Evening journal., 1903-08-15
STATE HEALTH
BOARD ON WATER
Pathological and Bacteriolog
ical Laboratory Bulletin on
Danger OF Pollution
EVENING JOURNAL is COMMENDED
Report Showing the Great Harm
Done by Draining the Sewage Of
coatesville Into Brandy0ine-co
try Wells and their Depth.

coatesville Into Brandywine-co
try Wells and their Depth.
The bulletin Of the Pathological and
meteorological Laboratory OF the Del
aware State Board of Health contains
many articles on water.
In speaking OF the prevalence OF ty-
phoid fever IN small towns where there
are many wells, the bulletin says:
The tons OF Delaware are remarka-
BILE for the close aggregation Of houses.
In the smaller places each house Is as a
rule provided with It's own WELL These
wells are sunk into the superficial
Quartenary sand to a depth sufficient
TO obtain a supply OF ground water, usu-
ally from ten TO fifteen feet.
They are, therefore, pre-eminenuy |
surface wells, and being usually unce-
mented or rendered watertight at the
top they get much of the surface drain |
age. and water which has passed
through but a slight depth OF soil. They
are also commonly in rather close prox-
unity to earth-closets whose contents
continually contaminate the ground.
Wells such as these frequently be-
come grossly polluted in fact that they
! should long remain in a state OF purity
is scarcely 10 be expected. IL is, there
, fore, not strange that communities with
water supplies such as the above should
be frequently visited with typhoid fe-
- yer. as is in reality the case.
3 Our system OF shallow uncemented
q wells should be abandoned IL we would
! reduce typhoid fever and other intes-
$ final diseases due TO contaminated wa
p ter, and IN their place driven wells
y should be substituted.
s Delaware has a geology which will
q insure an abundance OF deep-seated
y pure water, and it is suicidal for our
e people. especially I'm thickly crowded
sections, TO continue TO drink contami-
mated surface water. Shallow. unce-
mented surface wells cannot be kept
pure I'm their close proximity TO dwell
lings, waterclosets, stables, etc. and a
IS pure water supply is one Of the first
requisites of health. Let our physi-
clans begin a campaign Of education
- on this score II I'm their own homes
they will set the example OF providing
themselves with driven wells, or prop
erly cemented dug wells. others may be
led to follow.
u In the construction OF dug wells at
least ten feet OF the upper lining of the
well should be thoroughly cemented
with Portland cement so as 10 render
it water tight and thus exclude surface
water The curbing should also be
carried high enough above the ground
to keep out surface washings. The wells
N should also be out OF doors, and not
II under the floors Of sheds and kitchens,
and the we'll covering should be pro-
vided with n trap-door so that the well
n can be readily inspected. The condition
of the cement lining needs TO be kept in
mind.
The uncertainty OF the prime condi-
tion of the cement lining OF n dug well
Is always a drawback, hence driven
wells are preferable since the pipe
. forms an imDervious case insuring
I against the entrance Of surface water.
N The Purity Of Public Water Supply.
e 1t behooves every community having
- "a public water supply to know def
nitely from time to time regarding the
quality OF its water
Such information can be gained only
by chemical and meteorological exam
y nations.
e The laboratory proposes to cooper
ate with town authorities In this mat
: ter.
e We often hear people say, we have
o excellent water" What usually deter
e mines this is the fact that it is clear
e and sparkling and pleasant to the
j. taste.
II Such may be a standard from .An
y aesthetic, but not from the sanitary
+ point of view. A water may be dam
n gerously polluted and yet be unexcep-
e tionally fine in appearance and taste,
- for this reason the public should not
n be deceived, and think such examina-
d tions unnecessary because they consid-
ie er the water fine.
le At meeting Of the State Board Of
Health held July z, 1908, the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That Town Commission
IA ers or health authorities in incorpo-
rated towns of the State where they
,f have public water supplies be requested
A. to send samples TO the state Labora-
tory at Newark once every four months
for analysis so that as far as possible
we may prevent the spread of typhoid
- fever. This to be without expense to
the town except the nominal cost Of
!, expressage."
"A 1t is hoped that every town having a
public water supply will avail them
selves of this opportunity. The water
samples should be forwarded in our
own properly cleansed and sterilized
bottles. Such bottles will be sent to
each town at the proper time, when
- they are to be filled and returned.
he Praises the Evening journal.
W The Evening Journal has been con-
/ Quoting a most laudable inquiry into
" the pollution of the Brandywine river.
The city OF Wilmington draws its wa
CONTINUED on Third Page.)