50. and on several days or the iase
week not new case was reported.