Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-04
REMEDY POLLUTION OF
 CONNECTICUT WATERWAYS
Special Committee Makes It's Report
 -Cities Must Consider Problem,

Legislation designed to remedy the present conditions of waters In this state to prevent their pollution in the future will be introduced into the gen. eral assembly, says the report of a special committee of the state board Of health, which has been making D study Of the problem, as authorized
 by the assembly of two years ago.
 The report was made public We'd
 nesday night
 The report, which is all exhaustive
 one, covering nearly 150 printed pages,
 and containing many photographs, and
 charts, is signed by the committee:
 Edward k. Root, Albert w. Phillips, Lewis Sperry, Arthur J. Wolff, Louis
 ]. Pons, J. Frederick Jackson and Jo-
 sepf H. Townsend.
 In part, the report says: Though
 we cannot say that the condition of
 the rivers polluted is directly affecting
 the health of any community we know
 that ln many instances it is offensive
 to the sense of decency and that it
 threatens the existence of major fish life Which is a source of revenue and
 a means of sustenance to many hun
 dreds of citizens Of this state The
 improvement of these conditions Is
 not impossible nor would the expense
 be excessive if remedial action is taken
 III time; the longer 1t is delayed the
 greater the cost will be-
 Large Streams Not Much Affected. After showing tables concerning samples of water taken from many streams in the state, the report says: The board concludes that with few exceptions all the streams of the state give evidence of pollution. Tn the case Of large streams like the Connecticut, Thames and Housatonic, the flow is so large and the volume is increased so greatly by the influx of salt water at each tide, on those portions which arc tidal, that the dilution is sufficient for the present to take care of the sewage and wastes from the different cities on them, provided the outlets discharge far enough out from the shore to provide quick and adequate mixing and dispersion of the wastes and to permit their being carried away by the tidal currents.
 Unfortunately, this condition is not true of most towns continues the report. Within the next few years | many towns will be obliged to in stall some kind of plant and it is very i important that the type of such in ] stallation should be passed on by the state board, in order that the rights ] of adjoining towns and the public at ] large be protected. The streams l which extend beyond the borders of the state into Massachusetts all show l signs of pollution
 Waste from Factories. 1 After discussing the pollution caused
 by wastes from factories, etc., the re- ! port says: Connecticut is largely a manufacturing state and on account of the excellent waterpo7er available many of these industries are situated 1 on the rivers. These industries are | of great value to the state and nc | action restricting them ill the legiti- mate use of the streams to dispose ot 1 their wastes should be considered when, however, their use of the stream I is such as to menace public health or 1 offend decency, there should be no hes 1 itation in stopping it. The rights ot | the public should be supreme at al | times. But the mistaken idea that the l interests of public health and 111anu- 1 featuring industries are dianetricauy 1 opposed should be dismissed. It has been one of the greatest obstacles ir l preventing the correction of pollution 1 of our streams. Each needs the as-
 sistance of the other and they should I work hand fn hand solving the prob- T-,-