The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-09
THE WATER SUPPLY.

THE WATER SUPPLY.
Water Is the staff of life. In cities moth
ing is so important as the water supply, and
with respect.to no other thing are the people
10 properly and SO instantly sensitive. Let the
water supply be attacked, whether by wells
or by the public water-works, and every fam
lily in the city is reached and affected. It
cannot be less than the most serious matter
that the integrity of tire water supply of In
dannpolis has been qr estioned, and, as it APP
pears, for good cause. . The people have been
resting quietly under the belief that the water
furnished them was much above the stand
ard, indeed, in the very front rank Of waters.
For years the physicians have attacked the
sanitary qualities of the well waters,
even the deep driven wells not escaping
censure; but it has been believed that
shs water furnished by the water-works COM
pany was above suspicion. 1t could not be
otherwise than that the surface water of a
city Of 125, O00 people should be unfit for
domestic use. One hundred thousand pounds
of excrementitious matter pouring into the
soil of the city every twenty-four hours would
so seriously affect the water supply from the
first level, at least, as 10 render it quite ap-
parent that the most ordinary sanitary condi-
lions would condemn that source of supply.
In he light OF this fact, many hundreds, If
aaI s-sa..las, u aslssa ders have gone to no
little expense to pipe their houses, and to pro-
vide themselves with the public company's
water, under the belief that its quality was
frat class and that it was furnished under
the most iron-clad sanitary conditions. 1t
has been a rude and serious shock to these
people 70 be informed, by what ap-
pears indubitable evidence, that at
times, at least. the water-works water has
been bad, and that great carelessness and
ignorance have characterized the water man
sgement. We take it for granted that the
extraordinary facts presented in outline in
yesterdays Journal, upon the authority of the
health officers, are substantially correct; and
If they be. they reveal state of things that
demands radical reformation and the most
stringent regulation for the future. It is not
an attack upon the water-works company; it
is an exposure that should have been made
sooner. but now that 1t is made, must receive
immediate and thorough treatment. Indi-
snapolis must be able to offer water of the
best quality and of ample supply. Whatever
sther advantages the city may extend to
its present citizens, or to the thousands of new
ones.we hope to attract in the near future,
ne must have plenty Of pure water; water
furnished cheaply, certainly, and under such
Eegulations as to command the perfect conf
dence Of the public and the consumer. The
nseligence-to use no harsher term-are only
evidence that our water-works company is
bat a human institution after all, and needs
the same constant watchfulness and the same
inspection and control that would be essential
were it an octopus" even an Octopus" of
hated foreign OF domestic character, instead
boast names justly enjoying the honor and
confidence Of the public. But canal water and
river water are no better because an honored
name may be blown in the bottle that con-
tains them, or be attached to the diree-
tory of the company that furnishes
them. The jolt suffered by the
public IN this behalf will not be entirely with
cut recorpense, IL it arsuses Councils and peo-
pie, health officers and the company, as well,
70 the fact that human people are all poor
creatures, and that corporation, however
honorable and revered, as to its nominal direct
crate, may be tempted in some of its parts to
prae tees that are, alas altogether too COM
mon- Given handy connection with the
canal and convenient inlet from the river
and ordinary human nature may be too weak
to resist the temptation to ''assist' the other
wise slow processes Of supply, at times and
on occasions when the demand is unusually
or unexpectedly heavy. It is not less the
duty Of the Council to see to it that the pub
lie is absolutely protected against this ever
present contingency of contamination of the
water, than il is the dictate Of self-interest on
the part Of the company to make such assur-
snces doubly sure to their present and pros
pective consumers
Unfortunate a. the incident is, we yet hope
ard believe that permanent good will result
from the agitation and revelations. No ben.
eft can come from any effort real or appar-
mt. to soneeAl the truth and dodge the neces