The Iola register., 1884-01-04
Care Of RaiH.water CisternS.

nTS require careful attcntlOn 10 pre-
,erve the water in a sweet and whole
some condition. OF course it must be
/ preserved from the intiowing of filth
I from any source: it must also be pre-
! served from all gaseous contamination
| from any sewer or cesspool in its neigh
5orhOod, because noXious gases and
| foul odorS will be readily absorbed by
wafer to such an extent as 10 spoil it for
I domestic use. The practice of causing
The overflow pipe of the cistern to run
I through the privy vault TO wash away
! its contents is most reprchensible.
( But there are WAYS in which the
water in the cstern may acquire an in
! tolerable Odor which are not generally
recognized. When trees grow in the
neighborhood of the house, the cast-off
materials OF trce-growth - blossoms.
fallen leaves, ctc.-fall on the root
and are carried first into the caves
trough and thence into the c:stern. If
any one will examine his caves -trou@hs
in autumn he will be surprised ut the
amount of decaying organic matter
which partially fills and sometimes OBJ
Structs the cutters and water pipes.
The rain-water soaks through this rot
ling mass and sweeps a portion into the
:istern. This organic matter settles to
he bottom, where it undergoes slow
decomposition.
Water in immediate contact with this
putrefying mass acquires 4 very often
,ive smell. while the water at the top
If the cistern may be almost free from
Dad odor. The pump usually takes
water from the bottom of the cistern,
md when the pump delivers water toe
offensive for endurance the decree goes
forth to clean out the cistern, when a
comparatively small quantity of dark
Drown organic matter is found at the
bottom. When the cistern is again
tilled the rain-water remains odorless for
1 time, but in a year or two the same
accumulation of organic matter will
cause a return of offensive odors.
Having tried this experiment of clean
,ng, watching and smelling till the nov
city had worn off. discovered that the
surface water remained free from bad
odor even when the bottom water was
iEtolerable. | then tried the expert
ment of raising the end of the lead pipe
from the bottom of the cistern nearly
TO the top of the water The offenSe
:caScd at once and did not return for
three years. Complaint was again
made that the ciStern water had Il smell,
when examination showed that the rope
supporting the lead pipe had broken
and the pipe had fallen to the bottom.
| then gathered specimens of water
from the top and bottom OF the ciS:c-p
for examination and analysis.
The surface water was clear. odorleSs
and fit for use: the water from the bot
tom of the ciStern contained fragments
pf leaves and a considerable quantity OF
brown organic matter too much decom
posed to admit OF ready identification
this water had diSagreeable odor. es
peciaily noticeable when warmed, anC
was swarming with microscopic ami
malcules. Analysis of the surface
water showed the presence of two parts
of free ammonia in million. and five
parts of albuminoid ammonia. The bot
TOM water had I'VE parts of free am
monia and fifteen OF albuminOid am,
monia in 4 million. The bottom water
had three times as mach nitrogenous
impurity as the surface water.
Since the purrst water is ut the tor
and the fOulcst at the bottom of the
'istern, by keeping the receiving end OF
the pump-pipc near the surface OF the
water we avoid most of the impurities.
The pipe may be suspended by wire.
II by attaching it to float. A service.
able float may be made with sound
two-gallon iuw. Close the JUG with Il
sound cork and wax over the cork SC
that no air can escape or water enter.
Wire the end of the lead pipe to the uo
handle SO that the jug will float with
the mouth down and keep the pipe
within a foot or Two of the Top OF the
water. Many persons will regard with
suspicion this LAYER OF dccOmrOsino
re mic matter at the bottom of the cis-
tern and will ask how it can he avoided
without emptying the ciStern.
There are two ways to secure I, lis re
suit, and their combination will kcer
ciStcGrS reasonably pure. l. keep the
-troughS and water-pipe clean; 2.
make the cistern self-c!eaning. A els
tern may be made self-clcaning by TAX
in- all the surplus water or overflow
from the bottom of the cistern, SO as +
sweep out all this accumulated dirt
whenever the cistern overfiOws. Makca
overtiow-pipe of tin or galvanized iron il
the shape OF the letter t three inches il
diameter. the bottom of the T reaching
within two inches of the bottom OF the
cistern. and the upper part of the tub
passing water-tight through the wall o
the ci,tern at the height where we wish
to limit the filling OF the cistern.
f,, 4
this tube the excess of water will i,ow
away through this pipe. but all water
that flows from tie ciStern must cone
from the bottom. thus removing fOul
water and accumulated filth and leaving
the pure surface water for family Use
II the cistern is constructed so Is TO eX-
cludr all vermin. is made frOst-tirht,
has the OverLOw-pipe to carry oil IN
puritieS from the bottom. and the pump
pipe wired to jug-tioat 50 as to keer
the receiving end of the pump-pipe
near the surface of the water. such els
tern will keep itself in good condition
for any number of years.
The common supposition that cisterns
and wells can preserve their water in .
sweet condition only by airing them oI
leaving them exposed TO the open air i
erroneous. Such open exposure is 3
common condition OF fOuling by afford
ing an entrance for rcrmin of every
kind to die and putrefy in the well OF
cistern. Serious sickness is Otter
rarl-ed in this way. Pure water need, .
no airing or purifying of any kind
Water from artesian wells. shut of
entirely from the air. is yet very free
from organic matter and foul OdOrs.
Ii cistern water has acquired fou
pdor it may be dcodorized by some OK
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