The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-24
URGENT NECESSITY FOR STOP.
PAGE OF STREAM POLLUTION
POINTED OUT BY EXPERT.
BUREAU OF SANITARY ENGt-
NEERING SHOULD BE EsTAB-
LIsHED WITH BROAD
DUTIES.
fRy scotland G. Hightlandl

Superintendent. Vial h6Dul6 " dLC
Works and Sewerage Board.
In the state of West Virginia thert
Is no adequate control over pollution
OF streams and sanitation of water
ways in general, such as obtains IL
Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and q
number OF other states.
The state board of health has gen
eral powers relating to nuisances and
presumably could secure the abate
ment OF cases Of gross stream pollu'
ton on the ground that they consu'
tute public nuisance. However the
state board OF health has never used
its general powers in this way except
possibly in minor and untmportant
cases.
1t is the earnest desire of all who
are familiar with the prevailing con
ditions that at the next session of the
legislature the existing laws may be
supplemented for the better preser-
walton OF the public health with pro-
visions for preserving the purity OF
the waters OF the state. The state
board OF health should have general
supervision and control over the wa
tiers Of the state, in so far as their
sanitary and physical conditions at
fect the public health and comfort. 1t
should order sewage disposal works
to be installed, to correct and pre-
vent their pollution. The board should
be authorized in connection there
with to establish q bureau OF SAM
tary engineering, with sufficient ap-
preparation for It's organization. Broad
and active duties OF investigation and
study may be prescribed.
Scope of Bureau.
The bureau Of sanitary engineering
should examine into all public and
private systems OF water supply and
prepare maps and drawings Of the
same for reference. 1t should e%-
anime and patrol as far as possible
the water sheds or catchment basins
Of all public water systems, and in
vestigate and report upon all SOURCES
of pollution of all puglic and private
water supplies; it should investigate
and report upon all public and prl-
yate systems Of sewage disposal; II
should inquire into and investigate OF
rensive trades and nuisances, dspos'
al OF trade wastes, sewage and other
offensive matters, devise means for
their control, and perform such other
duties and exercise such other func-
tons as the state board of health NAV
designate.
The examination OF public and
private water supplies should be
made systematic and sufficiently fire..
uuent to keep the public informed at
all times as to the condition OF the
water. :
The best service can be rendered
bp the people OF the state by not mere
lly trying to remedy existing unsant-
| tary conditions, but also by taking
care that proposed construction shall
not be OF such character as to give
rise to them in the future.
Lack Of Engineering Services
The search for maps, plans and rec
ords of the various water supplies
and sewerage systems of West VIZ
gipia, and for information concern
Ing them, has shown that many MT
nicipal systems have been built with
out Encouragement of proper engl-
neering services, and that in many
cases both design and construction
are defective. The effort OF many
municipalities to keep down expenses
on water works construction by get
ting along without the services OF an
experienced engineer or by engag-
ing an engineer OF inferior qualtf-
cations, has resulted in deficient
plants.
state Supervision.
The only sure remedy for the gen
eral faults named is strict supervi-
sion by the state board of health
over all water supply and sewerage
design and construction, as well as
over the operation of such systems
after they are built. Sources OF wa
Ter supply are too often chosen with
out due regard for both physical and
sanitary quality of the water yielded.
or without consideration OF possible
necessary treatment, and sewerage Is
often disposed Of in what may seem
to be the manner which will be the
least expensive, without regard to
the nuisance that may occur, or to
the effect that may be produced on
neighboring settlements.
AS population increases, the need
becomes much more acute for pro-