what was the problem with reusing contaminated water from other parts of the mill to extinguish the coke fires? From the book ‘When smoke ran like water’

1. The problem with that was that the already poisonous water was made worse after using it to quench the flames from coke production.

2. It contaminated the soil, making it difficult for plants to grow.

Explanation:

As the author described the last stages of coke production, she explained that water was needed to quench the very hot flames from coke production. A 'bright fellow' suggested using dirty water from other parts of the mill to quench the flames from the coke production. The problems with this were;

1. The already contaminated water was made worse after it was used to quench the flames from coke.

2. Mrs. LaMendola noted that she was unable to grow her tomatoes in the path where the plumes from the oven ran. So the contaminated water negatively affected the soil.