The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-12-19
IMPURE WATER IN
MANY COUNTRY WELLS

Indications that an Overwhelming
majority of wells and springs in
kentucky are contaminated and nm.
III for drinking purposes are shown
Dy water analysis, according to stata
sanitary Engineer e. H.. Mark no
iofe the conference of county and
Guy health officers in Louisville last
week. AaSs
Inc speaker said that Of soma
, "haI more than 400 samples az Wat
er taken from school wells in ii,
sec;tlons OF the State, $40 had bv
careful analysts, been found nnfit
iof urlhKlng purposes. Most OF them
ne said, received their contamina-
elon from fifth scattered upon tho
surface OF the ground that drained
into the wells. The universal nsa
ol Inc model, approved sanitarv
SCHOOL prlyy would eliminate This
source of danger.
Mr' Mark also told of case in .
Town, which he left unnamed wbare
'nree examinations OF puhIic
spring We're made. Each examina
1ion confirmed the previous one in
mat the water was found contami-
uated, and the spring was, therefore
condemned and posted as unfit for
use. ~
IN spite of this, he said. the neo-
p-e u the town persisted in maxi
ing use OF the water Tor drinking
ana SIX cases of typhoid fever en-
sued that were directly traceabIe 10
this use. -
IN sending in samples of water
rom suspected sources for analy-
Sis, Mr.. Mark said that the SAMPLES
are useless Tor practical purposes
unless they are accompanied by
nistofy OF the surroundings and the
possible sources OF contamination
The State engineering Iaboratorv
mas printed regular form. which
may be had on application. bearing
me necessary questions with blanks
70 De nlled out. One of the most
important of the questions deals
WIN the location of all drains SOW
eeSoPoois, manure heaps
houses and other buildings within
lVo feet OF the water supply. An
other asks whether the water has
ever been suspected for causing anv
ulsease, and If SO, whether the dis
ease was of intestinal Character
such as typhoid, hookworm. diar-
rhoea, etc.
D.
Louisa physicians whose practice
calls them to points along the riv-
ers and the streams emptying into
tnem declare the rains which caused
lne late rise in the rivers have al
SO caused the streams to be fruit
lul OF contamination. There is very
iittIe done in the rural sections to
prevent soil pollution. The out-of-
doors closets, where there are anv
az all, have very shallow vaults and
when the fan rains come after a
f, pfotracted drouth a vast amount Of
lilth, teeming with germs, is wash
Gu into the brooks, creeks and riv-
ers, making the water utterly unfit
Tor use as drinking water. Yet. peo-
PIE WllF@urlnk 1t, and there is scarce
a neighborhood, however small
IL may be, without its one or MANY
cases OF typhoid fever prevent-
aDle disease. In season and out. the
NEWS has preached the gospel Of
pure water. 1t has shown the dan
ger OF using hydrant water. or the
river water from whatever source
ior drinking without having it boil
ed. II lis preached the gospel Of
screens and Swat the Fly" bG.s
because 1T hasn't killed me vet"
tAey drink contaminated water and
depend on Jack Frost to kill the
lly' Consequently physicians and
unuertakers thrive and "mourners
go about the Streets