Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-24
WATER SUPPLY OF
ORANGE POLLUTED
Expert Will Be Engaged to
Purify Stream I'M
medlateIy.

Told by the state Board OF Health
through the local health authorities
that the stream from which the city
secures its water supply is 80 polluted
that the time Is inevitable when an
epidemic of,some kind will result, the
water committee of the Orange Com
mon Council last night instructed
Councilmen Stetson and Freeman to
recommend the selection of an expert
engineer with a view of determining
what must be done to remedy condi-
tions Immediately.
The members of the Board of
Health appeared before the committee
and laid much stress upon the neces-
sity OF immediate action, saying they
would not accept the responsibility
il an epidemic occurred. ]. Scott
MacNutt, health officer, produced
number of communications from the
State board, which plainly stated
that, although the condition of the
supply obtained from the water sheds
Is not dangerous at present. there is
absolute necessity for scientific treat
ment of the stream. if the health of
the citizens of the city is to be
guarded.
Mr. MacNutt said he has requested
the State authorities to make a
monthly test of the water, but that
they will not do so unless the city
agrees to abide by recommendation
they will make relative to improving
the supply. Mr.. MacNutt reported a
recent inspection OF the supply OBJ
tanned from the watersheds revealed
that b. coli is detachable in the
stream and that there are FIVE differ
emit sources of pollution. He does
not believe that b. coli creates as
dangerous a condition as a large
number Of people imagine.
President John G. Fineran, of the
Common Council, objected to Health
Commissioner English's assertion
that the board wanted to unload"
the responsibility of conditions upon
the Council. Mr. Fineran and sew
eral of the health commissioners were
involved in an argument over just
how bad the conditions actually are.
1T is not fair said Mr.. Fineran,
ito blacken the supply to such an ex-
tent that people will be afraid to
drink the water" He asked DR..
FREDERICK Luongo, member of the
board, If he believes the supply is
bad. and the physician answered that
it is not only bad, but dangerous.
He added that he dislikes to drink
the water
Chides Councilman Stetson.
TT is strange" continued Mr.. Fin
eran, that / drink four glasses of
the water each day and never feel
any Ill effects" He explained that
he realizes that the condition of the
supply is bad and that immediate
action is necessary to remedy it, but
he said he does not wish wrong i'm
preston of the actual conditions
succeeded in having the committee
instruct his colleagues to consult with
experts.
Mr.. Fineran recalled that Mr..
Stetson was told a number of months
ago to investigate the advisability of
employing experts. and he chlded the
Second ward representative for not
reporting on the matter. You must
remember. Mr.. Stetson," said Presi-
dent Fineran, that the water prob
lem is more serious than the sewer
matter"
Mr.. Stetson explained that he has
been kept quite busy of late on other
matters. but he promised to bring
the committee together at an early
date to arrange for the lettering of
the conditions.
Satisfaction with the supply OBJ
tanned from Campbells pond was ex-
pressed by the health authorities,
and Mr.. MacNutt said that the sup
ply from the pond was adjudged 20.
K" by the State officials. Mr.. Mac
Mutt, who has made a careful study
Of the problem since he was APP
pointed health officer. said that the
sheds have become too thickly popu-
lated in recent years. He stated
there are over 1000 people living in
the section at present, and he de-
plored the existing conditions on some
OF the property close by.