The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-01

ana circumstances.
 Sources of Water
 Rain water collected in cisterns, sur- face water in ponds. lakes and streams. soil water from wells and springs
 The rain washes the air and gathers the dust. AS source of disease this Is negligible. If caught on the roofs of dirty houses and drained into cis- terms there Is danger of infected germs. but not to any great extent, and cis- tern may subsequently, become infected Pure cistern water however. Is one of the safest and best waters. Surface water draining into ponds, lakes and streams are polluted with vegetable and animal matter, and the excretions of man and animals. The degree of this pollution Is determined by the amount of animal and vegetable mat ter on the watershed. Small streams, ponds and lakes are easily polluted and infected Water is a catchment basin, which Is an artificial lake provided for the impounding of water, may be pol luted and infected in the same way Wells are holes dug or bored in the ground into the soil water below it's level and gathers the soil water as it percolates through the soil. A deep we'll is 40 to 50 feet deep. A we'll that Is bored down through an impervious stratum, that is one through which the soil water cannot pass, and on through this stratum into the soil water below 1t, is an artesian we'll Artesian water Is clear of vegetable and animal pollution, because of its depth and filtration by the soil, but as a rule it has mineral taste because of the mineral matter In solution or in suspension. If the water in this deep subsoil below an impervious stratum is higher anywhere in It's course than the mouth of the well the water will flow out at that point. Artesian water is excellent and contains no organic pollution or infection, and unless made unpalatable by minerals. is the purest water for drinking purposes. spring Is place on the surface where the soil water emerges. If this be deep soil water. and has passed through the right kind of Altering strata and flows all the year, 1t Is good water Wet weather springs. small ponds, streams and shall low wells are unsafe waters Water that passes through sand, sand and gravel or sandstone Is ,as a rule, free of bacteria of all kinds, and is safe. Limestone Is an impervious stratum and water does not pass through it. and passes through clay very slowly. As there are often cracks or Assures in limestone formation, water may be carried long distances and to great depths through these Assures without being purified by soil filtration. Hence, springs, wells and streams In limestone 'e'mations are always suspicious. (See bulletin No. 22.)
 All these waters are exposed to in fection from cess pools, dry closets, stables and lots, yards and from leak ing of sewage, where there are bad pipes used for that purpose No well, spring or stream water is safe that is thus exposed. Only deep wells should be used. and they should be walled up with an impervious lining so that the deep water in the soil can enter 1t at the bottom of the we'll. and the top of the well should be walled up for at least two feet above the surface and covered by lid, all of 'impervious ma terial so that surface water cannot flow into the well.
 Natural Ratification of Water
 These are rapid flaw over rough bottom, falls along the course of the stream, and sedimentation when the water is collected in a basin or lake Filtration by an appropriate soil and bacterial antagonisms in which the in- fected bacteria are destroyed.
 Public Water
 By this is meant water furnished by waterworks companies or waterworks owned by cities. The amount of this water required daily for all purposes differs greatly in different cities. Thus, Pittsburg. 25o gallons per capita daily, whilc Fall River uses only g gallons In European cities much less water as a g.n.rAl proposition Is used than in the United States London uses 39 gall Ions per capita daily Paris. 65; Dres- den. 26; Copenhagen, 27; Berlin, 22. A s"nply of puhlic water is obtained <v<u exct1 k@w 1~f~ streams catchment or artificiel basins. Soil water Is rarely available becauss 1t cannot be collected in sufficient quantity. It is used. however, in some cities. and Is pumped and pided to the consumer for drinking purposes, while lake or river water is pumped and piped to the consumer for other purposes.