The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1912-07-12

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the only method by which the
water power of the state can be
restored, and at some future day
it will be done. The continued
prosperity of the state will de-
mand it. The future heat, light
and power of the state lie in the
streams that flow down its beau
tiful valleys.
Most of the cities and villages
of Vermont, as well as other stat
es, have systems of sewage that
empty into the streams that flow
through them. The water of the
larger streams is therefore pol
luted, poisoned and unfit for use
as drinking water. Although the
experience of the largest cities has
shown that the sewage is valu-
able as a fertilizer, when properly
handled, few even of our largest
cities have as yet created such
systems of sewage as will sep
arate the water from the mass of
material carried by it and render
this material available for use in
raising vegetables; New York City
throws it's sewage into the ocean
The rivers on which cities and
villages have been erected with
sewage systems emptying into
them can not be protected from
pollution. The lakes and brooks,
the wells and the springs can be
protected. These are the sources
used for the supply of drinking
water. These sources may be con-
taminated either through surface |
water flowing visibly into them |
or through ground water flowing |
beneath the surface and out of |
sight. In either case the pollution
must come from the surfaces above |
the source used. Water will not |
flow up hill. The utmost care
should be taken that the germs
of disease shall not be thrown out
by drains, sewers or on the open
ground above any source of wa
ter that is used for domestic pur-
poses. 1t is not unusual now to
see wells in use near a dwelling
and receiving it's water below
the level of the house. A we'll so
located is a continuous danger. If
any enteric diseases seizes an
inmate and the excrements are
deposited where the ground wa
ter may receive them, sooner or
later the well will be infected with
poisonous germs. No matter how
clear the water may look, a well
near the house and having its
water surface far below the level
of the house is sure to receive
ground water with all it carries
of pollution from a long distance
in every direction. The we'll af-
fords an outlet for the ground wa
ter and quiet water held away
from sunlight is favorable to the
life of disease germs.
"A we'll is more dangerous to
health than a flowing spring In
Vermont the springs that supply
houses with water are seldom be-
low the level of the house. In
few instances water may be
thrown up by a hydraulic ram
but usually the spring lies at
some distance from the house it
supplies, and we'll above its level
In such a case it is well to see
that no pollution or poison can
come to the spring from neigh
boring house, not merely through
surface water running openly in
to the spring, but through the
ground water. 1t must be remem-
bered that a spring is not sup
piled from a hidden reservoir of
water. Rain furnishes the water,
and it comes down from the little
depression above it, more or less
remote, in the shape of ground
water.
Most of the farm houses in Yer
mont have private supply of
water from we'll or spring. Upon
the owner depends the protection
Of this source of supply. The lives
Of the family depend upon the
purity of the water. Very possibly
the same source has supplied the
family for generations; but even
should not prevent the present
occupant of the farm from a care
Jul examination of the probable
low of the surface and ground
water that forms the supply. Con-
1itions may have changed; new
houses may have been erected;
new sewers laid; new privies set
up.
The protection of public water
supplies rests usually with public
officers or with the directors of
water companies.
Their responsibilities are great. 1t
S their duty to protect the wa
ers used by the public from all
disease germs. If the sources us
I'd fer the supply of public water
lie in cultivated ground the dan
yer OF disease is great. A single
ase of typhoid fever, unskillfully
.ared for. NAV pOiSOu hundreds | n