, Public 1-31-28 PAGE. II. Applications for new and additional water supplies and de- Progress Report of the Commissioners on Water Power Development. THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE WATER SUPPLY COMMISSION. ALBANY, N. Y., February 1, 1908. To the Legislature of the State of New York: The State Water Supply Commission submits herewith its third annual report, pursuant to chapter 723 of the Laws of 1905. At the date of its last annual report, February 1, 1907, applications for the approval of maps and plans for new and additional sources of water supply, from the villages of Brewster and Carthage, the Hannacroix Water Company of Ravena and the city of Plattsburgh, were pending before the Commission. Decisions in these cases have since been made and opinions filed as the law provides. (See Appendix II.) During the past year applications for new and additional 30nrces of water supply have been made to the Commission by the villages of Pleasantville, Seneca Falls, Waterville, Old Forge, Ossining, and East Aurora, the city of Rome, the Martinsburg Water District, the Urban Water Supply Company of Mineola, L. I., the Tannersville Water Company and the Great South Bay Water Company of Patchogue, L. I. Decisions in each of these cases have been made and opinions filed as the law directs. Copies of these petitions with the opinion of the Commission in each case and other matter illustrating the history of the application will be found in Appendix II. The city of New York applied to the Commission for permission to change the location of a portion of its aqueduct line. There was no opposition to the application, and it appeared from the proof given upon the hearing that the change asked for would result in a saving of more than two millions of dollars to the city of New York. Permission was given to the city to change its aqueduct line as requested. (See Appendix II.) An application from the city of New York for permission to take water from the upper watershed of the Schoharie river, the application of the village of McGrawville and a supplemental application of the city of Gloversville for the approval of maps and plans for new and additional sources of water supply are now pending before the Commission. Proceedings begun under an application from the village of Peekskill have been discontinued at the request of the village. STREAM POLLUTION. Attention is again called to the absolute necessity of employing drastic measures in connection with a careful and far seeing policy to prevent further contamination of the lakes and streams of this State. With the growth of population, with more careful attention to sanitation and health, especially in the matter of safe-guarding domestic water supplies, the demand for pure and wholesome water in every part of the State is constantly increasing. The time will come when it may be difficult to secure for every community, at reasonable cost, a satisfactory water supply. The enormous expenditure now being made by the city of New York to secure a supply from the Catskill and adjoining watersheds will furnish an adequate quantity, as estimated for only about twenty years growth of New York city, so that within a moderate period, further provision must be made for an additional supply for the great metropolis. It is believed that this must be taken from the Hudson river and it is obvious that it will be far more economical to tap the river within reasonable distance of New York than to go to its distant head waters and build expensive retaining reservoirs. If steps could now be taken to prevent the pollution of the Hudson, as well as of all other rivers and lakes in the State, by planning a far-reaching and progressive policy, we could begin at this time to prepare for the future demands not only of New York city but of many other municipalities and civil divisions of the State whose needs for additional supplies of water must become urgent in the near or distant future. |