Milford chronicle., 1915-11-26
OLD TIME FARM WE'LL.

disorders. II may also contain CON
siderable poisonous matters in solu-
tion. 4 polluted water supply Is eYl-
dence of the existence of bad sanitary
conditions. which it is of the utmost
importance to remedy. On the otner
hand. many waters that are not clear
cannot be regarded as unclean nor
their use preludicial to health. Many
surface waters have a greenish or
brownish tint from vegetable stains'
and mineral waters frequently impart
more or less color to spring and ground
waters. Tn some cases such waters
instead Of proving harmful to health
have proved to be decidedly beneficial.
With the growth of population and
DEVELOPMENT of industries there IS pro
gressiye pollution Of streams so that
in the more thickly settled regions
streams not already contaminated or
subject to pollution are very rare. Sur
face water supplies from small streams
shorld never he used for household
purposes unless no other supply is
available. In the event that it must
he used such water should be clear
and should he thoroughly boiled
The wen is the most commonly used
source of farm water supply 1t may
be shallow dug or driven well or
deep dug or bored well. 1t may be
said. however. that the majority or
shallow dug wells on farms where con
tamination is present are contaminated.
The government sanitary engineer
offers the following practical sugses-
tions for Keeping different types OF
wells. especially shallow wells. from
needless pollution:
Obviously the logical first step i'll Sc
curing clean well water supply on the
farm or anywhere else is to remove all
the sources Of possible contamination.
Among the worst of these are the open
privv vault. the teaching cesspool and
harvard fifth 4 well i'm ordinary per
yious soil located lower than and with
in hundred feet Of any of these is al
most certain to he polluted. Even
! though the we'll is located on higher
ground than these sources of contami-
| nntiOn, heavy pumping or dry weather
may so lower the ground water Level
that 1t will reach the zone OF contami
nation and thus pollute the well. 1t Is
evident. therefore, that the open privy
vault and teaching cesspool should be
! discarded and a sewage publication
system or at least sanitary privy be
used instead Sewage, garbage, ma
nure or other waste should never be
| dumped into sinks or assures and mosi
certainly never into old abandoned
wells. An old well used for this pur
pose is very likely to communicate di
rectly with the water bearing stratum
from which other wells in the imme
diate vicinity draw their supply. Slop'
or waste water should never be thrown
out of the back door or window on t
the ground. II the pigs and chickens
must run at large they should at leas
be kept away from the well. A boz
built around the pump and filed will
manure in winter is an extremely un
safe way to prevent the pump from
freezing.
Concrete manure pits, imperviOu
floors and water tight drains are desir
able features for farm buildings.
these are beyond the farmers purs
the manure pile should be placed a SAT
distance away from the well.
The well itself should be located a
high as possible with respect to build
ings, stock pens and chicken yards an
as far away from all sources Of cor
tsmination as convenience and lOcs
surroundings will permit.