Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-11

WE'LL WATER POLLUTION.

WE'LL WATEk PULLUTIUN.
EXTRACTS FROM A REPORT OF MANCHEs.
TER, N. H., WATER WORKS, BY J. T. FAM
MING, c. E.
Our city has heretofore depended main.
ly on wells for its supply of water for do
mestlc use, as young cities are usually
obliged to do. Well and spring water
drawn from quartzose earths in the open
country and in the outskirts of villages
have ordinary GOODNESS and limpidity,
combined with just sufficient mineral inn
pregnations to make them not only spark
ling to the eye, but wholesome and agree
able to the taste. As the villages grow
into more densely populated towns and
cities, their wells loose their original pur-
ity and are transformed, in many instan-
ces, into polluted catch-basins and dispen-
saries of disease The relative rapidity of
change of the wells Of city from COM
paratve purity to foulness, is dependent
to a considerable extent on the nature OF
the soils on which the city is founded.
Close and firm soils do for a long time re-
sist the penetration of the dissolving re-
fuse scattered over the yards and streets
of city, so that it does not ferment be-
fore it is washed into the sewers and water
courses; but porous. sandy soils absorb
the decaying garbage and excretas below
the reach OF the surface wash, where they
ferment under the action of the summer
heats end moistures. Sandy soils also abb
sorb readily the LIQUIDS from the cesspools
and leaky sewers, and in process of
time become SO foul as to load the atmos-
phere with noxious odors, and charge
the waters that soak down through
them to the wells with endemic properties
that will, when other favorable conditions
arise, develop typhus and cholera germs.
The offensive odors that arise from some
of our back streets after, as before, their
periodical cleanings by the city scavengers,
give evidence of the saturation of the
ground with fermenting vegetable and
animal refuse. and giving warning that the
wells in their vicinity may be polluted
thereby. There can be but few wells in
our city entirely free from the infuence-of
leaky stable cellars. cesspoOls, and leaky
sewers. The fact that many OF our pump
wells are driven down through our sandy
surface soil, and thin, underlying imper-
vious. strata into a lower water-bearing
stratum, has led many to believe we are
thus protected against the injurious effects
of the surface contaminations. while in
reality the piercing of the impervious
crust for the well has but opened direct
channel through, and every stroke Of our
pumps tends to create vacuum beneath
the opening that shall suck down the sur
face water along the tube to be pumped
up by the next draught of water.
Physicians have heretofore observed
that slight impregnation of sewage gives
a pleasant flavor to water, that causes it
to be preferred by those accustomed to it,
before the more wholesome waters of the
hills, while at the same time it was grad
ually Introducing disease into the blood.
1t is not less notorious than that cholera
and malignant fevers attack first and
fiercest those dense quarters Of the cities
in which the people most generally secure
their water supply from wells in the court
yards and public streets.
The taste can not ordinarily be depend
ed upon in the proper selection of potable
waters, nor can the uneducated eye de-
tected the sewage liquid in well water
when rendered clear and transparent by
infiltraion. A familiar instance is now
recalled, in which deep well was locat-
ed in yard about two rods from a sink
cesspool, the waters of which were pro-
nounced excellent in the neighborhood.
The owner would not be persuaded that
the water might be effected by leakage
from the cesspool, though his horses re-
fused to drink it until compelled by thirst.
On one occasion quantity of cider went
to waste on his cellar bottom in conse-
quence of the bursting Of hoop on his
cider barrel. On the next day there was
new taste to the water in his well. and
he had gained a new idea of the rapidity
of filtration toward wells subject to heavy
draughts. The flavor of the cider had
passed by his cesspool and its influence
had become preceptible in the well. Our
city daily papers have, during the past
season, given among their local items,
two instances OF infltration worthy of no.
tice. In one instance, some salt which
had been used in the manufacture of ice
cream, had been allowed to remain on q
cellar bottom and had impregnated the
waters of the wells of the neigborhood so
as to render them unfit for use for time.
In the other instance, barrel of beer
that had gone accidentally to waste, had
found its way into the channels leading to
other wells, thus introducing new flavors
that, by their untamilarty In those
sources, were observable. 1t has been
asserted by the health officers of London,
that one pump-well in Broad Street killed
five hundred persons in single wink by
disseminating cholera.
DR.. Whitmore, in an official report re-
lating to the recent outbreak of typhoid
fever in certain district of London. traces
the outbreak of fever to distinct cause.
He made a thorough critical survey of the
farms supplying milk to the district refer
red to, and in one of the eight farms exam
ined, the fact was discovered that the well
furnishing water for washing the cans and
cooling milk was located in proximity to
the drain of the house, and also that there
were in the immediate neighborhood Of
the well, pig-sties and manure-heaps. The
doctor remarks: Though by no means
pleasant fact to contemplate, there can
be but little doubt that the water of this
well was impregnated with the typhoid
poison conveyed into 1t from the drainage
of the house sinks. This water, thus pois-
oned, was daily used for the washing OF
milk cans. Nor is it improbable that the
water was also used in the adulteration