Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-08
DANCER OF SHALLOW WELLS
CONCLUSIONS OF A COMMITTEE
OF INVESTIGATORS.
Although No Relation With Typhoid
Fever Was Found, Yet the Drink
ing Water Was Polluted.

The action of the District Commissioners
In Closing many public wells seems to be In
line with report made under direction of
the hygienic laboratory of the public health
ana marine hospital service some time ago.
and now given out for publication. This was
part of the comprehensive report by
Messrs Nd. J. Rosenan. L. l. I.umsden and
Joseph H, Kastle on the origin and preva-
ience OF typhoid fever in the District of
Columbia Shallow wells are particularly
referred to In this paper. and all such wells
were visited by the Investigators Samples
OF water from the wells were submitted to
chemical and meteorological examination.
Wanted Wells Closed.
The report shows that the committee
wanted the wells closed. although typhoid
fever was not traced to the drinking of
water from Them
AS a result Of these studies," the report
states. the details of which are given In
tne ioiiowing pages. we may say that no re-
iation between the drinking Of well water
and the occurrence of typhoid fever could
De demonstrated. We are of the opinion.
however. that the use of the water Of the
shallow wells of this locality for drinking
purposes may be a menace to the health Of
the community. and in this opinion we are
sustained not only by our own observa tons,
out also by the conclusions Of all who have
ject."
Only three of the sixty-three shallow wells
IN the District showed no laboratory indca-
ton OF Injurious pollution.
Causes Of Pollution.
1t Will be noticed. however" the report
continues. that only a few examinations
were made of these three wells. and 1t is
reasonable to assume that II frequent analy-
ses were conducted indications of pollution
would sooner or later be found in them
Further. 1t will be seen that the waters of
many Of these shallow wells show consid-
cradle variation in chemical composition
and In the number and character Of bac-
terra. This In itself Is an index of danger
from sanitary standpoint indicating inter-
mittent sources Of sewage or surface pol
luton
1t was declared to be also evident from
a study Of the summaries that there ap-
pears to be a relationship between the prox-
unity and number of outhouses to the wells
and the meteorological and chemical find
broken pumps and leaky platforms. permit
ting surface contamination. give evidence Of
this condition in the laboratory analyses
From the fact that 81 of the 63 wells show
indica tons of sewage pollution and - of
the others are suspicious. the committee felt
justified In recommending the closing of all
the shallow wells In the District of Column
bia.
IL was diSO ueCidreu 10 Dc evident tnat a
denSely inhabited area. with miles Of sewers
some of them doubtless broken or leaky
and with almost 1000 privies-must produce
more or less sewage-polluted condition of
the soil favorable for the contamlna ton of
shallow wells. Shallow wells and out
houses on general principles. have been
gradually eliminated from all large cities
having an abundant water supply and sew
erage system. The report says:
I'VE unhesitattng subscribe to this view.
and believe that. upon general PRINCIPLES
alone. the shallow wells In Washington
should be condemned. a conviction that Is
amply confirmed by our chemical and bac
THEOLOGICAL analyses"