The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-08-22
Omaha Dry;
Water
Unfit toUse
Artesian Wells and Springs
Dsw Big Crowds-Council
Bluffs Aiding During
Emergency.
Water Laden With Mud

1ln0 that lts water supply was ~
muddy as TO be unfit for use.
As a result the springs at Elmwood
park have been packed with citizens
seeking drinking water; milk com
panies are swamped with orders for
milk and drug stores are overwhelmed
with orders for all varieties of fluids
which can be substituted for water.
j It. p. Larmon, chief engineer of the
Metropolitan Utilities district, an
nounced shortly before noon yester-
day that there are no prospects OF bet
ter water for seven days, and posi-
bly, for an even longer time.
Larmon predicted that the water
will be even worse today than q
was yesterday, and urged that citi
zens obtain buckets and other yes
sells and permit the mud in the water
10 settle before endeavoring to use
it.
This, he pointed out, will be Aarify-
ing the water in the same method
used by the city apparatus, on small
scale.
Circumstances.
"The dirty water IS the result OF a
combination of circumstances said
Chief Engineer Larmon. In the first
place we were building q new pump,
and to do this it was necessary to
lower the water in the reservoir to
extend a pipe from il to the pump.
This slowed up the settling process.
Then heavy rains swelled the river
and caused 1t to change its course
slightly. The river began cutting into
a mud bank above our intakes, and
the bank caved in so that thick mud
is being thrown into the intakes. We
also were washing ont basin No. ?,
and this interfered with the normal
settling process which makes the wa
ter clear"
All park policemen were station ed
at the Elmwood park spring to pre-
vent accidents and 10 see that the
crowds obtain water in an orderly
fashion. Later in the forenoon city
police were called to the park to help.
Mayor Dahlman went TO the Bluffs
and conferred with members OF the
water board, who assured the Omaha
executive that Council Bluffs will fur
nish all the water It can spare.
The mayor then arranged that nine
street flushers Of the street depart
ment shall be requisitioned at-once TO
serve Omaha hospitals, hotels and
bakeries with water
Call Jackson 1907.
These institutions needing water are
requested BY the mayor to telephone
Jackson 1907, stating amount OF water
needed. City flusher tank trucks have
capacity Of nearly lego gallons
each. They will be kept In service
day and night IL necessary.
As the day grew on and the city
water became muddier instead OF
clearer. Omaha began TO realize the
seriousness Of the situation.
Large industries. hospitals. hotels
and offices pressed in every means
Of conveyance 70 get water. Every
known kind Of receptacle was put
into service.
Several OF the hospitals hired
trucks and sent them TO Council
Bluffs TO get water. Large wasl
tubs, boilers and steel tanks were
used
Every spring and well furnished
drinking water for many who found
| them.
Garry in Buckets.
Men and women carrying buckets OF
water in each hand could be seen
walking to their homes.
Express wagons were busy hauling
barrels Of water to factories.
Officials and employees at the county
court house were told that they might
drink water from the hot faucet on ac
count of the mud in the pipes. Most
preferred to go thirsty and hope foi
speedy Qualification OF the city wa
ter. only Judge Crawfords court
was In session, so a minimum of law
yers had to argue with parched
| thrOats.
! Packers Hard Hit.
! O. {. Willis. general manager OF
Armour & Co, reported that due t'
the muddy condition Of the water II
was necessary to close their beef Kill
| ing department at Morris II Co. Other
packing plants We're also affected II
lesser degree, but had closed down
no departments. Armour Il Co. pos
sesses an artesian well, which fur
nishes drinking water for employees
Every laundry in the city suspend
ed operations Tuesday morning. &C
eordng to II. A. Jacobberger Of th'
Kimball Laundry.
"A few Of the laundrymen called a
the water department Tuesday morn
ing and We were told that 1t will b
about four days before we may ex
pect clear water" Mr.. Jacobbergel
said. I'VE are helpless. I understand
that some OF the cleaning plants als'
will have. to close. We have filtei
plant, but 1t cannot meet on emer
gency OF this kind"
Some OF the bakeries were required
to close on account OF water condi
tions.
The manager of the Petersen I
Pegau Baking company stated tha
his plant IL able 10 filter water 4
meet the situation.
Several other bakeries are haulin,
water from Council Bluffs to suppl,
their plants.
Hospital attendants We're In a pre-
icament his morning. The situation
IL serious. according 10 many