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Show water stages occur at Bodkin Rock. The growth of communities between Hartford and Holyoke has progressed to the point where an extension of navi- gation would result in savings of transporting coal, petroleum products, fertilizer, pulp, and other bulk materials, and in meeting a strong demand for recreational boating facilities. Proposed Program to Meet these Needs Plans now under consideration provide for deep- ening the channel to 16 feet to permit the full load- ing of the larger vessels now using the river. They also provide for dredging anchorage areas to the same depths at five locations. Hazardous navigation during freshet periods will be improved greatly by operation of the authorized flood control reservoirs, and much further improved if the reservoirs indicated in table 2 are constructed. Their operation to supply the power needs is esti- mated to be capable of more than doubling the low flow below Holyoke, greatly facilitating navigation at that time. Present plans call for the construction of a Fed- eral power and navigation dam and appropriate locks at Enfield rapids to extend a 12-foot naviga- tion channel. No other navigation improvements are contem- plated at the present time. Water Supply The quantity and quality of public water supplies are satisfactory almost everywhere in the basin. Reservoirs, lakes, and other surface waters are the principal sources of supply. In the middle upper sections of the basin some supplies are derived from springs and wells. Surface waters are soft and of good chemical quality but some are fairly high in color. Ground waters are soft and chemically satisfactory. One hundred thirty-five communities serving about 1.1 million persons obtain their supply from surface sources, as indicated in the following sum- mary of water treatment facilities in the basin as of September 1950. Industrial firms are the largest users of under- ground water. Boston makes a major diversion of water from the Connecticut Basin. Its Quabbin Reservoir on the Swift River impounds 415 billion gallons, and other diversions of flood flows are Total supplies in basin.................175-Percent chlorinated... 54 Total surface supplies in basin________135-Percent chlorinated__68 Population served by water sup- plies in basin...................1,159,540-Percent chlorinated... 95 Population served by surface water supplies in basin................1,107,870-Percent chlorinated-.. 98 Source: Public Health Service. made from the Ware River for the same purpose. Diversions are subject to limitations by Massachu- setts statute, and to agreement with the Department of the Army. Locally, pollution is a serious problem in the basin, but viewing the area as a whole, it is not everywhere of major concern. It is of negligible importance for existing public water supplies, be- cause the sources are watersheds protected from all pollution and subject to periodic sanitary inspec- tion. Water treatment also is widespread. Al- most all of the tributary streams show very little pollution, except in their lower reaches. Pollu- tion is extensive in the lower main stem but is not thought to have major effects except on aquatic life because of the nature of river water use. Local reports indicate there has been a slow diminution of pollution on the main stem of the Connecticut in recent years. Local governmental units are active in pollution abatement programs. At present the Connecticut River Basin has no public water supply problems of more than minor importance. Moreover, most of the larger cities consider that they have satisfactory plans to meet reasonable expectations of future demand. One unknown factor in the water supply situation is future industrial demands for underground water. Complete data are not available as to the quantity and quality of underground waters in those sections where it is an important source. Addition of a single plant using large supplies of underground 479 New v Massa- Con-Hamp- *ril chu- necti- Total shire mont setts cut Number of towns with water supplies........... 34 35 54 52 175 Population-.............. 95,795 52,145 458,820 552,780 1,159,540 Number of towns with surface water supplies....... 27 21 43 44 135 Population................. 92,555 40,960 427,605 546,750 1,107,870 Number of towns served by chlorination.......... 14 9 35 37 95 Population................. 57,560 29,285 467,685 543,750 1,098,380 Number of towns with chlorinated surface water supplies.................. 14 8 33 37 92 Population................. 57,560 25,785 453,610 543,750 1,080,705 |
