Little Water Shortage Expected in Hub Area

Boston's water supply will not go the way of New York's, according to Kirk Bryan, professor of Physiography, who last night denied rumors that a water shortage threatens the local area. Bryan added that although the Boston water supply is about six inches below normal now, it will probably return to normal by spring.

In this area, Bryan pointed out, the average rainfall per month normally does not vary from month to month. However, in the summer, due to the increased heat, there is often less precipitation than in the colder months. Such is the case now, and at the present time the supply of water in the reservoirs is low.

However, Bryan emphasized, there is no cause for alarm over the situation, since with the precipitation during winter and spring the reservoirs should be replenished by next Summer. A drought at this time of year is not unnatural, as every fall there is some lack of water. Due to the new reservoir recently constructed in this area, this present drought is not serious

In New York the drought has more serious implications since more water is consumed and there is a lack of reservoir space. However, Bryan is optimistic about the situation everywhere.

Taxes for Improvements

Bryan pointed out that in normal years people feel no need to pay higher taxes for improvements in reservoir space. Thus, though cities expand, and therby use more water, the facilities remain the same. However, when a drought appears, the need for more funds is stamped on the taxpayers by talk of a huge water shortage. Bryan believes that though there is a definite shortage at this time, it is not as pressing as would appear. Winter and spring precipitation should, he says, replenish the low supply.

The New York papers devoted much space to the shortage in their city. There is supposedly only a 60-day supply lef in the reservoirs. This means that these reservoirs are depleted to only 37 percent of their full capacity and that the city is in danger of finding itself short of water for the winter.

Never before in the history of the city have the reservoirs reached so low a state nor has consumption been so high. The daily consumption of 1,145,000,000 gallons disturbed officials so much that they have warned citizens to take every possible step to cut down on the amount of water they use.