Dilemma of Perth Amboy’s Water Department

Dilemma of Perth Amboy’s Water Department

The unexpected signing of the armistice in November has resulted disastrously for the Perth Amboy, N. J., water department so far as contracts made with the government to supply from two to three and a half million gallons a day to the Colonia base hospital and the Camp Raritan arsenal have not been fulfilled and the water department, after spending more than $50,000 on improvements and extensions so as to be able to furnish the two government projects with this enormous amount of water, are losing from $150 to $250 a day in water rents. As a result of the conditions the board has decided to go to Camp Raritan at Bonhamtown and determine from the officers there if that camp is going to live up to the contract. The matter will then be taken up with the proper officials at Washington.

No alternative was given the water board last August, when the commissioners were notified without any warning by government army officials that the Perth Amboy plant would have to furnish the Colonia base hospital and Camp Raritan with water which, according to statements issued then, would be two million gallons a dav at first, increasing to probably three and a half million. The commissioners informed the government officials that in order to meet this demand extensions to the present svstem would have to be made, which would cost more than $50,000, according to the Perth Amboy News.