Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-15
NEW YORK WATER SUPPLIES.

Various Vermont towns have lively
Interest in the subject OF water sup
plies, as treated al length in New York.
Three State authorities lay special stress
in their annual reports this year on the
question of prevention of pollution OF
public water supplies The State water
supply commission devoted much space
to the matter of the purity OF these
supplies in all parts Of the State especi-
ally with reference to the increasing
probability that New York city will
Hudson river The state river improve
ment commission emphasizes the bear
ing which water storage on its tributar-
les would have on the purity Of the
water in the Hudson at Troy and AL
bany.
Now comes Or. Eugene II. Porter, the
State commissioner of health, in his an
uual report with these words. During
the last year 1,5j4 deaths from typhoid
fever occurred in this State, and it is
no oxaggeration to say that almost
every one of these deaths was caused
by infected water
The purity and protection of public
water supplies, stream pollution and its
suppression. the control and regulation
of sewage disposal. and the urgent need
OF sufficient funds to enable his depart
ment to conduct its sanitary engineer
ing work are the principal subjects
treated in the report DR.. Porter says:
The efforts of this department to pre-.
vent further pollution Of water supplies
should be supplemented by legislation
which Will give 1t further control OF
potable waters OF the State by provid-
ing that all plans for public water sup
plies be approved by the State commits
sioner of health. and also to secure in
spect.on of proposed and existing sewer
systems and water supplies. The prob,
lem of securing the essential supplies OF
pure water for future use by the cities
and villages Of the State can only be
solved by intelligent and comprehensive
action. 1t is readily apparent that the
pollution of the waters of the State ant
tho one OF control and the conserving o
public water supplies are so closely in
ter-woven and so dependent on eaCi
other that they should be hand in hand
and broad and comprehensive poiicy
adopted looking toward the ultimat,
solution Of these important questions.
Of the problem OF sewage disposal
Dr. Porter says:
1t is often Il most prepexing an,
difficult problem. On its proper solution
depend in very great measure the purit,
Of our streams and lakes and their tit
ness for potable water supplies No
only arc all tho proposed sewer system
in the different towns and munich alitic
in the State TO he investigated com
PARSONS made. examinations conducted
and then, if proper, a. proved by the de
partmcnt, but what is equally import
ant, every sewer system and sewage dis
roSal plant, every manufacturing est
Adjustment every municipality an
every summer resort should be thorough
~ examined at least one each year an
It competent report made i'm every cas-,
Nvhen it is added that the amount an
propriated for the most Important wor
So ncludod in the petty amount granite
for water supplies, the difficulties In
department at present labors under ma
be apparent.
II is evident from this that the prot
lem OF the proper disposal of sewage
already one of the live issues OF tn
day.