New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-25
FIGHT FOR PURE WATER
FILTR4TTON OR SEWER?
Problem of Supply That Co"fro"ts
the Controller.

1,,,trot;op mr. a sewer system throughout the
croton watershed TO insure pure water supply
IL a proposition that is confronting CohtroieF
Metz The Board OF Estimate and Apporuoh-
rnent has referred the matter to him. lI's
n,,r,ber of pages regarding the subject that the
Controller ought TO read before arriving at MS
decision would stagger an ordinary man.
There are two distinct opinions among the en-
cineers Of the city relative to the better way 70
conserve the purity OF the water supply. Inc
Controller. it is said would rather have the
simple plain proposition Of filtration or no Ultra
ton presented than to be compelled to decide
a technical question involving two distinct points
Of view.
Chief Engineer De Varona has been working
over pure water supply ever since he entered the
department. He told a Tribune reporter last
week that 20 per cent OF the Brooklyn supply
was now being filtered, and 1t was looked upon
as an undoubted success. This filtration was
either artificial or natural at all events it was
filtration and effective at that.
The first recommendation of the chief engineer
vas for a filtration plant at Goulds Meadows
This was 10 have a capacity of 25060000O gal
Ions, and the water was TO pass through filters
by gravity 10 the lower parts of the aqueduct
Tho cost of this would have been about $500
600 with annual expense of operation Of $780,
OOe. InIS scheme embraced dliOJiltI Hitd'A'''
plant al Elmsdorf. costing $l5.000,0o the cost or
ma intenance 10 be $1,5oo.Oo0 year.
There IS a sentiment in the Aqueduct Com
mission iu favor Of filtration. It's members feel
that this method will provide pure water for this
city Filtration has heen practised SO long in
other sections that II had passed the expert
mental stage. But apparently the chief engineer
of the Water Department, and the Board OF Es-
innate and Apportionment. and also the Con"
troller. thought that the experimental stage mad
not been passed. for among them all they agreed
upon the expenditure OF $25.00O for experimental
purposes. The CHIEF engineer wanted $9O'o0o'
but it was decided to cut that amount in hall
It was decided by the chief engineer. after fur
Their thought that it would be better TO install L
filtration plant nearer the city. at point where
the supply would almost Immediately debouch
into the city supply pipes. This would make
contamination after filtration almost impossible.
The place selected therefore. for the experiment
was the Jerome Park reservoir. The contract
for the experimental station was given 10 a pri-
vate company The chief engineer sent HIS es-
Inmates 10 tho Board of Estimate and APpor-
tionment for the use Of the Jerome Park reser-
yoir. The total cost was 10 be $i,6oo0oo This
was 4 very favorable figure as compared vita
the estimates for the supply further up the
watershed The plant at this reservoir could be
completed a. the latest in 1908.
It is AIr. De Varonas plan to cover the reser-
voir when the real filtration plant is installed
The eastern division OF this reservoir has been
left unconstructed or purpose. II was thought
in the Water Department that filtration would
be eventually adopted as the best way 70 FUR
nish the city with pure water supply. DR.
Thomas Darlington in monograph came out
in favor OF filtration.
The opposition TO filtration is in the Water
Department itself Some want the watershed
severed It is said that a sewer system starting
at Brewsters ard extending 20 Croton Landing
would be as effective in preventing contamina-
ton the best filtration system ever invented.
II was further said that there is modeFnlIed
system OF filtration which, as a matter or eN-
pense would prove 70 he a mere bagatelle IN
comparison with the plans evolved by the chief
engineer. The opponents Of iltTatton say that
the system % the chief engineer would cost just
bout $4,000 600. and this would not be taking
the cost OF maintenance into account. The cost
Of SeNerng the watershed effectively. II was
said, would be $1,O00O0o at the maximum. The
operating expenses would be inconsideTabie The
cost OF ADEQUATE inspection throughout tho
sibilities Of contamination Of the water supply
OF New York City from the CToton watershed
would not be worth considering
Controller Metz, who when last seen said
that he had not considered the matter in all It's
bearings, must decide what shall be done On
one hand, he has one set of experts who affirm
that filtration is the only way 10 obtain pure,
safe supply. and then disConcert him with a ra-
quest for $4,000 for an experimental plant: on
the other side others vino say that sewerirg
the watershed Wiz answer for al real purifying
purposes. point to the greater economy. and also
call attention to system Of filtration that
tive as any ir opera ton anywhere.
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