New York Seeks Water Leaks

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30839, 26 August 1965, Page 13

New York Seeks Water Leaks

fN Z. Press Association—Copyright > NEW YORK, August 25. New York City looked for water leaks and new water sources today in its losing battle against the five-year-old eastern drought.

City officials stepped up their efforts to find leaks in the water system reservoirs and 6000 miles of conduits by transferring 150 engineers, labourers and clerks to the water department from other agencies. In the last few days a water main break in Brooklyn virtually knocked out the Brooklyn-Manhattan subway service, another broken mam wrought havoc on Stafen island, and a leak in the central park reservoir became the centre of political controversy.

The Department of Water Supply said leaks could be expected as long as pipes 80 to 95 years old remained in the system.

Mr John V. Lindsay, New Y ork’s Republican-Liberal candidate for Mayor, said he had called for the transfer of needed staff to the Water Department months ago. He accused the retiring Mayor. Mr Robert Wagner, of “absence of planning” and warned of the growing health menace from the water shortage.

The City Council has approved a seven million dollar appropriation to reconstruct the old Chelsea pumping station on the Hudson river to boost the daily take from the

river to 100 million gallons daily. Mr Wagner announced that the city will buy 35 million gallons of water daily from Westchester county and Long Island well operators. It will open unused wells in Brooklyn for an additional 15 million gallons.