The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-30
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
 BIG QUESTION Will Come Before the Next Session of the Gen=
 eral Assembly AN EYDENcJVE pROIFCT
AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT.

When the Connecticut General Assembly convenes in January, 1888, it will receive from the Tri-' State Treaty commission, in which it authorized the state to partici-- pate in 1881, a report which will carry a story of the pollution exist ing in the harbor' and coastal wa ters of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey; and will receive a re- quest by that commission for the immediate enactment of a tri-state compact designed to abate this con- tamination, the State Department of Health announced to-day in it's monthly bulletin.
 The compact, if enacted, will bind the state to ten per cent of the an- nual cost involved in remedying the situation, an amount not to exceed $10,000 in any one year. Assuming enactment of the compact in New York and New Jersey, each of those states will agree to share forty-five per cent of the total cost to an amount not exceeding $45,000 per year for each.
 The report on existing conditions, compiled after an intensive study by the commissions committee on research and engineering, recites the details of the amount and sources of pollution in the tri-state district; and unequivocably declares that, unless prompt action is taken, sludge deposits will be thrust upon bathing beaches, rendering i'm possible the enjoyment of the great public beaches built at cost of millions of dollars and giving recre- ation and healthful enjoyment te millions of people.
 As outlined in the report, the Connecticut area included in the joint program for improvement ex- tends from New Haven harbor to the New York State Line, where Connecticut's largest and busiest industrial cities are located. Be- tween these cities are many high class residential areas and recrea- tional beaches, to which pollution is a serious menace" The polluted area in New York and New Jersey com prises all the waterfront on ana near New York harbo: and on the Hudson River.
 The tri-state sanitation compact, which the report states will event. ually result in the control and abate ment of pollution in the district mentioned and. which the three states will be asked to enact into legislation, contains the details or the recommended plan of ratifica- tion. In part, the plan Is as foi- lows:
 Each of the signatory states pledges faithful cooperation in the control of future pollution in the tidal and coastal waters of the district described and to enact ade- uuate legislation for the purpose of maintaining satisfactory sanitary conditions and particularly to pro- tect the public health. The waters to be thus protected are described in detail.
 The compact calls for the crea- tion of "The Interstate Sanitation Commission" which shall have jur- isdiction over all matters pertain ing to the subject of pollution in the district, except that nothing in the compact is to interfere in any way with similar functions being now carried out by state commis- sions or authorities. The commis- sion is to consist of five commits sioners from each state, each to be chosen in accordance with the laws of the state from which they are appointed. The commissioners are to serve without compensation. but shall be paid for actual expenses incurred. It will engage such ofh- cers and legal, clerical. expert and other assistants as 1t shall require in fulfilling the compact.
 Under the compact provisions, the waters of the district are to be divided into two classifications. as | follows: one, waters used primar- l fly for recreational purposes, she'll fish culture and the development oi fish life; and, two, waters not pri- marily used for those purposes | Characteristics, bacteriological count and necessary treatment ol the sewage which will be permitted | to flow into both classes are de- scribed in detail and the restric- tions provided are designed for the protection of general public health Treatment of sewage before 1t is al lowed to enter any waters in the tri-state district is also prescribed
 For Connecticut. the report re-
 commenting adoption of the com pact is signed by Ernest l.. Aver. | in, James A. Newlands. Sanford II
 Wadhams. George T. Kimball. E. T. l Buckingham. Thomas A. Fully. Wal
 ter R. Steiner and Stanley II. Os.