New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-22
WATER PROBLEM POSER
Department BaHed at Dit. KiSco
Says Dir. De Var0nG.

/ NJ de Narona. chief engineer Of the Depart
ment Of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity follow
ing The exposure of the menacing conditions which
have prevailed about the sources Of the water sup
ply or the city, has submitted a long report Com
missioner O'Brien, in which most of the ailega-
ions made by The Tribune are sustained but in
which he throws up his hands what he con-
siders the difficulties Of the situation. After refer
ring TO the nuisances at Mount Kisco and the dam
gerous conditions at the Monteiore Home and the
temporary measures against pollution adopted
there. he describes the difficulty at great length in
executing The plans to install a water publication
plant. He declares that the department has OK
hausted all the means at its command TO suppress
the sources of the Mount Kisco nusances.
These sources of pollution increase year by year
in quantity and degree the chief engineer saws
in referring TO a schedule Of eighteen nIisances.
owing 10 the rapid development of the territory
within $50 square miles of watershed. Our in
spectors clean grounds. reservoirs. roads and
other public places. but they cannot compel any
individual to abate nuisances which he creates
and this is thoroughly understood in the watershed
do find that II is practicable to remove
these nuisances within any reasona bic period If
al all even with the cooperation of the health au-
thorities For this state OF affairs the existing law
is responsible"
Mr.. De Narona says that eighty-eight violations
were examined by the State Board Of Health be-
t|een Api = and October % 1903. all which re-
main undated The cases brought before the grand
=
inadequacy OF the law TO prevent the violations"
h continues. is well understood in our watershed
and renders the task of our inspectors extremely
difcu!t in such cases. II seems clear that some
amendment of the law should be secured under
which the local board the state board could take
much more summary action than hitherto"
Concerning the pollution created by new or grow
ing villages Mr. De Varona says that eventually
sewerage system the genera. lines OF the met
ropolitan sewer system about Boston will have II
be adopted For treatment Of individual cases such
the problem at Mount Ksco he says il would
he advisable 10 have passed enabling the
city TO acquire needed land in the watershed solely
for the protection Of its water supply This pro-
lection would be augmented either by the con-
struction Of filtration plants and similar methods
Or by the building Of sewers, cooperating with the
Interested Villages
But they will utterly fail 10 protect our water
supply against the effects Of natural causes saws
the chief engineer. dropping this topic such as
the surface washing OF 800 miles OF watershed and
The discharge through swamps. 10 remove the
color and turbidity. u prevent the Development
Of vegeta bic organisms in reservoirs and the
offensive and unWhole some tastes and odors re-
sulting therefrof1. The only safeguard against
such things I'm Mr.. De ESrona's opinion is Ultra
Tion. This has been recognized by every investi-
eating and advisory body in. the last ten years. he
SAYS.