The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-07-16
THE FARM WATER SUPPLY
By D. Beckwth Bacteroogst Oregon Agricultural College

shallow well will be pure only when
it has been filtered through considerable
soil. Contamination generally finds its
way into the water which is just below
the surface of the ground, and the soil
below this level removes such contain
ination. 1t follows therefore that the
logical point of entrance for water into
the well is at he bottom and that in
digging and constructing such well this
point should be borne in mind. In order
that the water shall not be roily as it
comes into the well at the bottom one
should place few inches of coarse
sand or fine clean gravel at the bottom
of the hole. From the above discussion
lit will also be recognized that in order
to keep out seepage from the sides of
the well the well must be thoroughly
and tightly walled up by some method.
AS one stands by the side Of an old
well on hot summer day and listens
to the continual dripping of the water
as it trickles down the sides of the
well from the surrounding soil it may
remind one Of a clear and purling
spring. But under no conditions should
one allow the poetry of the feeling to
overcome him. 1t is very likely that
such tricklng is produced by the wa
ter seeping in from some nearby toilet,
septic tank or kitchen sink.
Curbing Around Well.
In order that in case of heavy rains
or possible flood the water may not flush
over the sides of the well hole and wash
down into the bore it is also important
that curbing with embankment be
placed around to divert such water and
also to prevent the direct return of wa
ter pumped out from the well, and
which in mahy cases is allowed to run
off from the platform into the soil
few inches from the well and which
from thence seeps directly back into the
well hole. The return of such water to
tie well is just as dangerous as the re-
turn of any other surface water to en-
ter the well.
It is important also to remember that
a tight cover must be placed over the
well. 1t is better also if this cover is
made of two courses Of boarding, one
layer placed at angles with the other in
order than when wear occurs and cracks
form, the holes, which will eventually
be produced may not allow solid matter
or other kinds of contamination to fall
directly through them into the water
below. Such cover also will keep
frogs out and many kinds of insects
which deposit their eggs in the water
or on the sides of the well, and the
larvae of which pass through the first
stage of their life in water. 1t is un.
pleasant to pump up tadpoles, earth
worms, and insect larvae of various
kinds in the water. 1t must be remem-
bered, too, that where the opportunity
is given for such comparatively large
animals to find their way into the wa
ter it is very simple matter for plants
as small as germs to find their way
also.
The water from the well should be
clear and not too sparkling, and unless
II is in a locality where sulfur COM
pounds are naturally found in the soil,
one should always view with suspicion
the so-called "sulfur water. It is
worth remembering that as organic mat
ter decomposes in many instances it
gives off the same gas that is indicat
i've of rotten eggs and that is therefore
called "rotten egg gas" Sulfur in
this form is an indication Of contamina-
tion and very many Of our so-called
"sulfur water wells' are pools of filth
as shown by laboratory examination.
Also as organic matter undergoes bac-
terial decomposition it gives off gas
called carbon dioxide. This is the same
gas that is used under pressure to give
the sparkle and fizz to soda water, and
while small amount is normally pres
ent in all water if there be sufficient
to produce sparkling, then there is
possibility that the sparkle is caused
by rotting organic matter which in turn
indicates contaminated water. A clear