The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-01-16
WHAT We DRINK
Practitioners Club Commit
tee Reports on Condition
Of Water to Board
Of Works.
SUGGESTIONS AGAINST POLLUTION
Chief Engineer Van Keuren
Says East Jersey Is Re
sponsible for Our
Supply.
SUGGESTIONS AGAINST POLLUTION

Drs. George E. Mclaughlin, ]. A. Ex-
ton, q. &. Dickinson, I. r. Chambers and
j. PARSONS, committee appointed by the
Practftioners' Club of Jersey City to Ia.
quire into and report as to the condition
and quality of the water supplied to Jer-
sey City, having finished their la'bors,
submitted to the Board of Street and
water Commissioners, at their meeting
yesterday the following suggestions
First-That proper measures Sbe taken
at once to prevent further contamination
OF the water of the Passaic River by
the discharge of sewage effluent into its
stream at Summit and other points and
for the removal of such sources of pollu-
ton as are in evidence, under the opera
ton of the act of 1897, passed for the
protection, from pollution, of the head
waters of the Passaic River, and that the
river be policed or constantly inspected
in order to protect it from further pol
luton.
Second-We would urge the immediate
Introduction of filter beds for the re-
moval of such sediment and vegetable
life as may be factors in the discoloration
and turbidity of our water supply, espe-
cially noticeable in times of heavy rains.
Third-Inasmuch as the mains through
which the water flows in Jersey City
have been in use one since 1854 and two
since the early seventies, we would earn
estly recommend that these be examined
by committee of experts and that a
member of our club, and also a biologist
of its selection shall be members of such
committee.
We further advise that the reservoirs
on Summit avenue be properly inspected
and cleansed under the supervision of the
city authorities, and that a representative
of the medical profession, of our clubs
selection, be a member of a committee
to see that the work is done in a sarli-
tary and satisfactory manner
Engineer Charles Van Keuren refer
ring to the report, said today that the
Summit pollution should be taken care of
by the East Jersey Water Company, who
should deliver pure and wholesome water
under their contract. Anything necessary
to be done will be taken care of by the
Board
The filter SYSTEM said the Engineer.
may not be as efficacious as it should
be, and in that case the East Jersey
Water Comapny has sufficient authority
to stop tthe pollution.
AS for the cleansing of the Summit
avenue reservoirs, that will be done as
soon as we are able to lay our new
mains, which are proposed to connect
with the new supply. At present we are
unable to clean the reservoirs owing to
the system of pipe lines at that point.
am working on system now to connect
with the new supply, and when the pipe
lines are laid we will be able to give
both reservoirs thorough cleaning.
There is no doubt they need it. That
cleaning is for the vegetable growth, and
not for bacteria or germs only. I have
had an analysis of the water made by
competent person and I am assured that
there is nothing deleterious to health in
the water furnished the citizens
The Board referred the report to a sub
committee for action.