Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-11
RESERVOIR NO. 4
FAST BECOMING
DANGER IOCJHY
Or. J:S.B. Pratt Tells Governor,
Harry Murray and Loan Fund
Men of Health Menace


Unsanitary conditions of Reservoir
No. in Nuuanu valley as seen from
the standpoint of a guardian of the
| by DR.. J. S. B. Pratt this morning
when he stood before the governor,
the general manager OF Honolulu
water system and the Oahu Loan Fund
| Commission, recently appointed, and
told in a Straightforward way his opin-
ion of the water that is being supplied
to the citizens of Honolulu from this
source.
DR.. Pratt came at the request OF the
| governor to make his statement to the
Loan Fund Commission. He stated
that he had gained his views from re-
cent visits that he makes each sum-
mer to the reservoirs in Nuuanu on
his way to and from the other side Of
the island, where he has cottage.
Reservoir No. has been the sub
ject Of a good deal of worry to the
board of health" said DR.. Pratt, and
we have been on the watch constantly
with meteorological and chemical
analyses of the water The last exam
ination that we made showed the pres
ence OF bacilli in rather alarming num-
bers. - .f
"The number Of these" continued
the doctor, was not quite up to the
standard placed by high authorities
as the danger point but it was very
near to it." .st j. j.
Making brief review of the open
ness of the place ana its ease of ap-
preach to animals and men, .ne doctor
stated that only yesterday he had
seen herd of IA cattle in the vicinity
of the sheadwaters Of the reservoir.
Cattle There Week Ago. ~. :
Not only that" said the doctor,
"but the same cattle we're there
week ago, when / came down. / re-
ported the case to- the authorities in
the city on that date. and i repeated
the warning to the gatekeeper at the
reservoir yesterday. eta z.ses.s.~>s>
Every bit Of wash from the roads
comes down during heavy rain
continued DIR. Pratt, "and runs direct
" into the reservoir. People fish
along the banks and go in parties
through the place The reserve above
No reservoir Is absolutely unpro-
teeted and people are not shut out
from it. II ! q 60 =. :. ssS
In my mind this is a very danger
GUS practise" the doctor went on
fYou get but one typhoid carrier above
the Reservoir and immediately we are
going to have hard time here in Ho-
nolulu, All drainage above the reser-
yoir comes down to empty into 1t.
. In reply to question which Gen
eral Manager Murray put to the doc
tor as to whether or not the use of
chlorine, which is practised by the
city, did not render the water abso-
lutely harmless, the water manager
received a negative answer.
sNo, not absolutely, was the reply,
1T lessons the danger, TO be sure, but
1t is not absolute. To be so it would
require constant and absolute super
vision to see that every gallon of
water had received the proper mix
ture." tE
Charles r. Forbes, superintendent
of public works, and chairman of the |
commission, then made statement
similar to those of DR.. Pratt. in my
opinior," said Mr.. Forbes, this con-
dition is exactly identical with that
Of the Waikiki system on Maui. Per |
haps this may be a little less dan
gerous than Maui's problem. ~
T During the last session of the leg |
islature," continued Mr.. Forbes, the /
governor and ! paid visit to No. 4
reservoir on a day when it was rain |
ing especially hard. The reservoir
was very dirty and full of decayed |
V vegetation"
reservoir was the only thing |
to build in Nuuanu.
HIames Lack Of Funds.
There has been a great deal of
criticism of this reservoir" said Chair
man Forbes. Maybe some of it has
been unjust, but We have got to get
to work just the same. If it is in our
to better the condition of
things right EoW is the time. i be-
.ieve that If anyone has been dilatory
In the past it has been because of the
ack Of funds rather than because OF
negligence. The desire to act has
been present at all times, too.
Harry Murray, general manager of
he water system, took the stand that
he proposed project of enlarging Nu-
Ianu should be put through on the
grounds that it would furnish power
.or the city's electric plant, even in
case it was declared to be unfit for
Use by the drinking public.
Two motions were made and passed
It the close of the meeting-one that
he commission visit Nuuanu in a
cody soon for an investigation, and
he other that a second meeting be
leld tomorrow at 9 o'clock.