XIII -THE POLLUTION OF PUBLIC WATERS BY REFUSE FROM 



FACTORIES. . 



By C. Tolke.* 



[From Circular No. 6, 1879, of the Deutsche Fischerei-Ferein, Berlin, December 31, 



1879.] 



Our modern industry, which is steadily progressing from year to year, 

 needs, above everything else, water, and its use is keeping step with the 

 growth of industry. Rivers and brooks are the principal sources of sup- 

 ply, and they again receive the water, after it has been used, in an im- 

 pure condition, either direct or indirect. 



Water which has been used by factories is generally warm and con- 

 tains numerous particles of refuse, e. g., coloring matter, lime, alkaline 

 salts in various combinations, remnants of plants, slime, &c. It will be 

 evident that large quantities of such refuse will pollute rivers and brooks 

 to such a degree as to render pisciculture impossible and to make the 

 water unfit to be used for drinking by either man or beast. 



Phenomena of this kind have been observed in all industrial districts; 

 brooks and rivers have lost the fish which formerly were numerous, the 

 water has become turbid, and during the warm season the air is filled 

 with miasmatic effluvia which are both disagreeable and unhealthy. 



An investigation of our smaller rivers and brooks would furnish in- 

 controvertible proof of the growth and magnitude of the evil, and show 

 the necessity of immediate relief. 



The complaints concerning the refuse water from factories are grow- 

 ing louder and more numerous from year to year and cause many law- 

 suits. 



In fighting this pollution of our waters the authorities have nothing 

 to back them but the law regarding private waters of February 28, 

 1843, where it says : " The water used in dyeing, tanning, fulling, and 

 similar establishments shall not be let into a river, if thereby the amount 

 of pure water is diminished or the public is seriously inconvenienced." 



Although this paragraph can be construed in various ways, it cannot, 

 even if it is strictly carried out, remove the evil, for it is exceedingly 

 difficult to furnish the necessary evidence, as is proved by the many 

 wearisome and disagreeable lawsuits which have been engaged in on 

 account of this very paragraph. Even if the lawsuit is decided in 



* Ueber Fernnreinigung der offentlichen Geivasser cliirch Fabrikdbgange. — [Translated by 



Herman Jacobson. ] 



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