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Show 40 or 50 years ago, and the present growth of in- dustry in New England and in the basin is not so rapid as the national average. Factors affecting the competitive position of New England are the relatively high wage rates, lack of fuel and its consequent high cost, high electric power rates, the cost of bringing raw materials from a distance, and the high cost of transportation. Many of the manufacturing plants are old, and some are obso- lete. In spite of this, New England manufacturing industry as a whole is growing, though slowly. Some new plants have been built and old ones ex- panded since the war. Most agree that the solution to New England's problem lies to a large extent in expansion of modern industries like fine chemicals, and processing of consumers' goods for the great Middle Atlantic States market. However, many of these industries are water-consuming or water-polluting. Increas- ing importance will be attached to adequacy-both in terms of quantity and quality of the region's waters. Although additional pulp mills are pos- sible in the upper basin, major demands are likely to arise in the favored middle and lower basin, already the center of extensive diversified manu- facturing industry, including electrical goods, ma- chinery, tools, hardware, textiles, and paper. Pres- ent woodworking industries in the upper basin are not extensive water consumers. Population growth.-Major employment oppor- tunities are in manufacturing. Population growth therefore is likely to correspond closely to its progress. Population of the basin continues to grow, but the rate of increase is less than the national average. From 1900 to 1950 the population of the New England States increased about 66 percent while the population of the United States increased 98 percent.13 That part of the basin lying in Massachusetts and Connecticut contains four-fifths of the basin's pop- ulation. It has a density of 247 per square mile as contrasted to a density of only 30 per square mile in New Hampshire and Vermont. It is in this southern portion of the basin that the population trend is upward. It is reasonable to assume that slow growth, with continued concentration in the middle and lower basin, will continue. Demands for Connecticut water from outside the "Source of Data: U. S. Bureau of the Census, 1950 preliminary count. basin.-An important diversion of Connecticut Basin water already has been made from central Massachusetts, where the Quabbin Reservoir on the Swift River now is the major source of water sup- ply for the Boston metropolitan area. This diver- sion is from the most densely settled half of the basin, which is the part where further expansion of industry may be anticipated. In view of the size of urban concentrations with- in reach of the Connecticut Basin, the major place of the Connecticut as a regional watershed, and the rapidly mounting demands of all urban areas for water, further diversion from the Connecticut must be considered a strong possibility if the large urban areas continue to grow. Quantity of water.-Average annual flow of the lower Connecticut River in the vicinity of Hart- ford, Conn., is about 11.6 million acre-feet. Flow is moderately uniform, corresponding to rainfall relatively evenly distributed over the year, al- though autumn low flows are characteristic. Ground water supplies in glacial sands and gravels overlying crystalline bedrock are relatively abundant in the main valley, but may be locally deficient elsewere. Reservoirs and lakes are the principal sources of domestic water supply. Municipal supplies are taken from watersheds protected from pollution, which comprise a significant part of the total area. The practice of obtaining high quality water from protected watersheds is being extended gradually throughout the basin, especially in the vicinity of the larger cities. Because of the adverse effect of recent droughts upon surface supplies, increased use of ground water resources is taking place. In some localities this usage is approaching the limit of known resources. Although the basin has a generally abundant rainfall, there are indications that shortages may occur unless adequate conservation measures are taken. Increased concentration of population, in- creased per capita water use, the demands of mod- ern industries such as chemicals and textiles, and the wholesale consumption of water for air condi- tioning, require careful consideration of future balance between supply and demand. Quality of water.-Water quality requirements of manufacturing industries are becoming more ex- acting. Adequate and reliable information on the nature of water supplies is a major requisite for de- termining their usefulness for industry and munici- palities. 911610-51- 507 |