Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-05-02
Drinking Water on Farms.

Drinking Water on Farms.
One Of the first requirements of sue
cess on farm, says the report of the
Massachusetts, experimental station,
consists in an ample supply of good
water. Purity of the water used, for
drinking in particular, is OF vital I'M
portance. Cities and towns usually
have their organizations for the supply
of water, and they exact certain guar
antees regarding the quality furnished
for their use. The farmer, living as a
rule, more isolated on his farm, is in
this respect largely left to his own
good water from springs, and for pro-
tecting his wells against the access of
obnoxious matters by infiltrations and
otherwise, are, in the majority of cases,
quite favorable if intelligently turned to
account.
A satisfactory supply of a good drink
ing water depends, in controlling de-
gree, on a judicious selection of the To-
cation Of the well designed for the use
of the family and for the live stock, and
on the personal attention bestowed
from time to time on the condition of
the latter and its surroundings. Wells
may be badly located in the start, or
may become exposed to contamination
by subsequent changes in the surround
ings. Good wells are liable to change
for the worst at any time, on account of
circumstances too numerous to state in
this connection. To periodically as
certain the exact condition of the well
which supplies the wants Of the family
and Of the live stock, is task which no
farmer can for any length of time, dis
card, without mourning serious risk IN
health and prosperity. The subject re-
ceives, quite infrequently, but little at
tentiOn on account of the fact that the
harmful qualities which an apparently
good water may contain, are disguised
beyond recognition by the unaided
senses. Certain delicate chemical tests,
aided at times by microscopical obser-
vations, are, in the majority of cases,
the only reliable means, IN our present
state of the sciences, by which desirable
information regarding the true charac-
ter of drinking water can be obtained.
These tests, it must be acknowledged,
although of the greatest Importance
from a general standpoint, have their
limitations They readily indicate the
presence of organic matters, but give
no unfailing decision regarding their
origin-wEether animal or vegetable
leaving thus, quite frequently, the de-
gree of their harmfulness quite unde-
cided. However, the chemical analysis
NAV be depended upon for all practical
purposes, as revealing the presence Of
Objectionable qualities of the water. The
harmful substances found in drinking
water are of two classes-mineral and
organic Few natural waters are en-
tirely free from mineral matters; near
ly all small quantities of lime, soda,
magnesia and iron-substances which
may be considered harmless in that
case. Larger quantities OF these ele-
ments, however, render the water OBJ
iectional for drinking, and also more Or
less unfit for the various application, as
washing and cooking, feeding of steam
apparatus, etc.
Foremost among the dangerous MIN
eral substances which have been found
in drinking water is lead. Its presence
for conducting the water from the we'll to
is usually due to the use of lead pipes
the pump and elsewhere. Lead is a
treacherous and dangerous poison.
Not trace should be tolerated in
drinking water The use of lead pipes
for conducting the latter for either of
the above stated purposes should be
strictly prohibited by state law.
Arsenic and copper are rarely met with
in natural waters; yet careless hand
ling of Paris green is at any time apt to
become most dangerous in this direc-
ton. These three metals-lead, cop
per and arsenic-are direct poisons to
the animal system, and therefore are
the most dangerous mineral impurities
in drinking water, though ordinarily
rare. The most frequent source of dan
ger comes evidently from the presence
of organic matter, indicating contami-
nation by decaying animal or vegetable
substances. Wells are not infrequently
found polluted by the gases and liquids
emanat1ng from sinks, privies, cess
pools and farm yards.-Practcal Fdrna-