The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-08-02
DIRTY WATER.
Reservoirs in Pequannock
Shed Down to Less
Than Thirty Feet.
MUD RUNNING THROUGH PIPES
Physicians Advise Against
Drinking the Unboiled
Fluid Bad for
Baths.
MUD RUNNING THROUGH PIPES

Constant complaints concerning the con-
dition of the water now being served to
i the resident of the city are being made
by people in all sections to the water de-
partnlent. Early in the morning when
taps are first opened, the water that
flows is absolutely muddy and it requires
ten or fifteen minutes steady flow before
1t has become settled enough to use for
bathing purposes alone. For drinking
purposes it is abhorent, and those who
see the condition of it in the morning
refuse to drink it at all unless after it is
boiled or filtered.
Physicians advise those who ask them
about the water not to drink it, as it
comes from the taps. They say it may
or may not be harmful to the human sys-
tenn. but it is certainly unsightly ILL
odored and tainted il. taste
Il have to let the water in nv bath
tub run for fully ten minutes every morn
ing said one citizen, "before it be-
comes Gear enough to be suitable for
bathing purposes. don't drink unboiled
water now at ALL In the bat4ltub the
water is of the color of coffee, and it re-
quires considerable time before the mat
ter in it settles. If it is allowed to stand
the vessel in which the water is used is
covered with a sediment of mud
The trouble arises from conditions in
the water shed. At the present time
water for Newark and Jersey City, as
well as the other municipalities that the
East Jersey Water Company supplies is
being drawn from Oak Ridge reservoir
only.
The reservoir, through the constant
draught on it, was lowered Tuesday
thirty feet, and yesterday still lower. The
quantity of water, as computed from the
diagrams in the office of the Water De-
partment, now contained in Oak Ridge
| reservoir is only $50, 900 gallons. When
full it contains 2555, 100000, so that the
| amount stored at present is less than
one-tenth of the total capacity. This por-
tion, If it all could be drawn, would be
enough for only five days, but there is
really very little more than can be taken
from the reservoir. The reservoir is for
ty-two feet deep, and as more than thirty
feet have already been drawn, it leaves
practically only the bottom water for use.
It is this water that the city is now re-
ceiving. In it is contained all the sedi-
ment that drops from the top layers of
water. This sediment surcharges the low
er stratum of water which is always load
ed with dirt from the bottom None of it
has any chance to settle because the con-
slant draught from the small quantity
now in the reservoir, agitates the mud on
| the bottom OF the reservoir and the lower
the water falls while the gates are opsn
the greater the quantity of dlrt that is
stirred INTO the water.
1t is alleged by Newarkers who have
studied the subject that these conditions
would not exist under ordinary circum-
stances. This is an extraordinary time
for the East Jersey Water Company,
with the suit brought by the city, pending
against IL in the Court of Chancery. The
company has a purpose in using only Oak
Ridge water. The infiiction OIL the water
on the people is incidental to the COM
pany'S purpose.
This purpose of the East Jersey Com
pany is to prevent an. examination of
Clinton reservoir. If the company opened
Canistear reservoir, the city would not
have OF suffer, but since it denies the
right of the city to that body 1t must
depend on Clinton.
The construction work on Clinton reser-
voir is so bad that the company does not
want it seen until all the evidence for
the city in the suit against the company
has been put in, or until after September
"a
All the experts produced for the city so
far have stated, under oath, that many
repairs are needed to put the dam of the
Clinton reservoir in good condition. J.
James R. CroeS stated that the dam is
absolutely dangerous, to judge from the
surface conditions that he found in it, and
| around it. He said it had evidently slipped
several inches already, and that there was
| the constant danger of it going still far
| ther and breaking.
The company is evidently frightened by
| this testimony. at least or knows it to be
| true. This is judged by its conduct. Clin-
| ton Reservoir has been about full for a
| long time, and if the company desired to
| supply the city with good PequannocK
water it could have opened Clinton Res
ervoir long before Oak Ridge fell as low
as it is at present.
| The company, however, it is thought,
| feared to open Clinton reservoir, as the
water would be lowered and the defects
| in the construction of the dam, as well as
| the shallow fowage around the banks of
| the reservoir, would become apparent and
4 be noted by experts. The company fears
! experts at the present time. The city
| has engaged number of them to study
| the questions involved in the watershed
| and the suit brought by the company, and
| it is afraid, especially that these city ex-
| perts will note the bad construction.
The lower the water in Clinton reservoir
| falls it is said by city officials the gre alter
| will be the number of defects apparent.
| Evidence on these points would be very
| detrimental to the interests of the COM
| pany at the present time preceding the
important hearings that are to be had in
| the city's suit. and the company will do
! all 1t can to save itself from damaging
/ testimony.
Engineer Sherrera and Chairman Bau-
| mann of the Newark Water COMMITTEES
are both out of town at present. They
| will probably be back tomorrow to attend
| the meeting of the Street and Water Com
missioners. No demand can be made on
| the company to serve better water until
| they return, unless President Ballard of
| the Board should do So The subject may
| be taken UP tomorrow by the Commits
| sioners.