Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-12
THE WATER WE DRINK
DR.. Ames Gives an Interesting Talk
on an Important Subject.
POLLUTION OF THE WATER.
How Wells and Springs Become Foul
Drainage Area of the Potomac-Its Muddy
Condition Not Injurious-Suggestions for
Preventing the Spread of Disease.

DR.. Howard E. Ames, United States navy,
now attached to the museum of hygiene. de-
ivered an interesting lecture on the subject Of
water in the lecture hall Of the Columbian Uni
versity last evening" The lecture was one Of
the course provided for by the Sanitary League.
DIR. Ames' remarks were intended to show some
Of the results of Investigations Of city drinking
water made at the museum Of hygiene The
lecture was illustrated with an interesting
series of lantern slides.
Dr. Ames, who was introduced BY Mr.. John
JOY Edison. secretary of the league, said
in beginning his remarks that he would
endeavOr to make it q mere common
place talk on the subject. leaving the more
scientific phases for other lecturers. The object
OF the Sanitary League, he said, was not to give
dry facts. but simple suggestions which could
be understood by all. to show how evil can be
avoided. disaster changed into victory, and how
not only himself, but the whole commonwealth.
He then went on to show how essential water
Is not only to the organic but also to the in
organic world. calling special attention to the
necessity for pure water.
''Our own Potomac" he said, ''gives a differ
ent water from other streams, even differing in
its various localities. The water in the clouds
ia practically the same all over the world, and
it is only after reaching the earth that we find
it changes. This difference is due entirely to
the character of the land over which it falls or
through which it filters. 1t is these individual
peculiarities of the geological formation of
locality that give us sulphur. chalybeate. aka
line and other mineral springs. 1t is the soil
that produces a hard or soft water. word
about wells. and the same will apply to springs.
In the country, when properly located and pro-
tected. they are the principal source of water
| for household use, and there is no objection to
| them; the water contains more C OF and less O,
so they support vegetable life in them more
readily than animal and are more sparkling.
Now, the water supply of our springs and wells
is derived from the ground water or
the water that has sunk into the earth
until it meets with an impervious stratum,
where it is held. The depth Of the we'll de-
ponds on the dip Of these impervious strata
with the surface. By the dip we mean the
angle or inclination the strata takes in relation
| to the surface. The direction Of this dip in re-
lation to the habitation is of the greatest i'm
portance in two particulars: l. The cost,
which depend upon the depth. g The more
important. the direction in which the ground
water flows-toward or from the dwelling and
Outhouses. A dip Of one degree is very slight
and would mean but fifty three feet in a mile;
one of ten degrees would mean 528 feet per
mile, while one Of forty-hve degrees would be
distance beyond that reached yet by any
well. So much for the cost. For the second.
when the dip is toward q house or dwelling and
the angle is slight, the well will be shallow, and
brt6ScI unuScT Will cAlbt VI pOuutlIk Wobcf
from the washings and the contain
mated soil from outhouses and stables.
CITY WELLS DANGEROUS.
"Wells or springs in city are always danger
Gus and should be constantly and closely
watched, as they are liable to become disease
breeders-from the contamination Of their
water Let me try to make this clear to you.
The soil is composed of fine particles. between
which are small spaces. When the soil is dry
these spaces are filled with air that is called
ground air. and 1t extends far as the dry
ness extends. This air il constantly moving or
changing; every zephyr that blows across its
surface. every loud noise, every fuctuntion OF
temperature, variation in pressure, sets it in
motion. either forces out or draws in the air.
Now, sewer gas escaping from a leak or lllu-
minating gas from main, the vapors about q
mass os decaying matter either above or below
the surface, it matters not, the body OF a
/ statesman or the CARCASS of an outcast cur-all
are absorbed by the interstices Of mother
earth and help polute it. The rain falling on the
surface sinks into the ground, displacing the
contaminated air; but in doing this il
also comes in contact With these decaying
bodies and gases and absorbs certain portion,
while it holds in solution or suspension others.
This forms our ground water in cities and is
the source that supplies our springs and wells,
| as have previously stated. The surface wash
ings often flow directly into the wells with any
and we know without enumerating of the filth
that is found on the surface of every town, be-
sides the seepage found below mixed with the
leakage Of sewers, drains and gas mains. Rivers,
lakes and ponds are liable to the same con-
tamination from the surface; in fact, more 30
than the underground waters, for slow fltra-
| ton through the soil does remove impurities.
Rivers also purify themselves. particularly
when flowing over a broken bed and agitated
by cascades and falls; lakes and ponds have not
these advantages, but when supplied by
springs furnish a good water. Having
considered water in general up to the present,
let us examine more closely our water supply.
A very large area is drained by the Potomac.
its source being well up in the mountains. and
on its course to the Chesapeake it receives
numerous feeders. On its right and left banks
there are many small towns, but few large ones
that cast their refuse and discharge, their
sewage and drainage into its waters. Factories
are few. and the agricultural community is not
SO large or the land cultivated SO extensively az
one would suppose. This Is unfortunate for
the financial welfare Of the section it drains,
but a fortunate thing for the citizens of Wash.
ington. For, remember. it is the sewage drain
age of the hHbitation Of man and his factories,
together with the surface washings, that causes
the principal contamination Of the waters we
drink. So the density of population bears di-
rectly on the purity Of the water supply. The
distances between these cities and towns are
great. and the rapid flow of the water with the
constant breaksge and churning it gets IN its
| rocky bed keeps its condition favorable And
1t should be a source of congratulatior to our
selves to know that our water supply is good
and in ample quantities-240 gallons per head
40, 0OO, 900 per day.
MUD NOT INJURIOUS.
"Our Potomac water, though, has its draw
backs. which bear more Immediately on the
aesthetic and pecuniary line than the sanitary,