Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-06-18
UNsANITA7Y CONDITIONS.
Water Supply IN Many Cases Found
Unnecessarily Polluted.

The condition in which find water
received from various parts of the state
warrants my calling the attention of
the public to the unsanitary conditions
which must exist surrounding their
water supply. Some samples of water
taken in storile bottles under asceptic
precautions, contain as high as 60, $50
germs per cubic centimeter Ia teaspoon
holds about five cubic centlmeters of
water and an ordinary drinking glass
about 225 cubic centimeters). A glass
full of such water would therefore con-
tain IA, 305, 500 living germs. While
it is true that many varieties of these
germs are not directly disease produc-
ing, the continued introduction of such
large quantities Of them into the sys-
tenn lowers vitality and increases sus-
ceptibility to the disease producing
types when they gain access to the
body. Water containing so many Or
ganisms carries also, in solution, the
ptomaines from the putrefaction of the
organic matter in which they grew.
These large number of organisms gen.
orally find their way into open wells by
surface drainage and where they can
pass, 30 may the disease producing
types pass also.
The waters from driven wells are
comparatively free from organisms.
An open we'll is an abomination and is
not in keeping with our present under
standing of the laws of sanitation.
The question arises, how can we bet
ter our condition. Where we'll is the
only means of obtaining water, let it
be dug to the water bearing stratum,
wall it up with brick laid in cement
for ten feet, arch it over with the
pump pipe and arch we'll cemented in,
fill the remainder of the hole, which
may be Is to 20 feet, with clay we'll
tramped down and the result will be a
bottomless brick jug, deep under
ground, into which no surface water,
worms nor animals can penetrate. The
water from such we'll is as pure as
can be obtained from the locality in
which it is situated.
There are many families living in
the country who should enjoy the best
of health, but who are always ai1ing.
The cause of i'll health may, as a rule,
be traced to their use of polluted water
produced by the unsanitary condition
of their surroundings. But few homes
have proper drainage from sinks and
baths, dish water is thrown out of the
back door on the ground near the we'll,
garbage is similarly disposed of to de-
compose and drain into the we'll. Wash
water containing filth that would not
be tolerated on the clothing is also
emptied on the ground to drain into
the well. Most of the open wells stu
ated near the house or barn are but
cesspools. 1t is the lowest point in
its vicinity into which liquids drain.
Frequently privy is located within
stones throw of an open'well. When
the water table rises to the surface of
the ground. as it always does during
the winter in Western Oregon, all sur.
face water is contaminated, and, as the
water level lowers, the open wells be-
come reservoirs for the drainage.
The ordinary stone or brick wall of
an open well only serves the purpose
Of preventing the caving in of the
earth and in no sense acts as a filter.
We have received samples of water
from open wells, situated near barn.
yards or dwellings, which were loaded
with organisms that are instrumental
in decomposing manure. The samples
gave strong reactions of ammonia by
chemical analysis and were even tinted
with the color of liquid manure. One
particular sample was thus polluted
from flower bed near the house, the
flower bed having been heavily ma
nured.
In localities where water is piped in
to the house and there is no sewer, the
toilets should be connected with prop
erly constructed septic tank and the
eff1uent should be piped long distance
from the we'll and empty on the surface
of the ground, where sun and air may
still further purify it. If an open clos
ct must be used, concrete vault, we'll
cemented, should be constructed, in
stead of mere hole in the ground, and |
lime frequently thrown into it to pre-
vent the breeding of flies. Earth clos
cts have been very successful and con-
sist of galvanized iron trays or tubs
that inay be emptied away from the
premises; dry earth or ashes should be
used in connection with them TO absorb
moisture and suppress odor.
1t is we'll known that flies breed in
human and animal manure; for exam.
pie, the deposits of human excreta are
often seen to be a crawling mass of
these are the larvae hatched
from the eggs deposited by flies, from
this they pass into the pupa stage and
again emerge as flies with the return
of warm weather. These flies enter
our. dwellings, walk upon our food and
directly transmit the organisms from
excreta to our food. Contamination