Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-08-27
Pure Drinking Water.

Much has been said about the water
of East Lake during the past year, and
the necessity of keeping it pure. The
Importance of having pure drinking
wateris universallyrecognized. Every
care should be taken to secure good
water supply, and then to keep it
pure. The State Board of Health has
recently sent out circular on this sub
ject, from which the following extracts
are taken:-
Impurities are either animal, vege-
table, or mineral. Where the organic
matters are animal, they tend to be-
come putrescent, and when taken
into the system may produce fever or
other disorder. When the matter is
introduced in smaller quantities it un-
dergoes decomposition more or less
rapidly according to the condition of
the air or temperature. In such cases
no smell or taste may be perceptible
The constant use of such water some
times causes disease, even when the
quantity is small. Some persons seem
more susceptible than others, and their
own systems either cause or accelerate
changes which had not been notice
able before. Vegetable impurities also
tend to decomposition under favoring
conditions. These disorder the sys-
TEN, and cause malaria or other special
forms of disease. Mineral impurities
are owing tothe suspension or solution
of mineral particles in the water
Some of these, as sulphur or iron,
give taste to water, but do not injure
it unless present in too large quanti-
ties. Others, as lead, may in small
quantities seriously affect the human
system. Others, as lime, are chiefly
injurious by producing too great hard
ness of water The taste of water
means perfect guide as to its purity
If it has much organic matter in it
which is already undergoing decompo-
sition, there may be taste and odor, or
it's organic impurities may have been
so far destroyed as to yield no un-
pleasant taste or odor, and yet there
may remain some dangerous contami-
nation. 1t being an agreeable drink
ing water to those accustomed to its
use does not prove its purity.
Water as it comes from the clouds
and is strained through the ground is
so nearly pure that it is generally
good, except where wells and springs
are in some way fouled by nearness to
houses or pits of decayed material. In
cities, where the soil is likely to be-
come filled with decomposable matter
to degree that the ground, the air,
the sunlight and vegetation cannot
rapidly remove it, the water generally
becomes impure.
The usual supply of drinking water
naturally divides into public water
supply, cisterns and wells and springs.
Where there is public water supply,
the only way is for companies to have
from time to time proper examinations
made, and, if the quality is not what
it should be, to know the cause, and to
apply the remedies, so many of which
are now available. The general water
supply, which has been good, may
come to be impure. 1t may have too
much sewerage put in the river, or the
pipes may become fouled, or these or
the reservoirs may have growth of
minute forms of plant-life, or water
long impounded and in great quanti-
ties may become deadened by want of
oxygen or air in the water. Thus
water, from a good source, may be-
come fouled in its distribution. Prop
, er reservoirs and filtering basins and
the introduction of compressed air
into the impounded water, will do