A comparison of these figures indicates that 
whereas the waters from the last three sources 
of supply have varied but little, and are 
apparently free from any contaminating influ- 
ence, that from the Staten Island Water 
Supply Co. has passed the suspicious stage 
and shows a deterioration in quality that is 
alarming. 
The great increase in chlorine is almost 
certainly to be accounted for by the presence 
of salt water, which has been drawn into the 
wells from the Kills, through the ground, by 
the suction to which the wells have been sub- 
jected in the attempt to supply a constantly 
increasing demand, or which ha:. found its 
way in from the surface during hightides but 
the increase in the other suspicious constitu- 
ents can hardly be explained except on the 
basis of Sewage pollution. 
The presence of nitrites in perceptible 
amount and the increase in organic matter 
from a mere trace to 22.50, are alone suffici- 
ent to cause apprehension and should lead to 
immediate action by our municipal authorities. 
The subject of our water supply is receiy- 
ing more or Jess official attention just now, 
but apparently it is the quantity and not the 
quality which is considered to be the most 
serious problem. So far as the Staten Island 
Water Supply Co. is concerned however, 
there seems to be no question that the limit 
has been reached in both directions, which 
46 
implies that the pumping station at West 
New Brighton should be abandoned and a 
new source of supply be secured as promptly 
as possible. 
From the scientific standpoint it would be 
a matter of considerable interest to know 
what are the chemical constituents of the 
solid matter in each of the waters, as these 
would probably indicate the character of the 
water bearing strata or the origin of the sup- 
ply. Theoretically, on geological grounds, 
the future supply for Staten Island should be 
from deep wells located on the south side. 
In the plain region of New Jersey the depth 
to which a well should be driven in any lo- 
cality in order to reach a water-bearing stra- 
tum, has become a matter of almost exact 
calculation and satisfactory results have also 
been obtained on Long Island. The same 
geological formation, the Cretaceous,is known 
to underlie the entire coastal plain and there 
does not seem to be any valid reason why 
the plain region of Staten Island should be 
exempt from the conditions which obtain to 
the east and south, Instead of planning to 
obtain our future water supply from New 
Jersey or Long Island, as has been advocated, 
it is the opinion of those who :have made a 
atudy of the geology of the region, that at 
least a series of test wells should first be 
driven at a number of localities along the 
south side. 
