Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-12-17
TO PURIFY The DELAWARE.
The Great Rivers Pollution to
be stopped-Hfs

t,on of sewage in all towns having sewage
systems. is che declaration of Harry M.
Herbert, State Sewage Commissioners, in
paper he read before the New Jersey Sanl-
tary Association at Lakewood last Saturday
Mr.. Herbert who has taken leading
and CONSPICUOUS part in the movement to
prevent the continued pollution Of the Del
ware, makes the rather startling statement
that 1873, ,721 900 gallons of raw sewage are
emptied inso the riyer every day, and adds
this silent observation: AS the discharge
of the river during the dry period is but
,2s3, 100000 gallons, it can be truly said
that this water is both meat and drink.
The State Secretary asserts that the only
remedy for this appalling state OF affairs is
continued agitation looking toward the in
ssallation of publication plants in every city
affected and the strict supervision of those
plants after they have been installed. He
declares that the legislation should give 80
the State board absolute control Of the
plants with power to cause such changes to
be made from time to time as would appear
necessary.
Mr.sHerbert declares also that complete
safety will not be insured until all water
supplies are filtered. Mr.. Rerbert's paper
Of the greatest interest is to cities along the
Delaware.
The Delaware river is interesting to sani-
tarians from three standpoints. First, it is
.associa.ed with the land Of three states,
New York, New jersey and Pennsylvania.
Second, it is used as source of public wat
er supply by many towns in Pennsylvania
and New jersey: and third, it has been
looked upon for many years as natural
outlet for sewage and other refuse by towns
which are located on its banks or on tribu-
s:$ries ii the main stream.
As regards she pollution Of the Delaware
river, much can be said. From the source
of the river at stamford, in New York, to
its final end at the capes. distance of 4l0
miles. there are various points at which
gross pollution is always IN evidence, many
places where slight pollution occurs, and few
scattered canning spots where nothing ex-
lists only during the summer months. The
main sources Of pollution in the river come
from towns and cities on the stream proper
or its tributaries which discharge untreated
sewage into the waters. The three states
are alike responsible for these conditions
Il. E7as Nax
York, Allentown. Easton and Philadelphia
in Pennsylvania, Phillipsburg, Trenton
and Camden in New Jersey.
Besides these there are Ii towns OF an
average population of 400 in New York, so
in Pennsylvania with an average popula-
tion of 900, 30 in New Jersey with pop
ulation ranging from $4,000 down, which
allow raw sewage to flow into the river.
In addition TO the above, there are 25
rivers and creeks draining into the Della
ware from New jersey, 10 streams including
she Lehigh from Pennsylvania, and 6 in
New York on which more or less pollution
either direct or indirect exists.
In this age of extreme activity and care
full thought, it would seem to the unin-
formed small problem under existing law
to remedy the pollutions already pointed
out. This is unfortunately, not the case.
In the work of publication of streams,
the person being charged by law with its
operation are met with direct opposition in
the majority of cases instead of the co
operation which should come willingly.
Coersoin is disagreeable feature Of the
work but must be used where other means
fail, if the desired results are to be obtain
ed. The movement is decidedly one of
education, and if the scholar refuses to re-
ceive knowledge and enlightenment of his
own free will, it must be forced upon him.
Towns and cities really requiring disposal
plants can scarcely be made to see the value
derived by building suitable systems for
the disposal and publication Of sewage, and
appear willing, oftentimes, TO expend large
amounts in litigation rather than be forced
into doing that which will result in great
good to themselves and cause pleasant
feelings 30 them to exist among their
neighbors lower down the stream.
The States of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey are actively engaged in causing
purifcation Of she sewage flowing into the
river from their respective territories. The
law of New jersey provides for the sub
mission Of plans for disposal plants TO the
State Board Of Health, and already the
various towns polIuting the river are under
orders to submit such plans and have the
disposal plants in operation by certain
SINE, varying from the present until 1913.
Phillipsburg is, at present, in she Court Of
Chancery for refusing 10 comply with the
orders issued. Millyille is at work on q
disposal plant. MerchantvilIe has COM