Inspection of Public Water-Supplies in

New Jersey.

BY A. CLARK HUNT, M.D., STATE MEDICAL INSPECTOR.

To the Board of Health of the State of New Jersey:

GENTLEMEN-Following is a detailed statement showing the nature of the pollutions observed during the past year in the regular inspections of the streams from which waters are taken for public supplies, and also showing the improvements which have been secured.

JUMPING BROOK.

Jumping brook is located about two and one-half miles west of Asbury Park, and empties into Shark river. Water for domestic uses is supplied from this brook to the following localities: Avon, Bradley Beach, Bradley Park, West Grove, West Asbury Park, Loch Arbour and in part to Asbury Park.

No. 229. Reinspection of premises located near the pumping station showed that a heap of garbage, which was formerly located within forty feet of the pond from which the supply was taken, had been removed, and also that the privy, which was near the stream, had been placed in such a position as to avoid any further danger of contamination.

No. 230. Reinspection of premises located about one mile above the intake showed that the practice of throwing wash water upon the ground near one of the tributaries of the main brook had been discontinued.

No. 231. Reinspection of premises located on the road leading from Springfield avenue to Hamilton showed that the privy, which was formerly located near the stream and from which foul liquids were discharged down the steep bank into the stream, had been removed and that the contamination no longer existed.

PEQUANNOCK RIVER.

From this stream the water-supply for the city of Newark is ob'ained. No reinspection of the watershed has been made during the past year as it is almost free from direct contaminations. An arrangement has been made with the board of health of the city of Newark by which the inspector of the watershed reports to the State Board of Health any cases of contamination which are discovered, and immediate action is taken to discontinue any such contamination. In the three cases, which were started last year by the State Board of Health against property owners

on the Pequannock watershed for an injunction to restrain them from continued contamination of the stream, the decision of the court was against the owners, and as a result the contaminations have ceased.

RANCOCAS CREEK.

From this stream is taken the public water-supply of Mount Holly. The attention of the State Board of Health was directed to the contamination of this stream at a point near Browns-Mills-in the-Pines. The record of this case is as follows:

No. 232. An inspection of the premises located at Browns-Mills-in-the-Pines showed that waste liquids from the hotel and several cottages was conducted by a terra-cotta pipe directly into the waters of Rancocas creek. A notice was served upon the owners requiring the immediate discontinuance of the contamination. The owners of the property agreed to introduce some form of filtration as soon as the winter season was past.

RARITAN RIVER.

An inspection was made of one of the tributaries of the north branch of the Raritan river. From this river the public water-supply of the towns of Raritan and Somerville is obtained. The record of the inspection is as follows:

No. 309. An inspection of premises located in the rear of West street Bernardsville, showed that an open privy vault was placed near the brook which is one of the tributaries of the Raritan river, and that foul liquids from the vault were discharged directly into the stream. Notice was served upon the owner to discontinue the contamination, and a reinspection of the premises showed that the privy had been moved to a point well away from the stream.

No. 310. An inspection of premises located in Bernardsville showed that sewage from a cesspool leaked through a wall into Mine brook, which is one of the tributaries of the Raritan river. Notice was served upon the owner requiring the immediate discontinuance of the contamination. A reinspection of the premises showed that the owner had dug away the wall and cemented it, and there was no evidence of direct contamination.

No. 311. An inspection of premises located at Bernardsville indicated that the overflow from two cesspools was dischargd into a raceway on Mill street, and that the waters of Mine brook were contaminated thereby. A notice was served upon the owner to discontinue the contamination of the waters of the stream at this point.

No. 312. An inspection of premises located on Mill street, Bernardsville, indicated that waste liquids from a kitchen sink and bath were discharged into the raceway which connects with Mine brook. The raceway at this point is covered over, and it is difficult to trace the sewage to its source. A notice was served upon the owners to discontinue the further discharge of sewage into the raceway.

No. 313. An inspection of premises located in Bernardsville showed that a privy vault was placed on the banks of the stream, and that the house drain was connected directly with the vault. Notice was served upon the owner to discontinue the contamination of the stream at this point, and a reinspection showed that the notice had been complied with.

No. 314. An inspection of premises located near Pluckamin, Somerset county,