Show Polluted Writer Raises Queries On Definitions The answer to what con con- constitutes constitutes water pollution has more angles than would be bethought bethought thought of at first Perhaps a good answer would be It all depends on whether the question is eval- eval evaluated evaluated from the standpoint of the use intended or on the ba- ba basis basis sis of a legal issue that may maybe maybe be Involved THE QUESTION as to what constitutes water pollution tion has arisen at hearings now under wa way by a House Government Operations sub sub- subcommittee committee which is studying various phases of the water problem The Chamber of Commerce of the United States in an ef- ef effort ef- ef effort fort to develop a better under under- understanding understanding standing of f this subject is making available excerpts front from testimony produced at atthe atthe the hearings When Under Secretary of Health Education and Wel Wel- Wel Welfare fare James Quigley was ask ask- asked ed for a definition of water by Rep Robert Mc- Mc McClory McClory Clory R R-Ill he replied I DONT DON'T KNOW that I have one I thing all water is polluted except when wh you catch It as it falls from the sky The minute it touches the roof or the rainspout or orthe orthe the ground or anything it picks up some impurity I I think that it becomes polluted polluted-In the sense that it itis itis is used in the Act the Water Pollution Control Act Act- Act when It is no longer usable for legitimate purposes swim swim- swimming ming drinking fishing in- in industry industry When the state of the wa- wa water water ter by addition of foreign sub sub- substances stances reaches reaches a point where it cannot be used for legitimate purposes then in my mind it is suf- suf sufficiently sufficiently if it is an interstate sit situation where the jurisdiction jurisdiction tion of our Department at- at attaches attaches under the law and we have a responsibility to tak take a took look TAKING A LOOK doesn't mean that our ultimate con con- conclusion conclusion will be that it is in fact polluted Our scientific data may say that it is a bad situation that that it could be improved upon but it is not so polluted that it is the re- re responsibility responsibility of the federal government to direct corrective corrective tive action We may find that cor- cor corrective corrective action is needed but the engineering techniques are not good enough to sug- sug suggest suggest gest what corrective action we should take Director Thomas B Nolan of the US Survey suggested as n a workable con con- concept concept of pollution that stated in a Colorado court ruling in 1934 FOR THE PURPOSE of this case the word pollution means an impairment with attendant injury to the use of water that plaintiffs are en- en entitled entitled titled to make Unless the in- in introduction introduction of extraneous mat mat- matter matter ter so unfavorably affects such use the condition creat- creat created created ed is short of pollution In reality the thing forbidden Is injury The quantity intro intro- introduced is immaterial Dr Nolan said the Geological Geological cal Survey maintains a net net- network network work of measuring stations for quality of surface and well water in order to determine whether use is impaired |