New Britain herald., 1918-08-29
COMMISSIONERS CUT OFF WATER SUPPLY
Families Outside Town Limits
 Cannot Be Given Benefits

City water, which has been supplied to about dozen families living just outside the town limits of New Brit ain, particularly In Seymour Park and on the PlainVille road, has been shut off by the water department and from now on these people will not have the benefits of city water
 City Charter Violated.
 This action was decided upon at the meeting of the board of water com missioners last evening and is the re- suit of a ruling by Corporation Coun- sel J. E. Cooper rather than because of any danger of a water famine, as has been reported. Some time ago the attention of the water commits sioners was called to certain section of the charter which expressly forbids the sale of city water to any premises outside of the town limits. The mat ter was referred to the corporation counsel and he has ruled that the city cannot sell water outside of the town limits Chairman w. B. Rossbers. official news dispenser of the water department, stated this morning that he did not think that more than a dozen families will be affected
 Water Supply Is Low.
 Commenting further upon the city water supply, Chairman Rossberg stated that he does not wish to cause any undue alarm, and there is at pres ent no occasion for any fear of d water shortage, but the present dry spell only impresses more forcibly the fact that New Britains water supply is inadequate. "Today there is less than IS feet of water in Shuttle Meadow, which is four feet less than there was on September 1 a year ago" MT. Rossberg states. He adds that near the surface of the lake a foot of water is equal to about 60,- OOO,OOO gallons, os it is apparent that the city has 40,OOO,000 gallons less today than it had a year ago. At the same time the drain on the water supply has increased materially in the past year, Mr. Rossberg declares. He says that all of the factories are us ing much more water, especially the Stanley Works, the P. x F. Corbin factory and Landers, Frary & Clark. Some Of the factories have increased their water consumption 100 and even 200 per cent, he asserts. Since the water board finds that Roaring Brook has about 7O,OOO,0OO gallons less than It Ildu ct year dSO, It IS pIdlI ItldI LIlS water supply Is lower than many peo- pie realize. In addition to the in creased use of water by the factories, the fact that practically every tene- ment in New Britain is occupied is an added source of drainage.
 Chairman Rossberg says. that the Stanley Works and the P. & F. Cor bin factories have their own private water supplies on which they draw as well as upon the city supply, but the moment that these private sup plies are exhausted the factories will cut in even deeper on the city supply.
 More Reservoirs Needed.
 Sven years ago the water at Shut tie Meadow dropped to a depth of only four feet" MT Rossberg relates, and since that time the city has not The only thing that has been done has been to install water meters and in other ways cut down on the waste of water New Britain has plenty of water on it's rights, has plenty of wa ter coming this way. The great and urgent need of New Britain is vastly increased storage space where the fall, winter and spring supplies Of wa ter. when the brooks are full and overnowing can be retained for use during the dry summer months"