14
As regards the contamination of this well from surface fouling of the barrack
soil it is difficult to see how it can take place. There is only one damp spot
in the masonry lining, about twenty-five feet below the level of the ground, but
no water was running into the well from the surface soil. The water in fact is a
sub-soil water, percolating through deep strata and crevices in the rock.
New well to north of
the Barrack enclosure.
Water temporarily spoilt
by solution of lime, used
in steining the sides of
the well.
62. A specimen of the water from this well having sometime ago been
analyzed by the Chemical Examiner to Government, and
reported as containing an undue proportion of organic matter,
it was disused for drinking purposes. A new well to the
north of the barracks was subsequently sunk, the water of
which was favorably reported on, but in walling up the
interior, mortar was used, the lime of which dissolving had such an effect on the
water as to make it temporarily unfit for use.
Drinking water at
time of outbreak brought
in barrels from a public
well on the general
parade ground.
63. Pending the arrangements for a supply of good water to the barracks,
a system has been in vogue of sending for drinking water to other wells in the
cantonment. A puckally maistry and eight barrel carts are employed daily for
bringing drinking water for the use of the Hussar Barracks, Hospital, and family
quarters. For some time the water was obtained from the
large well in the old Horse Artillery Lines at Begumpett, but
a native having drowned himself in the well, the people of
the neighbourhood ceased to use the water, and at the time
of the cholera outbreak, the drinking water of the Hussars was drawn from one
of the wells close to the water course which bounds the Secunderabad general
parade ground and near the Sapper lines.
Description of site of
wells supplying drink-
ing water.
64. Along this water course, which forms the south-western boundary of the
general parade ground, numerous wells have been sunk. The
water here, in the dry season, is not more than ten or twelve
feet from the surface, and in the rains it rises very near to
t
the level
more alluvial in character than elsewhere. In the eastern or tipper part of this
natural valley and drainage channel, the well water is reputed
to be very good. The cantonment burial ground lies close
upon, and to the east of the nullah, and in the rains the newly
made graves are full of water, which water must ultimately drain into the wells
lying at a lower level along the banks of the stream.
Cantonment Burial
Ground in reference to
wells.
As a matter of fact, the well from which the drinking water of the Hussars
was obtained lies about 400 yards below the burial ground.
Conservancy of the
groundaroundthe public
wells on parade ground.
65. In this situation, and within a short distance of each other, are four
wells, two on either side of the nullah and close upon a
public road along which much traffic passes between the
Secunderabad bazaar and places to the west. These wells are
essentially public wells, open to any body who is at the trouble of lowering a
chatty to draw water. They are masonry lined, have parapet walls, and plat-
forms, though the latter are insufficient to prevent soakage into the soil around.
The bed of the nullah close by, and the ground on the margin, is occasionally
defiled by ordure, probably by travellers on the adjacent high road. On the
whole, however, the surface of the ground about these wells is kept clean.
Whatever defilement occurs, takes place I imagine during the night, when
detection of the offenders would be difficult or impossible.