Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-08-18
Agricultural.


There are two seasons when the water
which we use is most likely to become con-
tamnated with injurious foreign substances
after heavy rains, when impurities arc alb
sorbed or carried into tho water from surface
washngs, and in time Of drought when the
water is very low. In the latter case we get
whatever impurities the water may contain
in concentrated state. In a season Of great
drought we can hardly be too cautious about
the quality of the water which we drink. It
may have no unpleasant taste and still hold
in solution the seeds of disease. Fortunately,
we live in a region where there is less need of
caution about theconditon of our water supply
than in almost any other country. While nearly
every farm-hous and homestead in most of
thu towns of Vermont is supplied with pure
running wator from permanent springs, there
are thousands of farms in other states, par
ticularly in the West, where the main and
sometimes the only supply of water for house
hold purposes is that which falls upon the
roofs, from which it is conveyed into cisterns
where in a season of drought, it remains for
weeks or even months without replenishing
A still larger number are supplied with wells
which, if conveniently near the buildings,
are liable to receive the drainage of the barn
yard and pig-sty, or the Stops from the house
or other impurities, and in q dry time to fail
entirely. The want of plenty of good water
at all seasons of the year is one of the things
that many of the emigrants from this state
sadly miss in their new homes homesick
Vermonter who settled in a portion of the
West where the water was poor, and lost his
health from its use, Was heard to say that the
spring Of pure cold water on his old place in
Vermont was worth more than the whole of
his western farm.
The farm or homestead here where there is
not plenty of water convenient at all seasons
of the year is an exception. But even here,
especially in season of severe drought, there
is sometimes danger of contracting disease
from the use of unwholesomc water. Lead
pipe is in universal use for conveying water,
and when springs become low, so that little
water flows through the pipe, the danger of
lead poison is greatly increased. If the wa
ter merely drizzles through lead pipe, it is
unfit to be used for tea or coffee or to be
drank in any form. The water of wells, also,
at such times frequently becomes unwhole-
some. When there has been plenty of rain
the water in well is generally changed every
few hours and in some wells several times in
an hour, but when it becomes low and re-
mains for long time without replenshing, it
is more liable to contain unwholesome matter.
II the well is not far from the drain where
slops are emptied, or from the barnyard pig
sty or privy are generally within less
than fifty feet of some of these and not al
ways more than ten-the chance of avoiding
sickness will be best where the least water
from such a well y used. All intelligent
physicians agree that the use of water CON
taminated with filth is fruitful cause of dis.
ease. In this state, where pure water is so
abundant, we never need except through
negligence, TO risk the use of that which is
impure