The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-27
PUBLIC SANITATION
CONTROL TO hinge
ON APPROPRIATION
Engineer Points Out That Funds
For Purpose Will Be Gone
Next June

Next June
Public water supplies, sewage dis
posal systems, milk supplies, and gen.
eral sanitation will be under no con-
troll after June 80, 1888, unless the
coming legislature appropriates suffi-
cient funds to carry on the work OF
the bureau of sanitary engineering
according to the biennial report Of DR.
A. A. Whittemore. head of the state
department of health.
"A summary Of the work done dur
ing the biennium will show that a
sanitary engineering bureau is indis-
pensable to any health department.
Whittemore's report said. 1.-THE phases
of the work attempted are numerous
and varied. In assuring safe water
supplies, more adequate sewage dis
posal facilities, cleaner communities
safe milk supplies, sanitary swimming
pools and tourist camps, the bureau
is rendering great service to the citi-
Zens of North Dakota.
"The organization of the bureau was
made possible through the financial
assistance of the international health
board, which provided sufficient funds
to form working nucleus. This SUBJ
sidy will be discontinued June 80, 1888,
and unless the coming legislature will
appropriate sufficient funds to carry
on the work, the bureau of sanitary
engineering will have to be discon-
tinued. This will mean that public
water supplies, sewage disposal Sys-
TENS, milk supplies and general SAN
itation will be under no control.
Has Made Rapid Strides
During the biennial period just
passed, North Dakota has made rapid
strides In it's milk sanitation program,
the report showed. Valley City adopt
ed the u 8. public health service STAN
dard ordinance and nine cities adopt
ed other milk ordinances. Milk sur
veys of several cities considering en-
actment of the standard ordinance
were conducted at Grand Forks, Far
go, Jamestown, Valley City, Bismarck,
and Minot.
Recommendation contained in the
report include one asking for adequate
appropriation for equipment and ex-
penses for the purpose Of carrying on
duties now imposed by law. particular
ly with regard to supervision Of water
supply and sewage disposal plant con-
struction, maintenance, and opera
ton. II funds are not appropriated,
the work of this bureau must be dis
continued, 1t was reported. Other
recommendation were:
Legal and financial provisions for
the study Of streams In North Dakota
with q view of determining the
amount and extent Of pollution; leg
islation regulating the use Of streams
for purposes Of sewage disposal, per-
hitting cities to finance sewage dis
posal projects by charging sewer
rentals, giving the health department
authority to supervise the design, con-
struction and operation Of swimming
pools. and placing the supervision Of
water supplies, sewage and refuse dis
posal systems at state institutions un-
der the supervision Of the state health
department.
The report showed that q total Of
$4,000 was spent for water works
improvements In the state during the
biennium.
Forks Spent $225.o00
The city of Grand Forks completed
q water works improvement program
involving an expenditure of $225,OO0
Fargo spent $4,000 and Williston $67,-
600, A. L. Bavone, state sanitary en-
gineer, reported. Other cities spend
ing money to improve the water
works included Harvey. Valley City,
Park River. Mandan, Washburn,
Wahpeton, and Westhope. Cities
which had to increase their water sup
ply to avert shortage due to drought
conditions were Towner, Mohall, Fair
mount, Langdon, Lakota, Rugby,
Bowbells, and Walhalla.
Bavone said that one reason why
many North Dakota cities now are
having considerable trouble with sew
age disposal is that North Dakota
statutes have placed no restrictions
upon the use Of streams for sewage
disposal. More regulation Of the use
OF rivers Is needed, he said.
Pollution Is Menace
CLOSELY allied with the problem Of
sewage dispoal Is the problem OF
stream pollution" the report said. "In
the past there has been little atten-
ton paid to this problem but with
continued drought the problem Of
stream pollution has become, an Inn
portant one. There are no statutes In
the state regulating the use Of streams
and for that reason many municipali-
ties have been lax in providing ade-
quate treatment Of their wastes be-
fore dischar0in1 into the streams.
There are 68 towns and cities In
North Dakota that have sewerage sys-
TENS, the report showed. OF this
number 80 discharge sewage into
streams or coulees without treatment
and IS others have treatment plants
It is significant. the report declared.
that only two municipalities in the
state have complete sewage treat
ment plants They are jamestown
and Minot.