49 



Octolier, a tt'iitativc rcimrt of the latter fommittee on the feasibility of 

 esta))!ishiii.u- standards (if pni'ity for I'iver and waterways, was read. The 

 men e(imi)risin,ii; the connnittee have a national reputation and have given 

 nuicli time and stndy to the problem, and the following extracts from their 

 report should be of interest : 



"This committee finds that on account of the increasing population of 

 the coiintry, it is and always will be physically impossible to maintain 

 waterways in their original and natural condition of purity. A reasonable 

 degree of cleanliness should nevertheless be demanded. 



"The discharge of raw sewage into streams and harbors should not be 

 universally prohibited by law. The method of disposal of sewage by 

 dilution is recognized as sound in prin<ii)le and safe in practice if carried 

 on with proper restrictions. 



"For each waterway at any given point there is a limit to the amount 

 of permissible discharge of waste matter, depending upon the use that is 

 made of the river and the character of the territory thnnigh which it 

 flows. No univei'sal standard of jiurity can be wisely established or main- 

 tained. When the extent of the pollution is such as to affect the public 

 health in any way Ity any reasonable use of the river the sanitary asjcct of 

 the situation sliould control and the degree of the pollution should be reg- 

 ulated accordingly. The courts must decide what is reasonalile use. When 

 the extent of the pollution is such as to cause sensible offense to public 

 decency in the course of any reasonable use of the river, this aspect of the 

 situation may jiroperly contr(:l. When the extent of pollution is such as to 

 cause matt'rial injury to tisli or shelltish industries, or to the ice industry, 

 this element may ccmtrol. When the extent of the pollution is such as to 

 cause the silting up of the channels of navigable streams, this element 

 may control. 



"Even when the demand of public health, (ilfense to decency and inter- 

 ference with navigation are such as to place a limit to the pollution of the 

 streams the economic aspect of the case should be considered in regulating 

 the amount of permissible discharge of waste matter, the fundamental 

 principle being that the results accomplished shall be reasonably commen- 

 surate with the cost of preAention of the pollution. 



"While no universal standard of purity applicable to all rivers and 

 waterways can be established, it is believed to be feasible to e--tablish and 

 maintain appropriate standards of a general nature for waters that fall 

 within certain particular groupings. 



4—33213 



