New-York tribune., 1905-10-21
WATER FOR BROOKLYN.

Mr. De Varona, the chief engineer of the
Brooklyn waterworks, is one of the most opti-
mistic of men, but even he is now constrained
to take a gloomy view of that borough's outlook
for a water supply in the immediate future.
There are only three or four days supply on
hand, and unless copious rains fall speedily the
production OF the wells and streams will dimin-
ish and the city will suffer a scarcity. At the
present time there is not q full pressure of
water in the mains at all times, and at no time
does the pressure seem to be what 1t once was.
1t is easy to explain that the borough has out
grown its supply, or has been growing faster
than the water supply could be increased. We
all know such is the case. With the excuses for
delay in such an extension of the system as has
been possible need not concern ourselves.
Wantagh and Mass8pequa will not solve the
problem. Entry into Suffolk County would, no
doubt but there seems to be little hope of effect
ing that. Relief from distressing and danger
Gus situation is therefore to be found in the up
country operations Of the Mayors new water
commissioners, and it is with view to their
application to Brooklyns pressing needs that
their plans are most to be considered.
1t is, indeed, only on the ground of such ap-
plication that those plans to be justified. We
have already called attention to the Troposa;
for two costly new reservoirs in Westchester
County. That at Park Hill. Yonkers, may be
justified a part of filtration plant, if it is
not possible TO use the one at Jerome Park for
the purpose but apparently on no other ground.
With a distributing reservoir of 100000, 900
gallons in Central Park, and one of 1000 600 900
gallons at Jerome Park, there could be no need
for ordinary distributing purposes: for another
of 1900, 100000 gallons at Park Hill. But if
the last named is requisite for filtering pur-
poSes we'll and good At least we want our
water clean. The construction of huge stor-
age reservoir at KensicO, however is a different
proposition. 1t cannot possibly be needed for
Manhattan and The Bronx. 1t will hold enough
we are told, to give the city a supply of 500 OOO,-
900 gallons day for fifty days in case the aque
duct supplying it were shut off. Yes, but we
already have in Croton Lake and connected res
ervOirs a capacity sufficient to give the city a
supply of 50G,O00,OOO gallons day, not merely
for fifty days, but for 164 days Surely that is
enough for this generation. Even when we need
billion gallons a day those reservoirs will hold
enough to give that quantity daily for eighty
two days.
Brooklyn however, has practically no storage
reservoirs. Her distributing reservoirs hold only
enough for few days, so that If her pumping
system should break down there would be absO-
lutte famine within a week. Nothing is more
urgently needed than storage reservoir which
will hold at least months supply. and it
should be, of course at a sufficient elevation TO
deliver its supply to the distributing reservoirs
by gravity, just as Croton Lake delivers its sup
ply to Central Park Now it may be that no
site for such reservoir can be found within
or near the Borough of Brooklyn. Indeed, we
do not think It can. There is sufficient area
OF high ground available At Ridgewood and
Forest Hills there is room for nothing more
than distributing reservoirs. 1t may be, there
fore, that the KensicO scheme is the best that
can be devised. The elevation of Kenslco IS so
great that water could be carried thence by
/ gravity and delivered In Brooklyn at Il height
of 200 or perhaps 250 feet. If such reservoir
were constructed with the capacity we have
mentioned, and connected on the one hand with
/ the lake which is to be made at Ashokan and
| on the other with Brooklyn the problem of
BrOoklyn's water supply would be adequately
/ solved If that is what the water commission
/ ers have in view their proposals will doubtless
receive hearty support from the people of
Brooklyn. But just what that borough is to do