Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-28
LARGE STREAMS ARE
 POLLUTED BY SEWAGE
State Health Bulletin Comments on T lndustriaI Wastes Board.

With reference to the industrial wastes board the September isGue of Connecticut Health Bulletin says: The general assembly of 1917 passed an act creatidg an industrial wastes board to be composed of the members of the public health council and five others, two of whom must be manu- facturers. The governor wisely ap- lecturers, two sanitary engineers and the president of the Oyster Growers Association. This board of twelve representing all interests is charged with the tremendous task of solving the problems of stream pollution and taking such action as it deems neces- sary and feasible to restore the streams to their natural condition.
 All the larger streams of the state and many of the smaller ones are now age and factory waste. Domestic
 sewage alone would be a comparative
 ly simple problem but when combined
 with industrial wastes of various kinds
 Connecticut is an industrialized state,
 almost every community having it's
 factory or group of factories. and ev-
 cry stream getting its dose of acid.
 dyes or other chemicals.
 The state health officials have in
 recent years studied the stream con-
 ditions by survey and analvsis-the
 condition of the. water has been as-
 certained. the points of pollution To-
 cated and the character of the pol
 luting substances determined, but
 nothing has been accomplished toward
 elimination of the pollution. In 1915, authority was given to prevent further
 pollution but no funds were provided
 to carry out the act. This year $25,- 900 was appropria ted for the two year period and the special board provided to carry on the work.
 It will be years before any great amount of pollution will be removed from our streams although from now on each year should show some Inn provement. There are many who suffer because of stream pollution that health authorities should secure re-emptory abatement but it must be remembered that present conditions are the result of small ad- dftfonS covering many years The mu municipalities or manufacturers in many instances had little thought as to the ultimate effect upop the streams
 A man severed his house into nearby stream and it was barely mo- ticeable. his neighbors followed his example and the stream became somewhat objectionable but when the decided to give the entire tabIishing sewers to. discharge into the stream its condition became un- bearable.
 A manufacturer after burning his charcoal Tor years in pitS 1earns-that by using iron retorts he can secure chemicals which formerly es- caped in the smoke and gases. The new plant is constructed on the site of the old and the acids and tar wastes from the processes Of purifica- ton make their way into the nearby stream In both of the cases cited l he pollution is the result of develop nent and, to order pre-emptory abate- nent would be to do an injustice to l he individual and to the community 1
 While the health authorities have lever contemplated such drastic ac- ion. municipal authorities and owners 1 If industrial establishments have nat l 'ra1y resented the merest suggestion l If action that might result in serious l inconvenience or possibly financial en- ,arassment. At the same time sev- ral of the more progressive cities and | have on their own ini- iative. spent thousands If dollars in m effort to purify otherwise dis l ,ose of their wastes. The Industrial 1 Wastes Board is the result of a com 'lete understanding between the ,eaith authorities and the manufac- | urers and it assures a cooperation hat will unouestionablv hasten the of the pollution of the treams of our state.