New-York tribune., 1902-02-11
WATER ENOUGH FOR USE.

WATER ENOUGH FOR USE.
A fine old Ramapo flavor, of the vintage of
1899, is perceptible in various current para
graphs suggestions and remarks. 1t is said
now and then, in the most innocent appearing
way that great increase in New-York's water
supply will be necessary in the near future;
that the Croton supply is now at its maximum
and is obviously inadequate, and that there
fore it is high time to look for other sources of
supply. The inspiration of some If not all or
these utterances is pretty obvious. They are
the verest echo or revival, of the twaddle that
was put forth in 1899, when the monstrous
Ramapo job came so perilously near TO being
saddled upon the city, and, like It, they have no
convincing basis in fact. 1t is, of course, posi-
tive untruth to say the Croton supply is now at
its maximum. 1t is well known that billions of
gallons are now running to waste every year.
which will be impounded and utilized when the
great new dam is finished a few years hence.
Even then we shall not be making more than
half the possible use of the CrotOn supply, and
we shall not do so until we utilize the under
ground rivers which flow from the CrotOn to
the sea
A Massachusetts, court has just been judicial
ly investigating the theory long held by many
observers, that a great underground river of
clear, cold water flows from the White Noun
tains across New Hampshire and Massachusetts
to the sea. Upon that question we shall not
presume to pass. But that such a river flows
or many of them flow-beneath this Borough of
Manhattan may he declared with confidence.
1t was only few years ago that the builders
of an important uptown edifice were greatly
troubled by flow Of water in the excavation
for the cellar. They thought 1t came from a
giant spring or a subterranean stream. But
after millions of gallons had run out they came
to the conclusion that they had merely found
leak in a Croton main. Years ago water began
pouring into the cellar of the Produce Ex-
change some forty thousand gallons day.
pumping engine had to be maintained to pump
it out So strong was the flow that IL was pro-
posed TO put in a water motor and make the
subterranean stream furnish power for the
building. And then, last summer, 1t found
that 1t all came from broken Croton main.
Again, not many days ago. a subterranean
stream, flowing hundreds of thousands OF gallons
a day, was discovered under the City Hall,
where it had been flowing for an unknown
length of time. II, too. was found TO proceed
from broken main.
Now, these three enormous leaks were dis
covered accidentally. Apparently the water
department has no means OF detecting them,
or If it has, 1t does not employ them. There is
no assurance that there are not scores more
scattered about under the city. On the con-
trary, the presumption is that there are many
such leaks, and that beneath the city there is
a network OF underground streams carrying
millions of gallons OF Croton water from the
reservoirs to the harbor without its ever getting
into the service pipes. Note. too that the
Water Commissioner believes that five hun
dred thousand gallons a day have been taken
by private water company from the city
oyr Tho,Yf ND oil %hoSr
meters in this city have been so tampered with
that they do not indicate the full quantity
which passes through them. In brief 1t seems
reasonable TO conclude that not half of the
water which comes down from Croton Lake is
to be accounted for by use. The major part OF
the supply is not used 1t is wasted There
are other great cities in which the matter has
been taken up Systematically, and by stopping
leaks in mains and repairing defective plumb
ing the apparent consumption Of water has been
reduced by from so TO 75 per cent, while the
actual consumption has really increased The
people used more than ever. but waste was
stopped.
The duty of the hour is not TO seek new
sources Of supply, but to seek the leaks and
stop them. You cannot fill a sieve by pouring
all Niagara into it. There should be no restric-
tion OF actual use. Let the people drink all
they want and battle as freely as they please
and let the streets be washed and the fountains
be kept playing. Indeed, such uses will be
promoted by the stoppage of leaks, for then
there will be more water for use, and there
will be stronger pressure in the pipes and a
freer flow from the faucets. But the under
ground rivers, and the leaky taps, and the broken
meters do no good. They are the enemy Abol-
ish them and put in trustworthy meters every
where, so that people will pay for all the water
they use and for no more; and then we shall
find that the good old Croton supply is sufficient
for present purposes and for the increasing
needs of the city for many years to come What
is wanted is water enough for use, not for
waste. And that the city already has.