Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-09-16
MIDDLEBURY WATER CRISIS RELIEVED
BY USE OF AUXILIARY BROOK STREAM
SUPPLY DANGEROUSLY LOW
BECAUSE OF LONG DROUGHT
Commissioners Do Not Fear Situation
but Ask General Cooperation in
Water Economy

The seriousness of the water situa-
ton IN Middlebury village has been re-
heVed by the turning of a brook in
BRISTOL Notch into the main artery of
the reservoir The water commissioners
were confident this morning that this
auxiliary steam will, with economy on
the part of the community, be suffi-
cient to provide for the emergency
needs until the reservoir will have
been filled by rain
During the summer the rainfall has
been abnormally light and on more
than one occasion, between the widely
separated showers the board of water
commissioners have urged the economy
OF the reservoir supply. By the cessa-
tion of the use of hose for gardens and
lawns and other economical methods.
+ the water had never been lacking I'M.
| I'll tuesday last, when homes in the
higher sections of the village COM
planned of poor pressure or absolute cut
off OF flow. The greatest need was felt
on High street and on college hill, where
there was little or no water for several
hours
On Monday night it was reported
that there was depth of four feet in
the reservoir. Commissioner Charles
Rogers told the Register that on Tues
day morning that there was but IA in
ches and said that the severe drains
occas.oned by washday on Monday
had caused the sudden great loss.
When it was obvious that the res
ervoir would be eventually emptied un-
less there were quick relief by rain. the
commissioners, DR.. p. Z. Mellen,
James o. Howarth and Charles ]. Rog-
erS decided that no better opportunity
could be found for scrubbing of the
reservoir On Tuesday and Wednes-
day the work was diligently done, so
that now the village reservoir is as
clean as the proverbial whistle. When
it was decided to clean the reservoir,
the gauge on the supply main was
closed and the stream from the springs
III Bristol was turned directly into the
village pipes. Owing to a mistake in
operation OF this gauge, one of the COM
miSSioners thinking that the gate had
been opened to its fullest width vixen
the great pressure exerted against it
checked his efforts almost at the be-
ginning, the village received no other
supply than the surplus in the pipes
after the closing of the reservoir When
an investigation was made Tuesday aft
ernoon it was found that the water
shortage was due mainly to this shut
ling off OF the supply The further op-
an.ng OF the emergency gauge quickly
-emedied the trouble
Commissioner DR. p +. Mellen says
hat there is no reason to fear the use
If the brook water that has been
urned into the village pipes Before
his emergency stream was used, an in-
pection of it was made by District
Health Officer Dr. G. f. Edmunds of
Bristol. who has authorized the step.
The water might be boiled, he said, for
urther safeguard although that pre-
aution is not necessary.
The present water supply is from one
bird to One-half of normal Owing to
he possibility of greater scarcity, the
ollege authorities have been debating
he advisability of postponing the OPP
ming of the fall semester until the sit
alton would be permanently relieved.
Jean Z, J. Wiley consulted with DR..
Continued on page four